Coincidence? Or . . . Something More?
When I get the few advance copies of a book from a publisher, I think hard about what it is best to do with them. When the advance copies of Matzah Belowstairs, my latest book, came out, I knew that one copy would be going to my niece Chloe–because there was a little surprise for her in the book.
One of the mouse cousins in the book is named Chloe!
Here’s Chloe with me when she was smaller. She always loved having stories read to her–and reading children’s books aloud is always a great pleasure for me, her Auntie Susan.
Chloe is beyond picture book age now. But she always reads my books with enthusiasm–so I enjoyed slipping her name into Matzah Belowstairs.
And here’s the surprising thing. On the day I visited her and gave her a copy of the book, look what she was wearing. Black and white stripes, just like Chloe Mouse in the book!
Coincidence? Or something more? You decide!
(And, by the way, that’s Chloe’s painting on the wall behind her. Beautiful.)