Camilla Caterpillar

In 1989, my Aunt Lois handed me a stack of paintings with a unique request: to write a story inspired by them. I was initially sceptical, as I believed stories usually preceded illustrations. However, Aunt Lois assured me that the narrative would naturally emerge from the artwork. Surprisingly, she was right. Words flowed to me like a song, often during the late hours while I was up nursing our second set of twins. It felt as though Aunt Lois herself was sending these words from afar, as the story of Camilla gradually took shape from the paintings.

Sadly, Aunt Lois passed away soon after, and the story of Camilla was put aside as my husband Greg and I navigated the bustling life of raising six children. It wasn’t until our children had families of their own and tranquillity returned that Camilla Caterpillar finally came to life. With Camilla’s story, an idea sprouted to create a healthy snack for children. As you delve into the pages of this book, I hope you enjoy a little nibble and the whimsical journey of Camilla Caterpillar.

Faye Lippitt (nee Alexander) was born and raised in Calgary Alberta and educated at University of Calgary (BA English 1975). She is a columnist and freelance journalist.

Faye and her husband Greg crammed their family of six children into eight years by having two sets of twins in the mix. There was turmoil. There was noise. And there was always something to laugh about. And write about.

When Greg and Faye left Canada for sunnier climes in the Caribbean, she compiled the articles and thoughts written over twenty years into this book, named after just one of the adventures of one busy family.