Middle school project evolves from down and out to published book

Regan Macaulay has been an animal person for as long as she can remember. The local children’s author has met with innumerable animals through her work as a veterinary assistant, an animal masseur and an animal wrangler, but one particular brown Burmese cat has stayed with her for years.

When Macaulay was in grade six, a school assignment from guest instructor and children’s author Emily Hearn prompted the creation of Beverlee Beaz, a Burmese cat with an active imagination and an insatiable taste for adventure who would inspire her for years to come—and who is now making her debut at the upcoming book launch for Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese.

When Macaulay was in grade six, a school assignment from guest instructor and children’s author Emily Hearn prompted the creation of Beverlee Beaz, a Burmese cat with an active imagination and an insatiable taste for adventure who would inspire her for years to come—and who is now making her debut at the upcoming book launch for Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese.

Beverlee, however, wasn’t finished there, and Macaulay would later work towards taking her story to the next level.

“In the late 90s or so, I’d tried to get my stories out there, including a new version of Down Out and Around for Beverly,” said Macaulay, “I lost the bitter, ‘I’m having a bad day’ thing which just brightened her up. It brought a little more positivity to her and to the story…Then I changed the title. Down Out and Around for Beverly didn’t make sense anymore. It’s just about her, so I named it after her.”

After a number of revisions, Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese was taken on by Cricket Cottage Publishing, prompting a very successful collaboration with illustrator Alex Zgud, who will also be illustrating Macaulay’s next picture book Sloth the Lazy Dragon.

“I was able to express what I wanted for the illustrations in a text only storyboard format and she was able to pick up on what I wanted quite easily,” said Macaulay, “I love the artwork she did for Beverlee. She just brought it to life.”

Zgud’s art bears an uncanny resemblance to Macaulay’s illustrations from the original Grade 6 edition of Down Out and Around for Beverly, which is all the more remarkable as Zgud has never seen these illlustrations.

“I’ll have to show her that old book,” said Macaulay, “I didn’t even direct her that way, but they’re oddly similar…Beverlee has her own life and her own character. She’s alive.”

Macaulay recently enjoyed a live reading at Fringe Kids, where Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese was read by voice actor Scott McCord and where she got some very unorthodox feedback.

“I got some participation. Kids start joining in a little with expressions and sometimes a sound effect here and there,” said Macaulay, “Scott was great about asking questions and we had some excellent, intelligent answers.”

Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese will be released to the public after its launch party at Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore on Oct. 4, where it will be read by voice actor Julie Lemieux whose credits include Rupert, Spider Riders and Total Drama Island.

“She’s sort of the Meryl Streep of animation,” said Macaulay, “I’m very pleased to have her as our guest reader for whatever children or adults are present.”

Macaulay intends for this to be the first of many ventures into children’s literature, but Beverlee Beaz will always have a special place in her heart.

“I just like her…It’s her sense of adventure,” said Macaulay, “She reminds me of my childhood and as I’m forging ahead in children’s literature, I’d like to carry something from my childhood forward.”

Posted On: October 01, 2015