Colleen Moore
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 13/03) - Love for children, animals, writing and drawing is the reason one Yellowknife resident is close to becoming a published author.

Lemon is a male cockatoo but appears as a female in Holmes' book. He's very particular about who he likes, said manager Jennifer Eggenberger. - Colleen Moore/NNSL photo

Catherine Holmes has been inspired by Lemon, a cockatoo she met one day at JJ Hobbies.

Lemon has lived at the pet store since she was six weeks old.

Store manager Jennifer Eggenberger said the bird is very particular about who he likes, which makes it difficult to find him a new home.

"He's got a bit of an attitude," Eggenberger said. Holmes sees something special in the bird, however, and said he was one of the few people Lemon took to.

Besides being a tropical bird in the North, Holmes saw potential for a book based on Lemon's character. The book has been on the go for two years and Holmes is finishing up her fifth draft.

"The hardest thing about being an author is you never know what response you will get," she said, adding the publishing company she is working with has given her tremendous support for the idea.

Once finished her story on Lemon, Holmes said she found inspiration for another story that she wants to write.

Last week, the Holmes family took part in the rescue of Ash, a story reported in Yellowknifer, about a cat stranded on a small island near the mouth of Dry Bones Bay. "It seems to have the makings of a great story," said Holmes. If she gets it published, huge amounts of the proceeds would go to the SPCA.

Holmes' stories have a Northern appeal which she tries to bring out through the writing and illustrations.

"I try to make it very specific to Yellowknife and to the North," she said.

"I also get my inspiration from children and the child in me too."