A Magical Afternoon with Tasha Tudor

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 The announcement Tasha Tudor’ death brought sadness, yet stirred memories of a magical autumn afternoon when I was an aspiring children’s author just out of college. I’d studied her art and writing in a children’s literature class and was fascinated by her work.  So when I had an opportunity to visit at her farmhouse in New Hampshire (the state where I’d moved after college graduation and marriage), I was thrilled.

We spent a quiet afternoon before her fireplace, where she made tea and cinnamon toast and talked with me about writing. I’d had nothing published yet, and she warned me it wasn’t easy, getting started as a children’s writer and illustrator.  But she asked about my dreams and aspirations and told me about herself.

When my parents and aunt, who were visiting that weekend and drove me to my meeting, returned from their explorations of the area, Tasha graciously  invited them in and made more tea and toast.  This remained one of my mom’s treasured memories, too. 

Over the years, I often thought of Tasha and followed her career and move to Vermont. She inspired me to continue as a children’s writer, although my career has branched in many directions. I was pleased when a librarian remarked, upon seeing my illustrations in Tales of Adventure and Discovery, that their delicacy reminded her of Tasha Tudor. (I’d had my doubts that my drawings were very good.)

I like to think that even though we hadn’t met in person again, Tasha Tudor continued inspiring me like she has so many others with her art, storytelling, gardening, and simple crafts of days gone by.

Additional information about Tasha Tudor:

http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/news.html  

(Amazon image; click on cover for details)

 (c)2008 Mary Emma Allen