Local author Sitala Peek and illustrator Shirley Cherry have created a children’s book in memory of Katie Pritchard who sadly died of cervical cancer at The Myton Hospices in summer 2023.
‘The Tale of the Girl with the Golden Hair’ is centred on the love story of Katie and her husband Tom. The couple are childhood sweethearts, who fall deeply in love when Tom mistakes Katie for a fairy princess.
The book is a modern day fairy-tale about family loss and bravery from Sitala, paired with the beautiful illustrations by Shirley.
Sitala has children a similar age to Katie’s two boys, Percy and Cass, who attended the same nursery and wanted to create something to honour Katie and the love she had of her family.
Sitala commented on the book, saying:
Tom and Katie were the authors of their own love story, but no child should have to lose a parent prematurely. I wrote this fairy-tale in the hope it might offer Percy and Cass a tiny bit of comfort and help them process this huge thing happening in their young lives.
Shirley added:
Sitala contacted me to say she'd written a story about Katie Pritchard as her children shared the same nursery. I was so touched by it and the deep love shared by Tom and Katie, that, just like Sitala, I wanted to help the family so I agreed to illustrate it. I hope the book helps to convey Katie's enduring love.
Sitala and Shirley are generously donating a percentage of proceeds of the book sale to The Myton Hospices. We are so grateful to the pair for creating this beautiful book for Tom, Percy and Cass.