Karen Karlberg and Her Dancing Llama

by Susan Guerrero

Karen Karlberg, a Becket resident for 38 years, made a life-long dream come true by self-publishing a colorful and delightful book about one of her beloved animals. Titled “Cooper the Dancing Llama,” after one of three llamas the author owns, cares for, and loves. The author is proof that dreams, coupled with hard work, do still come true in the latter part of life.

The children’s book is dedicated to the author’s late mother, Rita Burns. Rita volunteered for many years with Elder Services of Berkshire County in the Meals on Wheels Program. Her mother always wanted her to write a book about the llamas. Burns also adored the animals and spoiled them with Cheerios and carrots. “Rita passed away before she could see me fulfill this dream but her spirit and love for her Grandllamas inspired me to finish this book for both of us!”

Also involved in the book production is Arthur Oliver,

“I had drafted some ideas and even an outline, but it wasn’t until I was sitting on my deck two years ago watching Cooper prance about, that this book started to come together.” illustrator and costume designer “extraordinaire”, and Christine Jordan, a Lenox senior citizen and talented artist.

Oliver, recognized internationally in his field, did the illustrations in “Cooper the Dancing Llama,” Jordan’s vibrant and brilliantly colored art work is spread across the backgrounds of the book’s cover and pages. She worked as an elementary school teacher in Pittsfield for 35 years before retiring. Her work is cheerful and filled to the brim with dazzling color. Karlberg said she was friends with Jordan through their mutual love of animals and she knew Jordan was a “great artist.” “One day I asked her if Arthur and I could meet with her about incorporating her art work into my story and Arthur’s illustrations.”

While many senior citizens receive small things for their birthdays, Karlberg, last November, got a new llama, named Bentley. He is actually Cooper’s brother. Bentley joined Scooby Doo, one of Karlberg’s first llamas, and Cooper, on the farm she owns with her husband, Mark. Cooper’s original name is Mini-Cooper. It came with him from the farm he was adopted from. His father is called Lamborghini and his grandfather is Maserati. To Karlberg, Cooper is her “Cutie pie.”

She said she knew she wanted to write a story about llamas since her first ones, Scooby Doo and Shaggy Too, arrived. “I had drafted some ideas and even an outline, but it wasn’t until I was sitting on my deck two years ago watching Cooper prance about, that this book started to come together,” Karlberg said.

She has worked at Jacob’s Pillow for the past eight years. “How could I not call it “Cooper the Dancing Llama,?” Karlberg said. “I work at Jacob’s Pillow, and I have a dancing llama: I thought it was a perfect title.”

Karlberg has been fascinated with llamas most of her life. In childhood, her only introductions to llamas were from films and zoos. However, she watched the movie “Dr. Doolittle” and “fell in love with the ‘Pushme-Pullyou’ llama in the movie. “Ever since then, I dreamed of having a llama of my own”. She is a graduate from St. Joseph High School and attended Berkshire Community College and the State University of New York at Plattsburgh (SUNY). She said she also attends Berkshire Enterprises for Small Business Management, which she relied on a great deal while developing the book. She and her husband, Mark, have been married for 35 years. Their only “children,” she said, “have fur, feathers, and fleece.” They live on KaTTail Farm in Becket with “a flock of chickens,” a dog named “Blossom,” and three cats.

It’s not easy to self-publish a book. Karlberg said it took a year for the final product to be actually printed. There were many meetings and emails between herself and Oliver, the designer. “I chose to self-publish my book because I knew Arthur was the right person to illustrate it from his years of creating costumes for ballet companies around the world,” she said. “It has been an intense journey not without trials and tribulations, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. “The author met Oliver when she worked for a summer in the costume shop at Shakespeare and Company. “I then offered him the use of my studio during the winter months,” she said, “and we have stayed friends for over 20 years”.

While the book was still swirling around in her mind, Karlberg said she actually started writing it by jotting down one-line sentences about what Cooper was doing as she watched him. “Then

I added the make-believe ideas to develop a story,” she said. “I then reached out to my friend, Arthur Oliver and asked him if he would like to illustrate my story. “She had Oliver come and meet Cooper to watch him move about the backyard.

Karlsberg loves raising her beloved llamas. She said the experience is amazing. “They give you an almost ethereal sense of relaxation just being close to them,” she said. “And they are easier to raise than a dog or cat, and cheaper.”

Llamas, who look rather exotic around these parts, definitely have distinct personalities. Scooby Doo, for instance, is the “Alpha” who takes his job of security for Kalberg’s chickens very seriously. “He will make a loud braying noise and round them up when he senses danger of any kind,” she said. “Cooper is a very shy llama, who will back away if you get too close to him and startles easily. Bentley is very bold and will eat carrots right from your hand.”

Karlberg said her favorite time to spend with the llamas is during the evening feedings. “I give them a mix of llama feed, apple cider vinegar and sliced carrots,” she said. “Then I make sure there is enough fresh hay in their three separate sleeping areas. “The animals have access to a barn and will go into it if weather is especially bad. Bentley is the only one to sleep in the doorway on a regular basis,” the author said. While “Cooper the Dancing Llama” is now being sold and distributed, that is not the end of Karlberg writing about llamas. She has two other books she wants to write. ”I plan on writing about “Bentley the Tap Dancing Llama” and “Llamas on the Lam.” The latter will be about Scooby Doo and his exploits of getting loose and roaming Becket for a day.

Wanted: Volunteers

continued from page 3 life of someone in need.

To learn more about how volunteering could benefit you and Berkshire seniors, please call our Volunteer Coordinator, Pam McDonald at 499-0524.

In closing, I offer our sincerest thanks and appreciation to our volunteers and respectfully request that you consider joining us as a volunteer.

It appears that life on KaTTail Farm is anything but boring. Karlberg said her husband, Mark, has never said no to bringing home unwanted or neglected creatures because “he is a big softie himself.” “He loves me and the llamas and all our pets over the years are part of the deal,” she said.

Karlberg’s late mother, Rita Burns, would probably be thrilled that Cooper’s story is now being read by children, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. It is her daughter’s testimony to the animals that are a huge part of her life. “They are my heart,” the author said of her beloved llamas.

Until next time be good, be kind and be careful.