By Matt Wiley
It starts as just a small, strange outlined shape. With a few more strokes of colored pencil to paper, though, that initial shape takes form and eventually evolves into the face of a dog, who is the star of Tails of Fluffy McDuffy, a children’s book written and illustrated by Tampa residents.
On May 9, author Nancy Mercurio and illustrator Leah Lopez gave presentations to second grade students from both Hunter’s Green (HGE) and Heritage elementary schools, sharing their passion for writing, illustrating and, of course, for their character Fluffy McDuffy.
During two presentations, more than 200 students got a chance to listen to Mercurio describe her pup and what the story is about, as well as watch Fluffy come to life, as Lopez drew him from scratch right in front of the students’ eyes.
Duffy, as he is called when not on the page, is Mercurio’s real-life, seven-year-old cockapoo (half cocker spaniel, half poodle) who helps teach lessons of peace, acceptance and tolerance in the new children’s book series. The first installment of the series, entitled Lessons of Love, was released in January and follows the dog as he is adopted and gets acclimated to a new family.
Mercurio said that she was wrapping up seminary school in New York, sitting on the banks of the Hudson River, when she came up with the idea for the Tails of Fluffy McDuffy series.
“The books look at McDuffy’s experiences in finding out that there are other kinds of dogs and other kinds of families than just his in the world,” Mercurio explained. “The stories are all about learning to live in this world as it is, but using McDuffy’s experiences to deliver a bigger message.”
Lopez — who owns an illustration company called Leah’s Cartooning Parties, Inc. — says that Mercurio approached her to illustrate the book one day while she was dog-sitting Duffy. The two met 13 years ago, after Lopez bought one of Mercurio’s books.
“As an artist, I jumped at the opportunity,” Lopez explained.
Since taking the job, she said she has drawn the dog about 60 times, including at the presentation at the library. The kids laughed and watched in amazement as the face of McDuffy began to emerge on paper.
“I like to tell the kids (during presentations) that once I got to really know the dog and his personality, it made it really easy to illustrate him,” Lopez explained.
She added that she enjoys seeing the kids get excited about the character.
“Kids really recognize cartoon characters, like Spongebob Squarepants, for example,” Lopez says. “You can see them getting excited about Fluffy McDuffy in a similar way. It’s exciting to be a part of and very rewarding.”
Lopez told the students that she knew from a young age that she wanted to be an artist.
“I scribbled on the walls when I was two years old and was supposed to be napping,” she said. “I just never stopped drawing.”
An HGE second grader named Laniya said she really enjoyed the presentation because Fluffy reminded her of her dog at home.
“He won’t get that fluffy, though,” she said.
“It’s such a good partnership we have being next to the (New Tampa Regional) library,” said Nancy Elliott, media specialist at HGE. Elliott noted that this was the second year that the school has teamed up with the library to host a local author to speak to students. Last year, she says, a local author spoke with fifth grade students.
Kailani, another HGE student, said that she was inspired by the presentation and thinks it would be fun to be an illustrator someday.
For more information about Tails of Fluffy McDuffy, visit FluffyMcDuffy.com. For info about upcoming presentations at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.), please visit HCPLC.org.
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