Like many little girls, Katy Duncan’s childhood was filled with building fairy houses, hoping fairies would find these houses to move into and make their own. She would also look for the small signs fairies would leave behind.
Much of the mom and daughter time was spent making these houses and fairy costumes, as well as searching for fairies in the woods. These fun times inspired a poem that Jill wrote down one day when Katy was younger. Jill had thought that when the time came Katy would illustrate the book, but as she got older and busier, it became pretty clear this wasn’t going to happen.
At the age of 14, in January 2012, Katy was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and after two surgeries that year was and has been tumor-free. During this experience, Jill met so many families going through similar medical challenges with their children, and it became a goal to have the poem turned into a children’s book. She also wanted a portion of the proceeds go to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in honor of Katy and all children who are, or have been, diagnosed with a brain tumor.
The search for illustrator was short. Jill had seen Carrollton artist Seth Fitt’s art work all over town and at different local events. It fit perfectly with what she imagined the book would look like. Jill and Seth worked together and created a perfect bedtime fairy story that will inspire the imagination of children and spark a sense of wonder and love of fairies.
“I wanted to write this book as a way to help other families who have been through, are going through, or will go through what we did,” says Jill. “A part of the proceeds from each book sale will go to a the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation–you can find more information at curethekids.org.”
To learn more about Where Fairies Dance, or to purchase your copy, visit the “Where Fairies Dance” Facebook Page.
