The Tree of Seasons
{{Short description|2010 book by Stephen Gately}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox book
| name = The Tree of Seasons
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = The Tree of Seasons front cover.jpg
| caption = Front cover of The Tree of Seasons by Stephen Gately
| author = Stephen Gately
| illustrator = Keith Wilson
| cover_artist =
| country = Ireland
| language = English
| subject =
| genre = Children's literature
| publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
| pub_date = May 2010
| english_pub_date =
| media_type =
| dewey =
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| preceded_by =
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}}
The Tree of Seasons is a children's book written by Stephen Gately and published posthumously by Hodder & Stoughton in 2010. It follows the adventures of three siblings - Josh, Michael and Beth Lotts - who are on their summer holidays, and is said to be similar in style to the works of Enid Blyton, C. S. Lewis and Walt Disney.
Foreword
Introduction
The book's introduction was controversial. Written by Gately's partner Andrew Cowles, Gately's family were upset at references to Sheriff Street as one of "the poorest parts of Dublin City" and "a place of civil unrest and terrorist activity". The content of the introduction prompted the Gately family to release a statement to the Sunday Independent, published on 16 May 2010, saying they "wish to make it clear that these statements are not correct and do not reflect the views of the family" and that Gately completed his secondary education and even attended college.{{cite news|author=Hynes, Barry|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gately-family-hit-out-at-damaged-upbringing-slur-in-lovers-book-2182090.html|title=Gately family hit out at 'damaged upbringing' slur in lover's book|date=16 May 2010|work=Sunday Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=16 May 2010}} However, in several early interviews Stephen himself confessed to leaving education to join Boyzone, and never completing his finishing exams.
Illustrations
Completion
Following Gately's death in Spain in October 2009, the final drafts of The Tree of Seasons were completed in collaboration with June Considine and Jules Williams, with Andrew Cowles writing the acknowledgements.Reference page 1V The Tree of Seasons, published by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.
Promotion
Andrew Cowles embarked on an "extensive publicity campaign" following the book's publication. He appeared on The Late Late Show to discuss the book on 14 May 2010 and was nearly reduced to tears by the questions asked by presenter Ryan Tubridy.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0514/thelatelateshow.html|title=Gately's husband to appear on Late Late|date=14 May 2010|work=RTÉ Entertainment|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|accessdate=14 May 2010}}{{cite news|author=Dillon, Fiona|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/steos-husband-left-close-to-tears-by-tubridys-quiz-on-stars-death-2181583.html|title=Steo's husband left close to tears by Tubridy's quiz on star's death|date=15 May 2010|work=Evening Herald|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=15 May 2010}} Tubridy responded to criticism by later remarking that Cowles had given "a very solid, brave interview and I know for a fact that he's happy with the way it went".{{cite news|author=McBride, Caitlin |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/aoibhinn-has-been-my-rock-since-gerrys-shock-death-says-tubridy-2183885.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805005121/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/aoibhinn-has-been-my-rock-since-gerrys-shock-death-says-tubridy-2183885.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Aoibhinn has been my rock since Gerry's shock death, says Tubridy |date=18 May 2010 |work=Evening Herald |publisher=Independent News & Media |accessdate=18 May 2010 }}
Reception
Irish Independent reviewer Sarah Webb remarked: "For a young man with no previous writing experience, the Tree of Seasons is quite an achievement" and "would make, with the addition of some powerful songs, an excellent musical".{{cite news|author=Webb, Sarah|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/review-the-tree-of-seasons-by-stephen-gately-2181402.html|title=Review: The Tree of Seasons by Stephen Gately|date=15 May 2010|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=15 May 2010}}
Sunday Tribune reviewer Pat Nugent compared it to Enid Blyton's The Faraway Tree series, remarked on "a host of kinks and clumsy moments that could have been fixed with relative ease", but said there was "a distinct possibility [Gately's] career as a children's author would have outpaced his status as a popstar".{{cite news|author=Nugent, Pat |url=http://www.tribune.ie/arts/article/2010/may/23/fiction-the-tree-of-seasons/ |title=Blossoming writing career sadly cut short, but there are root-and-branch flaws here |date=23 May 2010 |work=Sunday Tribune |publisher=Tribune Newspapers plc |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
At least 10,000 copies of The Tree of Seasons were pre-ordered in Ireland and at least 5,000 copies were pre-ordered in Britain.{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/tragic-boyzone-star-gately-set-for-bestseller-list-14804417.html|title=Tragic Boyzone star Gately set for bestseller list|date=11 May 2010|work=The Belfast Telegraph|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=11 May 2010}}
At least 3,600 people called themselves fans on Facebook on the week of its release.
The book spent 3 weeks on the UK Best Sellers list.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Stephen Gately}}
{{Boyzone}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tree of Seasons}}
Category:2010 children's books
Category:Irish children's novels