Obituary: Wendy Boase

In Loving Memory of Wendy Boase

1944–1999

David Lloyd of Walker Books writes:

Wendy and I worked together for almost 20 years as Walker editors; she gave me my job as editor in 1981, and from then until now I took my lead from her in so many ways. Not that I, or anyone else, could be much like her – she was unique in her energy, her concentration, her passion, her dedication to every aspect and detail of her work. She worked astonishingly hard, and she had astonishing amounts of fun outside work too. She loved books, and she turned her hand with equal skill to fiction, non-fiction, novelty books, picture books – any kind of publishing, in fact, that was author or illustrator led. It has been said that Wendy lived for Walker Books – she helped found the company in 1978, and experienced and guided every stage of its remarkable history. But her life also contained deep friendships, and it is both as a true friend of the heart and as an inspirational editor that so many of us, so deeply, will miss her.