Finally, I got to meet the author.
“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, my two front teeth.”
Well, l not exactly, all I wanted was ‘An Elephant in my Kitchen,” by Francoise Malby-Anthony. It didn’t quite happen for Christmas, but I did get it for my birthday in January and had finished it within days. It made me laugh and of course cry, but it also made me angry. Angry that in this day an age, there are not enough consequences in Africa to prevent an animal that has been on the planet since the dinosaurs being poached to the brink of extinction. Angry because humans can be so callous and cruel. Angry because I felt helpless.
I had the pleasure of meeting Francoise in the Green Room at the Kingsmead Book Fair, where the authors mingle and meet their interviewers, before heading off for their sessions. Mine had just finished and hers was due to start. Of course, I knew she was would be there, and I just so happened to have my copy of her book with me, ha, ha, ha.
Even though I am a recognised author in my own right, with my Polly’s Piralympics Series, I was still a little nervous to approach her; which is strange because I had been approached by and had approached other authors all morning. Maybe it was because I had read her book, as well as ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ and ‘The Last Rhino’ by her late husband Lawrence Anthony. I don’t know, but with her book firmly clutched in my hand and butterflies in my stomach I walked over to her.
Immediately as she smiled at me all the butterflies dissipated, and at that moment I realised that that is probably how the youngsters feel when they come up to me to get their books signed. Well, nerves gone, we chatted for about 5 minutes before she had to leave for her talk.
Well, I can tell you I was dead chuffed and Francoise, thank you so much for the special personalised message, I think we will be talking again.
Oh, and what did we chat about?
Hmm, I think you are going to have to read #7 in the Polly’s Piralympics Series to find out –’ Polly Returns to Africa’. And maybe, just maybe, there is another parallel series being written at the moment that you can get free, by signing up to my newsletter. Click below.
#PollysPiralympics, #RichardtheRhino, #PollyReturnstoAfrica #AnElephantinMyKitchen
The School is 100 years old this year and has maintained that sense of tradition which just oozes from its buildings. Indeed, it was a privilege to be invited into the school during such a special year.
cousins: Toucane the Toucan, Hettie the Hornbill, Mpho the Macaw, and Guyrah the Pink Galah and Kilara the Cockatiel (who had both recently flown in from Australia).
