So many of us are still recovering from the horrendous floods which hit Queensland and NSW in particular earlier this year (2022).
In 2011 Brisbane suffered similar flooding and the banks of the river overflowed causing havoc for thousands of people.
I was working at the Courier Mail at the time and I edited a story about a cow that had washed down the river and miraculously survived. It inspired me to write an uplifting story for children about this lucky cow, and try my hand at illustration as well. Patty the Wonder Cow was born. Surprisingly the Courier Mail wrote a story about it and I was also interviewed on local radio. It surprised me a lot as I was definately not confident in my art and expected tumbleweeds from the wider reading public ... so it was pretty awesome! Reality check though - I didnt become a millionaire overnight and I had to abandon further additions to the Patty story as I actually lost my job (which I hated actually so it was a blessing) at the Courier Mail ( hopefully not because of the book hahahah), and had to come up with more solid and boring ways to pay the bills.
I thought I would post the transcript of the story from the Courier Mail below and a link if you want to go there directly. The book is still available on Amazon.com.au to buy a soft copy for your kindle. I must say at the time of uploading on Amazon and creating the book as an ebook, there was not a lot of good technology out there (and I am no expert) so the e-book is a bit daggy - and I have edited the story a lot to improve it so the version out there in cyberspace is not my best work LOL. I was thinking of updating it and trying my hand at doing better art work - and maybe a sequel focusing more on the environmental impact behind ever more common wild weather around the world. Love to hear what anyone thinks of this idea? I will also try and find the edited updated version of Patty which I think is much better written - If you do feel like downloading the Amazon version its only AU$3.99 - One of my few purchasers - a primary school teacher said she really enjoyed reading it to her class - so kind!
Link to article HERE.
The original TRUE Story ( the cow's real name was Danette) can be read here (plus photo of her: Danette the Wonder Cow survives 95km journey down flooded river
Here is a transcript from the article about my book:
"Miracle cow keeps kids' hopes afloat
Brisbane writer and artist Karen Jackman has used the Lowood heifer's epic swim as the basis for her first e-book, Patty the Wonder Cow: The Cow Who Swam Through a Monsoon.
Brisbane writer and artist Karen Jackman has used the Lowood heifer's epic swim as the basis for her first e-book, Patty the Wonder Cow: The Cow Who Swam Through a Monsoon.
Jackman was inspired by Danette's survival after reading an article on "the cow who swam through the monsoon" in The Courier-Mail .
After a torrent hit her farm on January 11, Danette floated into Lockyer Creek and through the Brisbane CBD before being found at the mouth of the Brisbane River near Luggage Point.
Jackman hoped the book would help children aged five to eight years who were traumatised by the floods. "While a lot of kids saw the floods as a big adventure, some are still really traumatised by it," Jackman said.
"It (the story) shows how determination, a positive attitude and strong friendships can overcome hardship."
In her book, Patty (as in beef patty) has to battle a crocodile as well as a shark in her swim through the monsoon waters.
"Patty always wanted to go to the city because she always thought it would be more exciting than the farm, but once she gets there, she realises she really wants to be at home," Jackman said.
Just like Danette, Patty is rescued by her farmer and returns home.
Jackman hoped to donate money from the sales of the e-book to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal."
The new edition of Patty can be ordered on this website here, or purchased from Amazon by clicking here
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