She’s also a bit of a wild cat, and a tiger and bear and selkie and most of all she’s also a wonderful friend. I was recently in hospital for an operation, and few days later a mystery parcel arrived from Mr B’s Emporium of Books in Bath – a novel combining music and Russia (two of my passions), courtesy of Jackie Morris. What an exceptionally thoughtful thing to do, but I suppose I expected no less from someone who writes and illustrates and paints with such luminous and glorious depth of soul.
Recently her book “Tell me a Dragon” won the Norfolk Children’s Book Award, and it’s wonderful to see that book in particular getting well deserved recognition. I remember when Jackie was planning it she telephoned me, insecure about it’s value. I always encourage her and she always encourages me. I think I’d be lost without that friendship and understanding of the difficulties we both share with our work. And so Jackie went ahead and I like to indulgently think that our conversation at the start was important in the success at the end. But I think it’s such a wonderful book it would have taken wing in any case. I hope it sells a million. The book – and Jackie – deserve nothing less!
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