'Bunnicula' is back

James Howe revisits the writing of his most successful book, now available in audio

Howe

March 1, 2000
Web posted at: 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT)

(CNN) -- James Howe used to write for fun. Despite having a creative mind, he seldom considered that it would be anything more than a recreational pursuit for him.

He wrote for fun when he was a kid, penning his first play at ten years old. It was called "Dagwood's Awful Day," based on the "Blondie" comic strip.

And Howe was writing for fun in 1977 when he and his wife, Deborah, were putting together their first children's book. They had married in '69 after graduation from Boston University School of Fine and Applied Arts. By the spring of '77, they were living in Brooklyn Heights, enjoying the New York City lifestyle.

Howe was working for a literary and theatrical agency, directing plays on the side. Deborah was an actress.

The couple would come home at night, jot down ideas about their book -- the story of a vampire rabbit -- and pass them to each other like high school sweethearts passing love notes.

	AUDIO
An excerpt from "Bunnicula" [RealAudio 28k] An excerpt from "Bunnicula Strikes Again!" [RealAudio 28k] (From Random House)

Howe still has those notes. It was the last time that writing was merely fun for him.

When the book was halfway done, his wife learned that she had cancer and had just months to live. The ensuing time was filled with pain -- both physical and emotional. But writing became the couple's saving grace.

"We were dealing with the emergencies of pain control, all her treatment," Howe recalls. "I was working a full-time job, having to show up for that every day. Writing the book was relief for us."

Deborah eventually lost her battle with cancer. In 1979, the book she helped her husband write was published by Simon & Schuster. "Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery" went on to tremendous success, and helped launch Howe's career as an author of children's and young adult literature.

He has since written 28 other books, including six involving "Bunnicula" characters. But the original "Bunnicula" is his biggest success. It has sold over 8 million copies.

"Bunnicula," above, has already been released on audiotape; "Bunnicula Strikes Again" will follow soon

'He's just amazing'

Now, for the first time, it's being offered on audio tape by Listening Library Inc., a division of Random House. The latest version of "Bunnicula" was released in February. The book's sequel, "Bunnicula Strikes Again!," is being released in audio March. The narrator is Victor Garber, the actor who has appeared in movies like the mega-blockbuster "Titanic" and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."

"He's just amazing," says Howe. "When your books are put into any other medium, you don't know what's going to happen to them. But he's a wonderful actor. But more than that, I'm just amazed when I see and hear an actor who can do so many voices with subtle changes that so nail the character and then consistently do it."

It's not the first time Howe has revisited "Bunnicula." Simon & Schuster released a 20th anniversary edition of the book last year. At the back of that book, Howe included a piece that revisits the time he spent with his first wife and how the story of a vampire rabbit came about.

"I had not gone back there so concretely before that," he says. "But when I wrote the piece that I did, I researched it as if I was researching anything. I went back to tons of notes that I have at that time. So that was really strange."

Howe says the experience put him in touch with "the awareness of time passing and where you go and what happens in life in 20 years."

'More big business'

Howe currently lives in Hastings-on-Hudson near New York City. He has a 12-year-old daughter from his second marriage whom he often takes to the city.

He says the book industry for children and young adults has changed since the days when he wrote just for fun.

"It's become much more big business," he says. "When I got into it 20 years ago I always felt that children's books should be treated more as a business. And it has become that.

"Fortunately I think the one thing that hasn't changed is there are still people in the business who are very committed to getting really good books to kids."

'In awe of the way life unfolds'

Howe is currently working on a novel for readers ages 8-11, but one that is "very, very different" from "Bunnicula." He's also editing a collection of short stories on the theme of loss. It seems his work constantly reminds him of his past life with Deborah.

He recalls the time his daughter read a letter from a young reader who told Howe, "I'm sorry your wife died."

"I asked her, 'How do you feel about that?' She said, 'Well, I feel sad and happy at the same time. I feel sad because she died. But I feel happy because if she didn't then I wouldn't be here.' I thought about that so much. I can't say that I can see any reason for someone to die.

"But I guess I'm in awe of the way life unfolds, and I can't imagine my life without my daughter in it. I can't imagine my daughter not existing. But I certainly would never have wanted my first wife to die. I guess the perspective I've gained is I've learned to be both very appreciative and in awe of life itself and to value it."

Random House
Simon & Schuster

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