Kate Feiffer (1964–) Biography

Born 1964, in New York, NY; Education: Sarah Lawrence College, B.A.

Addresses

Office—c/o Author Mail, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

Career

Television producer and author. J.B. Pictures, New York, NY, former picture researcher and editor; television work in Boston, MA, beginning 1991, including researcher and associate producer for nationally syndicated talk show and associate producer of films for Frontline; WHDH-TV, Boston, political producer and producer of news program Reallife. Freelance writer and publicist, 1998–. Artist-in-residence for elementary schools, producing news programs with children.

Member

Authors Guild.

Writings

Double Pink, illustrated by Bruce Ingman, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2005.

Producer and writer of documentary films, including Matzo and Mistletoe. Author of column "Kate's Column" for Martha's Vineyard magazine.

Work in Progress

Several children's books, including one in collaboration with father, illustrator Jules Feiffer, forthcoming 2007.

Sidelights

Starting her career as a Boston-based television producer, Kate Feiffer eventually exchanged her fast-paced city lifestyle for a low-key life on Martha's Vineyard. Her career as a freelance writer and full-time mom allowed Feiffer to find an outlet for her whimsical humor in children's books, and her first effort, Double Pink, was published in 2005. The story was inspired by Feiffer's own daughter, Madeline; in the book a girl named Madison is absolutely obsessed with the color pink. Even as a toddler, pink was a priority, and toys, clothes, and Madison's room all had to be pink. From preference, Madison's craving for pink has since moved to obsession, but when the girl takes things too far and colors even her self bright pink, she is swallowed up in the pink world she has created and even her mother cannot find her amid all the pinkness. Illustrator Bruce Ingman captures the humor in Feiffer's story; according to New York Times Book Review contributor Penelope Green he "careens happily over the edge when the story does, painting a raucous fuchsia delirium." Green went on to praise Feiffer for her "economy of style and understated wit," commenting that it is reminiscent of the author's father, noted cartoonist and writer Jules Feiffer. Catherine Threadgill, writing in School Library Journal, joked that "young readers are likely to identify with Madison, and a few might even be tickled-well, you know," and a Kirkus Reviews predicted that "little girls … will enjoy Madison's over-the-top exploration of this favorite shade."