Kenilworth Nub News aims to be supportive to every element of the community by profiling local businesses, groups and artists in a feature called 'Up Close With'.

The next in this series is with Julia Rawlinson, the author of the Fletcher's Four Seasons series.

Local writer, Julia Rawlinson is the author of the greatly successful children's picture book series 'Fletcher's Four Seasons' which follow the adventures of easily-confused Fletcher the Fox, with each different book being based in a different season.

First printed over ten years ago, the series has been revitalised and rereleased by an independent publisher in the UK.

Having republished her original works, Julia has been commissioned to extend Fletcher's adventures in at least four more volumes.

As the Autumn and Winter additions were made available again at the beginning of October, we chatted to Julia about the story behind her and her work.

Inspired by your surroundings

Julia was born and raised near Richmond Park, which has served as great inspiration for the Fletcher's Four Seasons series.

However, she moved to Kenilworth some 25 years ago where she has pursued her writing, and come to be inspired further to produce her children's book series, with Crackley Wood being a great stimulus.

Julia's background is actually in writing poems and she has already authored a number of poetry books, including her 'One Week of Poems' series.

However, "I've always written poems, but got into picture books when I had my own children," says Julia.

"When I had my children, I started reading them picture books. As you read them out loud, the sound of the words is important, so it seemed like a natural thing for me to turn to.†

Julia first produced a children's book in 2005 called 'Fred and the Little Egg.'

Shortly after, Julia then had the idea for 'Fletcher and the Falling Leaves' after walking her son down Caesar Road in Kenilworth. He asked her to fix a leaf back on a tree, and the autumn idea was born. "That was a very clear inspiration for a story," says Julia.

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossom then came from another walk, this time with her younger son. Walking down Willoughby Avenue, he pointed out the blossoms falling like snow and the spring-themed volume began.

The winter story 'Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas' was then added, whilst the fourth season was slightly harder to produce.

"But for Summer," says Julia, "inspiration wouldn't come like with the other three, I didn't get an instant idea."

She then turned to her readers for help, and spoke to the children at Clinton Primary School.

"Basically in the playground, we were brainstorming with the children about what else he could get up to in the summer."

The chosen idea was eventually about sounds; a rabbit who cannot make any noise is assisted by the other characters as they find out how the other animals make sounds, and put on a summer show.

Success overseas

Fletcher's Four Seasons were originally published between 2006 and 2014, where they received a great reception, especially in America. "They are really English stories, but for some reason they just took off in America.

"The reception there was great, and they did really well."

That perhaps in an understatement. As well as great sales and reviews, the original stories were animated by Scholatic and Weston Woods, and they can be accessed, on CD, on Amazon Prime as well as YouTube Movies.

Fletcher and the Falling leaves has also been featured on a number of online 'Read Aloud' episodes. One example is embedded at the top of the page and has been viewed by over 75,000 people.

Julia has put the success down to a few different things.

Partly she says, the messages are very positive for children "Fletcher is very much about kindness, and helping other people."

In fact, Graffeg describe the series as "encouraging empathy, kindness, a sense of discovery and also a love for and understanding of the nature surrounding us."

This however, has been an added bonus "A lot of schools like the nature and the educational side which has been great, but I didn't think of them as being educational."

She in fact gives a lot of credit to how the artwork for the books has brought the stories to life.

A picture is worth a thousand words

As Julia realised when she first began reading picture books to her children, the pictures allow them to really engage with the stories.

Julia's books have been illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, of whom Julia speaks very highly.

"We were very very lucky with Tiphanie, and that is why the series has gone from strength to strength and lasted, because Tiphanie Beeke's illustrations are just fantastic.

"You can see quite well in the autumn book how good her art work is."

In fact, if you visit the Graffeg website you will see a large advertisement for 'Fletcher and the Falling Leaves' which instantly catches the eye.

Julia has thanked her close working relationship with Tiphanie, as the two are now working together to produce a night-time story.

"I was worried about this, so I asked Tiphanie, and she was absolutely excited, very enthusiastic about it."

In fact, the visual appeal of Fletcher has been on full display in Kenilworth this month, as Julia has received her very own dedicated window at Kenilworth Books courtesy of Tamsin Rosewell.

Success closer to home

Whilst children in America were enjoying Fletcher's adventures, back in England the stories were also being reproduced. They were read on CBeebies by Annette Crosbie, Kimberley Walsh, Holly Willoughby, Floella Benjamin and Frances Barber on the 'Bedtime Stories' programs.

This as well as being used as inspiration for plays, art exhibitions, story trails and puppet shows.

Fast forward to 2019, and whilst following a Twitter feed from Kenilworth Books, Julia heard about the company Graffeg, and got into contact to see whether they would be interested in reproducing the original four stories.

"It was all thanks to Kenilworth books, they were tweeting about individual publishers, and Graffeg came up, so I got into contact and they agreed."

Not only did they agree to reproduce the original works but, "they then asked for more!"

As such, the first four volumes are currently all available, with 'Fletcher and the Falling Leaves' and 'Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas' having just been rereleased.

We can then look forward to the next four instalments being released in 2021 and 2022, with 'Fletcher and the Caterpillar' due to be the springtime edition.

Whilst we wait though, if you would like a copy of the four that have already been released, then head down to Kenilworth Books where you can purchase an edition personally signed by Julia.