Charlie Mackesy, a renowned writer and illustrator known for his bestselling book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, has shared an emotional story about the challenges he faced while creating his next book, Always Remember. The process took six years, partly due to a heartbreaking incident where his iPad, filled with ideas for the book, was stolen.
In Always Remember, the beloved characters from his previous work return, but Mackesy admits that the loss of his iPad delayed the completion of the book. He explained that he had been working on rough sketches and writing scenarios for the book on the device, which he didn’t back up. “A lot of drawings got stolen from my car,” he said, recalling the event.
The theft happened when he briefly left his car unlocked while running into a store for snacks. “I hadn’t locked the car. I’m an idiot,” he admitted, visibly upset as he remembered the moment. The iPad, which was on the passenger seat, contained a significant portion of the book’s content. The next few nights were spent trying to recall what had been lost, as he lay in bed asking himself, “What was that? What did I say?”
Despite the setback, Mackesy approached the loss with the same positive mindset that made his first book so impactful during the pandemic. “Like all these things, you either get knocked and give up or go, ‘This isn’t going to stop me.’ This room is full of drawings, so I could go back and look and dig deep and try and remember.”
A Time of Grief and Success
The theft wasn’t the only challenge Mackesy faced while working on Always Remember. He also experienced personal losses, including the death of his mother and his beloved dog Barney, who inspired the character of the Mole. “He was 19. He’s flying now,” Mackesy said, reflecting on the loss. “It was very hard, very raw, because animals you are with 24 hours a day and it wasn’t easy.”
Mackesy, now 62, has been navigating the balance between immense success and deep grief. His first book earned critical acclaim, with an animated short film winning Oscars and Baftas, and the book holding records for consecutive weeks on the Sunday Times bestsellers list. However, this success came alongside the pain of losing loved ones. “Big issues are indiscriminate. Everyone has to go through them,” he said. “And just because you have been successful with something doesn’t mean you are not going to suffer. It’s part of being human.”
A Global Impact
The impact of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse was felt worldwide. During lockdown, Mackesy received thousands of emails from readers, including nurses, doctors, and teachers who used his illustrations to inspire others. One story stood out: a 19-year-old who queued for a signing to tell him that his drawing had helped him decide not to end his life. “If we had made the book just for him, it would have been worth it,” Mackesy said. “This is how I define success – hearing from real people.”
A New Way of Living
Mackesy’s approach to his success has been humble. Rather than indulging in luxury, he has focused on rewilding, planting 2,000 trees in Suffolk. “I’ve become obsessed with trees,” he said. “I’ve bought some land and I just can’t stop.” He described how the once-silent land is now alive with butterflies and bees, adding, “This land was very silent when I got it, now it’s full of life. It’s wild.”
When asked if part of his motivation was to replace the trees cut down to produce millions of copies of his book, he laughed, “I’m doing it because I love it and it’s a good thing. Trees live longer than we do and they are good for the Earth. And they are beautiful. They just take a while.”
Future Projects and Reflections
Looking ahead, Mackesy has several projects in the works. He plans to collaborate with the V&A Museum and create a non-blank journal filled with encouraging messages. “I can’t avoid this feeling that if I just do another drawing, I might hear from a lady in Australia who can’t get up in the morning, or a guy who’s in rehab,” he said. “It’s a desire to connect in a way that is a life-giving.”
Despite his achievements, Mackesy remains grounded. “I’m not very good at explaining why I do things,” he admitted. But one thing is clear: he will never again forget to lock his car door when he goes to the Co-op.
A New Beginning
Mackesy’s journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of art to heal. His work continues to touch lives, and his future projects promise to bring more inspiration and connection to the world.
