Q & A WITH NICHOLAS CALLAWAY,
CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF CALLAWAY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Nicholas Callaway began his publishing career more than twenty years ago by founding Callaway Editions, a firm now renowned worldwide for the exceptional quality and success of its illustrated books. Callaway Editions is a division of Callaway Arts & Entertainment, of which he is Chairman and CEO. Callaway Arts & Entertainment specializes in family entertainment across all media—book publishing, animation for film and television, and product design.

What do you think people will like about this book?

I believe The English Roses and the four books to follow are destined to become contemporary classics. They are surprisingly traditional, in the best sense. The stories are delightful, the art is exquisite, and the characters are endearing. Madonna has brilliantly captured the playful spirit of girls together with their friends. Readers young and old will come to think of the English Roses as their own friends.

Madonna uses the story of The English Roses to convey an important message about jealousy and friendship—an issue that we first encounter in childhood and which we continue to face throughout our lives. Even though it is a children’s story (appropriate for ages six and up), this book will resonate with “children of all ages—even grown-up ones.”

Why, as a publisher, do you specialize in children’s books?

I have had a lifelong passion for children’s books beginning at the age of three, when my mother passed on to me a first edition of Winnie the Pooh that she had had as a child. I have never stopped collecting them.

I’ve always felt that children’s books are very important, because they are often the first interaction that a child has with the worlds of storytelling and of art. The impressions made through children’s books last a lifetime. Almost everyone can instantly name the books they loved most as youngsters.

There’s a grand and glorious tradition in children’s bookmaking. For many generations they were thought of as family heirlooms. With Madonna’s books, we consider it a huge responsibility to carry on this heritage by making them as beautifully as we know how with regard to illustration, design, and production values. Madonna and I looked across the history of illustrated children’s literature for inspiration.

If you carefully study the illustrations in The English Roses, you will find Madonna’s own favorite books from her childhood.

What was it like to work with Madonna?

Madonna is all that I might hope for as a creative partner and author. She is a perfectionist, a hard worker, has an unerring eye, and pays relentless attention to detail. She reminds me of a great teacher who pushes you beyond what you think you’re capable of. She’s very passionate, and she does everything wholeheartedly. With this project I know she was motivated by a spirit of generosity that came from a desire to give back to the next generation. After working with her for many years, I know why she has achieved such astonishing success and continuing popularity—she earns it every day.

How is it that Madonna chose such a small publisher as you?

We offer Madonna, and all our authors, the best of two worlds. We have the creativity, flexibility, and ability to pay attention to detail of a small publishing house, but we operate on a global scale through partnerships with major media companies like Penguin, Scholastic, and Nickelodeon. We are a good creative partner, we know how to succeed in the marketplace, and we have high ambitions.

Did Madonna really write these books?

Yes. Of course.

Why five books?

Madonna had a lot of stories to tell. At first, we considered assembling them in a single book, but we felt that one volume would not do them justice. The astonishing range and variety of her stories presented an opportunity to take the reader on a voyage around the worlds of storytelling, illustration, and design styles. It’s also consistent with her affinity for change.

The result is that, with each book, we will continue to surprise and delight and overturn people’s expectations. That’s why we are keeping certain details about them under wraps until publication date—including the choice of illustrators, the frequency of release, and the storylines. But each book will give a hint about what’s coming next—if you look carefully.

Why did you choose to publish a children’s book written by a celebrity?

I don’t think that being a celebrity bestows entitlement to write children’s books. In fact, this is one of the most deceptively difficult genres of storytelling to get right. It requires a clear, concise message, the talent to tell it well in both words and pictures, and the ability to inhabit the mind and heart of a child—not to mention being able to compete with television, video games, and the Internet. And children have notoriously fickle and evanescent tastes.

Madonna has shown through songwriting and performance that she is one of the great storytellers of our age. She has amply demonstrated that she can create characters, emotions, and worlds that stay with all of us. She herself has said, “The great thing about children’s books is that they take you places.” And now Madonna is going to take children to some wonderful places—of the imagination and of the heart.

How is the book being launched internationally?

The English Roses will be released in 30 languages in over 100 countries on the same day—September 15th, 2003. This is the widest simultaneous release of any book in publishing history, with regard to number of territories. Some find it remarkable that it comes from such a small house. This is a feat made possible by the worldwide network of publishers that our agent, Andrew Wylie (president of The Wylie Agency, New York and London), has cultivated over the past two decades, combined with our twenty years of experience producing international co-editions.

Why did you and Madonna choose Jeffrey Fulvimari to illustrate The English Roses?

Jeffrey Fulvimari’s art is the perfect counterpoint to the tone of the story: whimsical, stylish, and with deep insight into the feminine psyche. Jeffrey is a brilliant artist. He is a master draftsman whose sense of line evokes some of his mentors like Andy Warhol and Ben Shahn. He is able to convey complex emotion and character with subtle nuances of gesture and expression. His eye-popping colors are pure confection; they convey optimism, innocence, and happiness. The wealth of decorative details will inspire kids to spend endless hours discovering many hidden delights. Last but not least, he has a fabulous sense of style and fashion.

What do you say to parents who have a problem with buying a children’s book by the author of the Sex book?

I would assure them that there is absolutely nothing controversial or inappropriate for children in The English Roses or any of her other children’s books.

Just about everyone in the world over a certain age is familiar with Madonna’s name and work. The exception is the core audience for whom these books are written—children aged six and up. There is a good possibility that this new generation will grow up introduced to Madonna first as a children’s book author, because they have no past associations with her.

How do you think these books will compare to Harry Potter?

Harry Potter books are epic novels, originally intended for young adult readers. Madonna’s books are brief, highly illustrated storybooks that are appropriate for children as young as six. But like the Harry Potter series, Madonna’s books will have great crossover appeal and transcend many geographic and demographic boundaries.

What is next for Callaway?

We’ll be quite busy with Madonna’s children’s books for several years.

In addition, we are producing Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch™ Kids, a 3-D computer-animated television series that will debut on Nick, Jr. in June 2004. The next offering of our Sunny Patch gardening product line will debut at Target in January 2004.

We are also working on a fifty-volume book series that will offer new interpretations of great children’s classic stories.