An Interview with the Forest Friends of Triple Oaks Forest
Have you ever wondered what your favorite book characters are really like? I mean, we get to read about their adventures, learn a little about their personalities, and sometimes even discover a lesson or two along the way. But what if we could sit down with them and ask a few questions? To change things up, I decided to do just that and interview my characters from Triple Oaks Forest. Some were happier about it than others, but I managed to get everyone to the interview without too much trouble.
Grandpa Bear, Mother Deer, Skully the Skunk, and the onery twin raccoons, William and Benjamin, agreed to answer a few questions. Some were more enthusiastic than others, but I managed to get everyone to the interview without too much trouble. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s see what these characters have to say for themselves!
Grandpa Bear:
Me: Grandpa Bear, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk with me. How did it feel to have a surprise birthday party and be the center of attention?
Grandpa Bear: Well, I don’t particularly like surprises, and I really don’t care for a lot of fuss. Birthdays are just another day, if you ask me.
Me: Really? Not even a birthday cake?
Grandpa Bear: Well, now, I didn’t say anything about cake!
Me: I see! So, tell me, what would you say is your best quality?
Grandpa Bear: I’m a pretty tough old bear. I don’t let just anyone push me around.
Me: You’re a tough old bear, but I think we could all agree that you have a soft heart and are very protective, wouldn’t you say?
Grandpa Bear: Hmm. Well, maybe I am a little protective. You’d have to ask them. Although I suspect they’d say I am a little softer on the inside than I let on.
Me: Is there anything that can put you in a bad mood?
Grandpa Bear: Nonsense, foolishness, and anyone who tries to make a big fuss over me. Did I mention nonsense?
Me: Yes, Grandpa Bear, I believe you did! One last question. If you could give the readers one piece of advice, what would it be?
Grandpa Bear: Don’t judge a bear by his growl. There might be a soft heart hiding underneath!
Me: That’s actually pretty good advice, Grandpa Bear. Thank you for your time!
Mother Deer:
If there’s one character in Triple Oaks Forest who knows a thing or two about kindness, it’s Mother Deer. She’s gentle, thoughtful, and always seems to know when someone needs a little guidance. Let’s see what she has to say!
Me: Mother Deer, you seem to have a knack for helping your forest friends work through difficult situations. How do you manage to stay so patient, especially with William and Benjamin?
Mother Deer: I try to remember that everyone has feelings, and sometimes people need a little help understanding one another. A kind word can go a long way.
Me: Even when the forest gets a little chaotic or when William and Benjamin decide to do something ornery?
Mother Deer: Oh, goodness! Those twins! Those two can turn an ordinary afternoon into quite an adventure! William and Benjamin are very good little raccoons; they just need some guidance, as all children do.
Me: Can you tell me a little more about them and how it came to be that you are raising them?
Mother Deer: Well, they are very ornery; in a good way! I have learned to keep my eyes open when those two are nearby, though. I try to watch out for them as all of us adults in the forest do. Skully the skunk is always keeping watch too. They lost their mother in a tragic road accident. They were very little, so I decided to take them in and raise them as my own. I was widowed as a young adult. Tragically, deer season got the best of my husband. Grandpa Bear told me he would help me out with them too. It’s been such a blessing.
Me: I am so sorry for your loss. I know that Grandpa Bear has been a big help and a huge influence on the twins. What do you think is the most important thing for the animals in Triple Oaks Forest to remember?
Mother Deer: Everyone deserves kindness and respect. It doesn’t matter what someone looks like, how they act, or what makes them different. Everyone deserves a chance to belong.
Me: That’s a wonderful message. One last question: If you could spend a perfect day doing anything you wanted, what would you do?
Mother Deer: I’d spend a peaceful afternoon in the forest with my friends, enjoying the sunshine, sharing stories, and knowing everyone was getting along.
Me: That sounds lovely, Mother Deer. Thank you for reminding us that a little kindness can make a big difference!
Skully the Skunk:
Skully, our shy skunk friend, may not always feel comfortable around the other forest animals, but there’s more to him than meets the nose! Let’s find out what makes him tick.
