The Hero's Journey - About the Author: Kate Lyon
Sadly Kate passed away on the 30th of July 2007. Her spirit will live on
through her books as they continue to help others.
Kate was a parent
and a writer with a diverse background. She had been a teacher,
a foster
parent,
a
youth
worker and
a communications
facilitator,
working with people with diverse learning needs. For many years,
she had been a scholar of myth and the mythic structure and had presented
papers and given talks in New Zealand, the UK and France on the use
of myth in children's literature. Kate had always been impressed
by
the way the archetype of the Hero's Journey was able to reach
many people.
We can understand the metaphor of the journey and are able to relate
it to our own lives, bringing a deeper understanding of the way we
live our lives and relate to others. However, what was lacking was
a resource
that not only drew on the richness of the Hero's Journey, and the hero's
quest for a good life but also used metaphors and analogies that incorporated
New Zealand knowledge and experience. These books are the result.
The books were written by Kate and illustrated by Kate together
with her 17 year old son John, who proved an able critic as the books
developed. She also worked closely with friends and neighbourhood
community
groups and together The Hero's Journey came to fruition. Kate says, “the
books are designed to be shared - by families, by partnerships and
by groups who can realise that the hero's quest is always a shared
journey
and that we are all heroes.”
