While preparing for a virtual school visit (I love doing school visits, and thanks to technology I can connect with classes anywhere in the world, so if you have a class that might like to chat with an author, do get in touch) I came across this absolute gem – my first ever published work of fiction! The Princess and the Cat was published in the Vancouver Sun newspaper in March of 1994, when I was a 10 year old fourth grader at Saint Michaels Elementary in Burnaby, B.C. I can’t remember the details around how my story ended up in the paper, I think it must have been a community or local interest section. My loving parents kept two copies of the article in a little memory box, so I could share it with future students one day as proof that you’re never too young to be a writer!
This story, friends, is pretty epic. A clever and vengeful cat gets its revenge on a snooty princess through pretty underhanded means. It’s absolutely delightful. So without further ado, here is my first ever published work of fiction: THE PRINCESS AND THE CAT
Oh my goodness, what a hoot! The cat intentionally trips the spoiled princess, sending her tumbling back into the well, only to then tattle on her to her parents and get her sent to her room. I’m not certain why the cat got a medal – was it for rescuing the princess? From the well he intentionally caused her to fall down? A few plot holes there, but all in all, not a bad story for a ten year old writer, eh?
I can’t help but notice that I still haven’t published a cat-based picture book. Perhaps a future goal?
Were you a nerdy writer kid like I was? Do you remember some of the early stories you wrote? I have some real gems hidden away in that memory box that I can’t wait to share with students some day!