Local Artists Maire McArdle and Stephen Walker to Launch First Children’s Book, Timothy O’Toole, A Cat’s Tale, at The Zebra Gallery

Local couple Maire McArdle and Stephen Walker are proud to announce the release of their first children’s book, Timothy O’Toole, A Cat’s Tale. The book’s premiere will take place on Friday, December 12, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at The Zebra Gallery, located in the heart of downtown Easton, MD. The festive evening will include meet-the-author and artist conversations, lively music, light refreshments, and a limited supply exclusive Timothy gift set with every book purchase. Framed fine art giclées of the book’s illustrations will be on display and also available for sale.

“We are thrilled to bring our little story to life and launch this special book in our wonderful arts community,” said Maire McArdle, a career magazine art director and the book’s author. “Timothy has been a project that my husband Steve Walker and I have been collaborating on for five years. We decided to self-publish and finance the printing ourselves, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We hope everyone will love our book!”

Stephen Walker, a lifelong fine artist and Maire’s husband, created the book’s pastel illustrations to bring the story’s human themes to life. The Zebra Gallery owner and curator, Susan Schauer John, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting the event, sharing, “Celebrating art in all the ways it touches our lives is part of our mission here at The Zebra Gallery. Partnering with Maire and Stephen allows us to bring the art of children’s literature into our gallery space.” In addition to the December 12 launch event, visitors are invited to attend two live readings of the book: Saturday, December 13, at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 14, at 2:00 p.m. All events will take place at The Zebra Gallery and are free and open to the public.

Event Details:

Location: The Zebra Gallery, 5 N. Harrison Street, Easton, MD

Book Premier and Giclées Sale: Friday, December 12, 5–7 p.m.

Book and Giclées Sale: Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

With Live Author Readings at 2 PM each day

About the Book:

Timothy O’Toole, A Cat’s Tale, is told from the perspective of Timothy, a family’s beloved cat. Framed within a timeline of the seasons, the story explores the experience of moving away and the emotions that come with change. Classic pastel illustrations by Stephen Walker and poetic prose by Maire McArdle present an endearing “cat’s tale” that is sure to be treasured by children, grown-ups, and cat lovers alike.

AI Disclosure: The Spy and its writers may use artificial intelligence tools to support accuracy and clarity in our reporting.

Francoise Sullivan is the new Associate Editor of The Chestertown Spy and a community advocate based in Worton, Maryland. She previously served a term on the Kent County Board of Education, where she focused on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and student-centered policy. Sullivan also serves as Chair of the Kent County Chapter of the Delmarva Pride Center. Her work centers on local government, education, and civic engagement, providing clear, accessible coverage of issues affecting Kent County.