Book Release Day for Rebecca
Rebecca - the book, written by me and illustrated by Sydney Smith- is out today. Today is the release day. I have rarely ever worked on anything that has meant as much to me as this. So, I spent the day making this about how it came to be, and why. I imagine it is the first video you'll see today that pairs Color Me Badd with Ashokan Farewell. But I follow my heart, and take the lead from a 1992 vhs home recording. I say "my sister" in the video a number of times, but she was our sister. Surely, I have never had my name on anything as beautiful as this book before. And I hope Rebecca is a book that finds whoever needs it.
There is a text version of this essay on the blog Cup of Jo here as well. That came first, but I felt like making this today.
Comments (18)
I watched this video on instagram on my work break straight through & when i saw it here i assumed it was an extended version because it hadn't felt like it had taken 12 minutes to watch, half that, maybe.
Whoops didn't know pressing the enter key would send the message! Also wanted to say I've been following your work since around 2010, probably '09, & was an immediate devoted fan of your style & humor & storytelling. Your comics from "real life" were always especial treats & the pacing in even the shortest journal jokes so impressive & i would always be amazed by the longer stories made from older memories, I still remember ones that must be lost somewhere in the days of third party platforms for linking images on twitter before people could even do that directly. I remember when "ducks" was the several pages posted on hark! as sort of draft / proof of concept for a possible longer work; I remember being so unsurprised at the reception "ducks" got when that was realized years later. also, i draw for fun & your work has always been so inspiring for that from the start, and now. i went to the launch for "young cat, old cat" & mentioned that authors discussion that brought me there, we talked about how stunning "rebecca" looked even as i hadn't yet bought a copy for myself; I have now. all to say i'm really glad i've gotten to be following your work as long as i have, which has also always extended to writing & videos & photos. and i'm really glad "rebecca" has been made & is shared too.
I thought it would be fun to share that my son who is not yet able to read found this book at home and said, “It’s beautiful but a bit sad” 🥹
Wonderful book
Beautiful piece. 🫂
Such a tribute and connection....thanks, Kate.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Becky and Rebecca’s story with us, and affording us all the opportunity to share in the powerful way that you remember, honour and cherish them both❤️
Lost my mom last year to cancer. What honor and love you show to your whole family line. Can't wait to read "Rebecca".
Read it right the moment I got it. Stunning. That is grief so well defined.
❤️💔❤️🩹
Thank you for letting us remember Rebecca and Becky with you. ❤️
Beautiful essay and video ❤️
Oh, Kate. You always have a way of reaching right down to the very quick of the thing. It is a beautiful book. Thank you for sharing it, and your love and loss of her, with us.
Incredible piece, I cannot wait to read.
Very moving. Lost an uncle to cancer in 09- my father and his siblings and whole family and cousins ached terribly. We still feel his loss. And yet we live. We live and honor his memory. Thank you for this and showing how to transform the pain through meaningful, healing art
Thank you for this.
Thank you for that incredibly moving video. I hope the book release goes well and I'm sure you'll help many people too.
Thank you