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- The Citizen Voices Team
Greener Grass: The Famine Years - Children's Literature - Text
by Caroline Pignat
People often ask why write about the Irish famine of 1846, especially for young readers. The story began over 20 years ago as a grade 11 Writer’s Craft assignment and has stayed with me. It’s not really about the potato famine, it’s about the people who found hope in the face of hunger and faith in the grip of fear. I wanted to tell their story of strength in adversity.
My editor teases me about how long my acknowledgements run in the novel. But the book is better because of the support, experience, and guidance of others. My protagonist, Kit, has my Granny’s accent, my mother’s strength, and my daughter’s determination. Thanks to the mentorship of Peter Carver and Kathy Stinson, Kit has become as real as any of my Irish relatives. I will always be grateful to Peter and Kathy for helping me meet her and to Richard Dionne and Red Deer Press for helping me share her with you.
I thank my husband, Tony, for the hundreds of ways you took care of the present while I was lost in the past. Thanks for believing I could do this.
As an emerging writer, the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts provided me with opportunities that greatly enriched the novel. The Council affirmed the story when it was still the germ of an idea. I can’t tell you what it means to have its fruition recognized and celebrated.
Thank you, Canada Council for the Arts, for this tremendous honour.
