Loughborough College has been celebrating with a local artist following news that her first book is set to be published.
Kirsty Fox shared the good news that the original illustrated children’s story she created during her time studying art and design with the College will soon be making its way into print.
“Loughborough College have been so good to me and I enjoyed my time there so much I couldn’t wait to tell them.
“I had a career as a psychiatric nurse but I had always drawn. Then I got ill and joined some art classes as I was recovering and I found it so enjoyable I decided to change direction and do a course with Loughborough College,” said Kirsty, from Shepshed.
“I started my book as part of my final assignment but I put it to one side when I left two years ago, because I was asked to do some book illustrations.
“I created all the creatures for two books, which the author was really pleased with – and then one day I showed him my story and illustrations from when I was at Loughborough College. I am a perfectionist and felt I still needed to do a lot of work on it but he seemed impressed and encouraged me to contact a publisher – so I sent a sample.
“When the publishing company, Austin Macauley, got in touch with me to say they loved my work and would like to see the rest, I couldn’t believe it. But when they contacted me again and offered me a publishing contract...
“The book is aimed at young people, roughly in the 10 to 14 age group and has a central character moving from here into a mystical other world. I’ve written the novel, created around 90 illustrations for it and the cover. It is being published later this year.
“There will potentially be two more books after that. I’ve actually already written the second in the series and started the drawings. I am still always drawing – in fact I have tennis elbow I draw so much!
“My book is going to be in shops and libraries. It still doesn’t seem real. I don’t think I will really believe it until I see it. Then I’ll be excited.”
Pictured: Kirsty Fox with Gary Stefanetti at Loughborough College, ahead of the publication of her first book