I’m excited to announce my latest picture book, KAHU’S BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE BAY, a collaboration with the Timaru Lions Club Charitable Trust.
Teressa and Karen, the Lionesses
KAHU’S BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE BAY began in the mind of Teressa May, president of the Timaru Lions Club Charitable Trust (above, right).
When I moved to Timaru, New Zealand a few years ago, Teressa reached out, wanting to collaborate on an interactive community project that would celebrate Caroline Bay, our town’s gorgeous, stuffed-with-amenities coastal park, and the little blue penguins who next along the shore. Eventually, the idea became a book.
In an early meeting about the project, Karen (left) suggested changing the name of the penguin character from my original suggestion, Peri (short for Periwinkle), to Kahu, the Te reo Māori word for blue. It was also Karen’s suggestion morph the idea for an interactive community project into a book. Thank you, Karen!
A Uniquely Local Affair
A passionate supporter of Timaru-based businesses, Teressa decided to forgo the usual routes to publishing and handle everything locally.
Vivid Design + Print in nearby Washdyke (a suburb of Timaru) printed KAHU’S BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE BAY, and did a marvelous job! Owner Nathan, shown here in a penguin hat knitted by Yours Truly, was a paragon of patience and support. Thank you, Nathan and the Vivid Design + Print team!Renée Rowland (on the right in the photo above) sold copies of KAHU’S BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE BAY at a fun launch event planned by Teressa May and hosted by the Timaru Suburban Lions. Renée is the owner of two area bookshops, Timaru Booksellers and The Page and Prose (the latter in nearby Geraldine), and is the main distributor of KAHU’S BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE BAY. Thank you to the entire Timaru Booksellers team!Timaru District Libraries has been hugely supportive, too! Librarian Ingrid, featured here, even made her own Kahu costume for the launch event. Amazing! Thank you, Timaru District Libraries!
A Super Strong Debut!
According to Neilsen IQ, KAHU’S BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE BAY debuted at #12 in New Zealand. Hooray! THANK YOU, TIMARU!
Get the Book
Click here to order your copy of KAHU’S BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE BAY today!
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