Illustrating A Cat Called Q and the Magic Globe by Melody Horrill
“Can you imagine shaking a seemingly ordinary snow globe and finding yourself inside it? And then embarking on a mission to save a spellbound Kingdom from ruin! …A Cat called Q and the Magic Globe is a colourful fantasy about the importance of believing in ourselves, caring for the natural world and understanding our connection to it. It also serves as a reminder that magic really does exist in nature and love can heal and restore everything.”
Melody Horrill – Author of A Cat called Q and the Magic Globe.
When my dear friend and fellow creative, Melody Horrill asked me if I would create the illustrations for her first children’s book, I didn’t hesitate. “How fun could this be!”, I thought. Creating from canvas to children’s fiction was a new venture. Here, amidst the pages of whimsical tales and characters born from imagination, I soon realised the process was much more involved than simply accepting a commission request.
Understanding how the illustrations were connected and making sure the drawings celebrated the intended narrative were just a few of the concepts to master. Melody gave me carte blanche to create an initial cover design and after reading the manuscript and delighting in the characters, I couldn’t wait to get started ! The front cover had to capture the storyline as well as the interest of the target reader, including the adults, as Melody pointed out to me who have the purchasing power. A full colour acrylic in a size 400mm x 500mm x 35mm was then completed. To further peak the reader’s interest, a smaller, full colour acrylic was created of the rascal sea rat, Acri featured in the story in a 250mm x 250mm x 35mm size for the back cover.
“That’s what happened to 10-year old Sheri and her best mate, Shawn. Sheri has a deep love of the environment, inherited from her arborist father, but she never dreamed she’d be chosen for a dangerous journey to rescue an enchanted habitat from destruction by a vain and evil overlord. Or that she would be assisted by a majestic, mischievous, magical, sandwich-loving black cat called Quasar. In the end, it’s not just wondrous creatures and their home she saves – it’s also herself.”
Melody Horrill – Author of A Cat called Q and the Magic Globe
With the cover design complete, I began work on the interior of the book. I drew all of the illustrations by hand, attempting to visually bring to life characters and scenes beautifully told through the pages of the book with pen and ink.
A total of 24 illustrations were completed to act as visual appetisers displayed at the beginning of each chapter about what was to happen next within the book. In addition, a few smaller drawings were added for embellishments throughout. Together with Melody’s beautiful storytelling, these illustrations began to take on their own life and the narrative began to sing.
Release date – July 2024!
This journey was an absolute delight! What I hadn’t anticipated was how much I would grow as an artist. Swapping my usual canvas and brushes for a seamless flow of pen and ink illustrations, inspired by the written word, was pure joy. Silencing my internal critics and diving into the endless visual possibilities of each chapter allowed me to fully immerse myself in this creative adventure, all while celebrating the incredible talent of my dear friend.
As with any great endeavour, this project was not completed in isolation. Special thanks goes to Steven Long of 12 Willows Press, editor and publisher of A Cat Called Q and the Magic Globe along with his team including Mariella Travis of Alleiram Studios for her amazing Graphic Design work. You can check out Melody’s introduction to the book on the 12 Willows Press website via the link below as well as Melody’s personal website for further details of the many amazing projects she is involved in!
Melody Horrill introduces her first Children’s Fiction – 12 Willows Press
Melody Horrill, International Author, Journalist, Conservationist and Public Speaker
