A year after developing my first Stringbabies (then known as Cellobabies) ideas, the parents of my first students suggested I should write a book. I set out to do so and decided that I should share my ideas with Pat, who I knew would respect my authorship and she would also tell me if my ideas would actually work in the long run.
I still remember the day I sat in the kitchen of her London home, showing her pages of graphics (all produced by myself on an Acorn Archimedes computer!) and also quite a few hand drawn sketches of pages and explaining my thinking. She mused over these for a short time and said, ‘This WILL work!’ and then in her next breath ‘but you need to have an accompanying parent’s and teacher’s book to explain how the pupil’s book works’. She then offered to oversee my writing of that book.
Over the following year there were a number of visits to Pat’s home and a frequent exchange of telephone calls and emails. Some of our meetings left me with a headache as she really challenged me with her questions – but it was just what I needed to help focus my thinking. Finally, when the book was done I approached several publishers with my work and basically received one of the following three responses; ‘We are too busy’, ‘We are sure your book will conflict with our plans for beginner’s repertoire’ (saying this without even looking at my work) or ‘ there is absolutely no market for an early years String tutor’ (ignoring the gap in the market that seemed very obvious to myself).
I was disheartened a little but then Pat suggested that I should publish myself and advised myself and my husband how to go about that. Thus we started a little cottage industry on our dining room table, assembling our first books ourselves.
If it had not been for Pat’s help, Stringbabies would never have seen the light of day. I was talking to her only recently and mentioned that I had been recently diagnosed with ADHD. She was not surprised, remarking that ‘only and ADHD brain could produce Stringbabies!’.
Written By: Kay Tucker,
Director and Founder of Stringbabies
Posted By: Chris Tucker,
Company Secretary and Personal Assistant