Rockwood author named finalist for Governor General’s Literary Award
ROCKWOOD – Rockwood author Kathy Stinson has been selected as one of five finalists for a Governor General’s Literary Award.
Her latest book, The Rock and the Butterfly, is nominated in the Young People’s Literature Illustrated Books category.
“I didn’t consider myself a GG possibility author,” said Stinson of her finalist status.
The Rock and the Butterfly is a 32-page illustrated book that explores themes such as grief and friendship.
The book came to be after Stinson’s longtime friend, Heather Collins, suffered a devastating familial loss.
“I have a friend and we hadn’t seen each other for quite a while,” said Stinson.
“When I heard that her husband had died ... I was trying to think of what I would write to her.
“I was walking in the woods and I remembered her telling me very early in our friendship that her husband Blair was the rock and she was the butterfly.
“He’s the solid one who can always be depended on, who is grounded and she was a little bit flighty ... always fluttering from one activity to the next,” she continued.
Stinson returned home and wrote a letter to Collins about a rock and a butterfly.
Collins’ daughter, Brooke Kerrigan, is an illustrator and loved the letter just as much as her mother did.
She began to illustrate parts of the letter.
Soon after, Stinson wondered if the letter could be turned into a children’s book, and after adjustments to the story and a few more illustrations, The Rock and the Butterfly took shape.
“Brooke did such a fantastic job,” said Stinson.
“I mean, how many different ways can you make a rock and a butterfly varied and interesting?
“She just captured the changing mood so perfectly.
“But I don’t think it shows off her talent nearly as much as some of her other books that weren’t nominated,” Stinson continued.
Despite becoming a finalist, Stinson says she doesn’t think she will win and expressed support for two other finalists.
“There are two that if I lose to one of those, I would think, well congratulations,” said Stinson.
The creators of the winning book will receive $25,000 and the publisher of the winning book will receive $3,000.
A cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded to each finalist.
The winner was to be announced Nov. 6 at ggbooks.ca.
