Hare Raising Inspiration

Do you suffer from manuscript-aging-angst or this-work-is-too-silly-anxiety?  In 1893, a young woman corresponded with the son of her governess, a boy named Noel.  When she ran out of things to say, she made up a silly story with silly pictures of silly rabbits .  Eight years later (one hundred and eleven years ago), her whimsical  imaginings were published to become one of the most beloved picture books of all time.  This success motivated her to write and illustrate at least 23 other animal tales and 10 more books.  The letter-writer is Beatrix Potter.  Her silly rabbits are Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter Rabbit.

It all started with a silly letter with silly pictures about silly rabbits.

Currently, two million Beatrix Potter books are sold every year worldwide.  That’s four books every minute.  People hunger for silly — and no manuscript is too old.  Click the image above. Peter Rabbit fans, writers, and illustrators of all ages will enjoy this charming tribute to Beatrix Potter from CBS Sunday Morning.