Me: Skully, thank you for agreeing to this interview. I know meeting new people isn’t always easy for you. How do you feel about being interviewed?
Skully: A little nervous, to be honest. I never know what others are thinking when they see me.
Me: What do you mean?
Skully: Well, being a skunk has its challenges. Sometimes some animals don’t want to be around me because of my smell. It can make it hard to feel like I fit in. But several of the Triple Oaks Forest animals do include me, and my best friend is Grandpa Bear.
Me: That must be difficult sometimes. What do you wish the other animals understood about you?
Skully: That I’m just like everyone else in a lot of ways. I want friends. I want to have fun. And I want others to get to know me before deciding what they think of me.
Me: If you could choose one activity to do with your forest friends, what would it be?
Skully: I love to join them for a picnic or a game. With Grandpa Bear and Mother Deer, it’s nice not to worry about whether I’m welcome. I can be myself around them.
Me: But your best friend wasn’t always Grandpa Bear, correct?
Skully: That’s correct. It really wasn’t until Grandpa Bear’s surprise birthday party that we became close friends. The twins invited me to his party, but I knew that there was a fuss about me coming because of my smell. Mother Deer and the twins, I think, made Grandpa Bear realize that I’m an okay person to be around.
Me: Of course you are! What would you say to someone who feels different from everyone else?
Skully: I’d tell them not to give up on finding friends. You shouldn’t have to change who you are to deserve kindness.
Me: Skully, that may be one of the most important things we’ve heard today. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
Last, but Certainly Not Least: William and Benjamin
Oh, boy! Interviewing the twin raccoons is going to be interesting. William and Benjamin are full of energy, always ready for an adventure, and occasionally a little too clever for their own good. I decided to interview them together because separating these two might be more trouble than it’s worth!
Me: William and Benjamin, welcome! First question: How do I tell you apart?
William: Easy! I’m William.
Benjamin: And I’m Benjamin!
Me: Well, that certainly clears things up!
William: We thought so!
Me: You two seem to enjoy adventures. Who usually comes up with the ideas?
Benjamin: I do!
William: That’s not true. I come up with the good ideas.
Benjamin: Oh, really? Then who came up with that idea involving the—
Me: All right, boys! Let’s save some of those stories for another day. Do you ever get into trouble?
William: Trouble? Us?
Benjamin: Never!
Me: Not even a little?
William: Well, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned.
Benjamin: But that’s what makes an adventure exciting!
Me: I suppose it can. Now, what do you like most about living in Triple Oaks Forest?
William: There’s always something to do!
Benjamin: And plenty of friends to do it with!
Me: What do you think makes someone a good friend?
William: Someone who’s fun to be around.
Benjamin: Someone who sticks by you, too.
Me: Those are good answers. One final question for both of you. If you could tell the readers one thing about yourselves, what would it be?
William: We’re always ready for an adventure!
Benjamin: And if you hear giggling coming from behind a tree, it might be us!
Me: Somehow, I had a feeling you would say that!
That’s a Wrap!
Well, there you have it! A little peek into the personalities of some of my favorite characters from A Birthday Surprise in Triple Oaks Forest.
Grandpa Bear reminded us that a tough exterior can hide a soft heart. Mother Deer showed us the importance of kindness and treating others with respect. Skully reminded us that everyone deserves friendship and acceptance. And William and Benjamin? Well, those two reminded us that life is always a little more exciting when there’s an adventure waiting around the corner!
As an author, one of the most enjoyable parts of writing a children’s book is creating characters who feel real enough that readers want to know more about them. Each character has a personality, a story, and something special to bring to the forest.
Now, I’d love to hear from you!
If you could interview one of the characters from Triple Oaks Forest, who would you choose, and what would you ask?
Would you ask Grandpa Bear about his soft side? Ask Mama Deer for advice? Find out what Skully dreams about? Or try to uncover what kind of adventure William and Benjamin are planning next?
Leave your questions in the comments. Who knows? Your question might just make it into a future interview!
Until next time, keep reading, keep imagining, and remember that there’s always room for one more friend in Triple Oaks Forest.
