In my ‘Writing’ folder there is a ‘Junior Fiction’ folder. In my ‘Junior Fiction’ folder there is a ‘Duck for a Day’ folder.
This is all well and good. This is the sign of an organised mind, an organised computer, a manageable filing system.
But what is inside the ‘Duck for a Day’ folder?
So I’m writing these duck books. Because I love ducks. But it seems that with duck-love comes responsibility. It seems that if you love a duck, you must not feed it Belgian chocolates. My eagle-eyed editor reads my manuscript and informs me that chocolates are not good for ducks and can actually be fatal. This is not good for my story-duck, Max, who is very fond of them. And whose fondness for said chocolates is very important to the story.
When my editor tells me of this unfortunate fact, I take a moment to pause. I say “Damn you, facts! Why must you always get in the way of a good story?”
It’s officially official! The contracts for Duck for a Day are signed, sealed and delivered and at this stage, the book is scheduled for publication in 2010.
Duck for a Day is an illustrated chapter book for ages 6-9 and it’s about a girl who has to contend not only with a new teacher but also with a duck named Max who is most definitely not your average class pet. The entire manuscript grew from the words “The duck was different. The duck had demands”, which popped into my head one day and refused to leave. I have seen some early sketches by the illustrator and they are simply gorgeous. I can hardly wait to see the finished product. But I will, of course, and while I’m waiting, I will write more books.
About ducks.
Meg McKinlay 