In these photos you can see the original hand-tied version of Brown Bag Bedtime Books. We've come a long way!
"Day dreaming is therapy for me," says Cat. "It was a problem in school because I'd be off somewhere else while class was being conducted. The process was (is) fuel for my imagination. It's too bad I practiced it during class time! I just meant I had to work harder to keep up with my studies."
It wasn't until late in her career as an advertising executive that she began to toy with the idea of children's stories. "It really happened as a result of, well, day dreaming early one morning in my office. We just moved and outside my windows were empty fields filled with wildflowers, weeds, and bunnies. I saw a large owl in the oak tree the night before and wondered what he was doing there. My husband explained he was hunting the rabbits. What???? I was horrified. So the next morning, I began to wonder what would happen if the rabbit and owl met and actually became friends?" That was the beginning. The result is "Flip Flop & Hoot" which she self published just for the fun of it. "I gave them away to friends and relatives." On another occasion she was sitting in the dark in her family room, day dreaming, looking out the French doors to the rose garden along the patio. "A shadow crossed behind a rose bush, then continued on along the garden, toward the kitchen. Curious, I got up and made my way to the kitchen window to peek out. Here comes this fat opossum! I moved to the back kitchen door and opened it, forgetting I had the alarm on. The blaring siren scared the poor thing to death and it took off." Another story was born , A Possum In The Roses." And she knows the spelling is not politically correct. "It's a kid's book. Possum is fine, don't you think?"
Since then, there have been two more children's stories, and now the recordings. "One of the stories, "What's A Jaybird To Do?" is very important to me. It was written for special friend who went through a struggle with cancer. He was one of the bravest people I knew." Gwendolyn is a story inspired by her mother but taken to new heights in the book. "I never had children myself, but know the importance of a healthy imagination and that's why I've pursued the project this far." She is encouraged by the very favorable response she is receiving from teachers, librarians, and the kids themselves. "I have friends who don't know whether to thank me or bop me on the head because their kids refuse to take the CDs out of the player in the car. One friend told me Betsy Butterfly is driving her nuts."
Cat lives in Florida along with a very talkative, Cheezit-eating African Grey Parrot named Shiraz, and the newest member of the family, a seal mitted Ragdoll cat named Sabrina, a squirrel named Squirt who lives in the yard, and Scuba, the blue heron that comes to fish in the pool every morning. Oh yes, and a husband who is a professional musician. All are wondering when a story will be written about them.
Below are photos of our beloved Old English Sheepdog, Savannah. The day of this photo shoot, Savannah barreled into the studio, knocking over the backdrop, lights, and the photographer. We were able to settle her down long enough to get these shots. She was there because she was always with me. Kind of my own personal cheerleader. I am sad to say, Savannah passed away January 27, 2009 at age 13. I was there and held her when she was four days old, eyes not yet open. And I was there to hold her when she closed her eyes for the last time. Our home is empty without her. I will never forget her.
"Savannah"
1995 - 2009
