Thank You, Martin Amis

Yeah, I know. Why on earth would I be thanking Martin Amis?

You see, it's like this. Amis made that silly brain injury comment, and understandably, a lot of kidlit authors were incensed. It was a Friday when I read this story online, and I was gearing down for the weekend, being a wee bit drained from some of the freelance stuff I had recently been working on. You see, just because you get to draw for a living, doesn't mean that you always get to draw exactly what you want. The creative constraints can sometimes be, well, frustrating. So I was reading the Amis story and all the heated responses, and something twigged inside me. Suddenly I had an image of Amis as The Cat in the Hat, and it just wouldn't go away. Then more images starting popping in my head, and so the only way to relieve the pressure was to sit down in the studio and start drawing. Drawing for fun mind you, with nobody telling me how or what to draw, what colours to use, and when the art was due. Damn it felt good. It felt so good, in fact, that I spent pretty much the whole weekend being intimate with Martin Amis. Oh I am a little tart, aren't I?

Originally I just posted the Amis images on my Facebook page to show my friends, but then some of these friends encouraged me to post them on my blog. So I did. Well, well, well. Here is the end result:

The London Evening Standard picked up the story online, and also did a write-up with a couple of the Amis images in their paper. Nice!

Here's a close-up.

And then last week I was contacted by an editor from The Times in London, and the next day I did a phone interview with a charming journalist, and lo and behold, I'm in the Saturday Review section of The Times. Jolly good stuff!

A close-up of the article. 

So you see why I have to thank Martin Amis.

But wait, there are many more people to thank. Hats off to Kimbofo of Reading Matters fame, who though having never met me in the flesh, went to the trouble to mail me a copy of the London Evening Standard (and thanks to her Other Half, who went to the trouble of getting the actual paper!). Thanks also to the adorable Lana Kindrachuk who lives in Germany, and contacted her friend Annie McCall in London, who also got copies of the London Evening Standard for me. A shout-out also to Lana's sister the fabulous Melanie Kindrachuk who also had a part to play in this exchange. Hugs to the lovely Kerry of Pickle Me This fame who is vacationing in England at this very moment, and managed to snag a copy of The Times to bring back home with her. Many thanks to the Town Crier, who publish my editorial cartoons, for doing a write-up about the Amis Affair. And finally, a big thank you to all the people who wrote such witty and wonderful comments on my blog post about Amis, as well as those who sent me lovely complimentary emails. The last few days have truly been delightful.

And really, when I think about it, we all should thank Mr. Amis. His ridiculous comments brought the creative and book-loving world together to passionately discuss some important topics – the value of children's literature, the differences (and similarities) between adult and children's fiction, and how much we truly value the minds of children. Think about it: this pompous, elitist, silly old grump actually started something rather wonderful.

So thank you, Mr. Amis. Now please shut yer festering gob, and go away.

Comments

[Jean]

Yay! Patricia, great going! Follow your heart, wherever it leads - it can only lead you to good things!

[Melinda Stanley]

Way to go, Patricia. So awesome!

It just goes to show the impact that artists can have when speaking on behalf of a group of people. Many people will express dissatisfaction or even outrage at the offending person(s), but to include artwork that ironically pokes fun and at people such as Martin Amis is bound to garner that much more attention.

Has Mr. Amis had any response to this? He'd have to be dead not to have witnessed any of it. ;)

[patricia]

Melinda, I could not imagine Amis actually responding to this, even if he has seen the illustrations. That would be SO beneath him. :)

[sandra]

Patricia...you are way too cool. :)

[patricia]

For someone so damn cool, Sandra, why can't I get someone else to do the grocery shopping, cooking and housework?

[Marta Kadoski]

Well I am sure Guido would oblige you.A toast to your refreshing writing & art work.Mr. Amis will never be the same.

[Melwyk]

You are lovely for doing all this, and deserve all the great response!! Congrats on the fun ride :)

[Cipriano]

Oops, I posted this comment earlier on the previous-er blog posting...
Such amazing drawings!
And Amis.... the ol' cantankerous fart! Don't get me wrong, I love him, but from afar, as it were. I only recently discovered his work -- I think that a lot of Amis's recalcitrance comes from being best friends with Christopher Hitchens. Again -- don't get me wrong I adore Hitchens -- but it's just that both of these guys are like.... constant shots of tequila with no chaser.
Harsh!
Amis would do well to listen to his fellow countryman, C.S. Lewis, who said, "No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond."
Congratulation on your London notoriety and fame!
I'm wondering... were you invited to the Royal wedding as a result of all this hooplah?