No Mitford collection is complete without the Violet books Violet Comes to Stay is the first in a series of storybooks inspired by Cynthia Coppersmith, Father Tim's wife from Jan Karon's bestselling Mitford Years series. Jan Karon's legions of fans will love this timeless story about the endearing white kitten named Violet, charmingly written by Melanie Cecka and beautifully illustrated by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Emily Arnold McCully. Ms. Karon searched for three years to find a storytelling voice and art style authentic to Cynthia Coppersmith. She was personally involved in every step of the creation of this book. In Violet Comes to Stay, Violet's search for the perfect home leads her to a plant nursery, a bakery, and finally a bookstore - the one place where the gentle cat isn't expected to be a mouse hunter.