One question led to another, which resulted in many more questions. I needed to go back to the beginning and arrange everything carefully: Why did they run away? Why did they run away together? How did they get together? Were they classmates? What did their homes look like? What jobs did their parents have? How were their relationships with their parents? Under what circumstances did they decide to run away? Where did they want to run away to? What happened after their journey ended and they returned home? What means did they have to enable them to leave home? Let them run away first and work out the rest later.Īfter a month, I had created many pictures about the process of their escape. But where would they run to? I did not know. That day, I went to my studio, put aside all other chores, and I started planning their escape. I was foolish and timid, and this is why I wanted to let the boy and girl in my picturebook run away instead. Would those shining, bright and crystal-like days be the most memorable times of their lives? I have never run away from home. I wanted to believe that they were genuine, that all they wanted was to spend a few infinitely pure and flawless days and nights together. When I read that news item in Taipei, I became misty-eyed. But the children said they did not do anything wrong they just enjoyed each other’s company and visited the beach and the mountains, innocently. The girl’s parents made her undergo a medical examination and sought compensation from the boy’s parents. The parents on both sides made angry accusations at each other. Subsequently, their parents alerted the police, and they were caught and taken home a few days later. They had fun together during the day, and slept in work sheds, schools and temples during the night. They jumped on a motorcycle and travelled here and there. Jimmy: One day, there was a news item: Two high school students from the south made a plan to run away from home. This stunning picturebook has been translated into several languages and it inspired a feature film. In his second post for the Picturebook Makers blog, Jimmy talks about creating ‘The Starry Starry Night’ – a story of sorrow and silence, courage and love. After surviving a battle with leukaemia in the 90s, Jimmy totally devoted himself to his art, and has since created about forty picturebooks which have sold millions of copies around the world. Jimmy Liao studied art at Chinese Culture University, and then he worked at an advertising agency and as an editorial illustrator for many years.
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