FAQs
Q: What made you decide to write a children’s book?
A: After stepping away from full-time teaching, I missed the joy of sharing stories, sparking imaginations, and laughing right along with my students. I’ve always loved creating little adventures—especially the kind with talking animals and a touch of mischief. The idea for Triple Oaks Forest actually started during a silly conversation with my sister on a road trip (we tend to turn every squirrel sighting into a full-blown backstory). That’s when Grandpa Bear and the raccoon twins, William and Benjamin, began to take shape. Writing a children’s book felt like a natural next step—one where I could keep inspiring young readers while bringing these whimsical characters to life.
Q: How did you come up with the story ideas and the characters?
A: The characters grew out of a mix of real-life moments, imagination, and a healthy dose of laughter. William and Benjamin, the raccoon twins, were inspired by all the funny, curious, and slightly mischievous kids I’ve known—and maybe just a little bit by the antics my sister and I used to come up with on road trips (we’re professionals at turning everyday animals into full-blown characters). Grandpa Bear came from that lovable, slightly grumpy-but-sweet personality we all know—the one who acts tough but secretly keeps cookies in his coat pocket for the grandcubs. As for the story itself, it started with a simple idea: what if deep in the forest, a surprise could bring everyone together in a meaningful, magical way? From there, the world of Triple Oaks Forest just came to life.
Q: Did you get any of your grandchildren’s reactions to the characters and story after you wrote it?
A: Absolutely—and let me tell you, there’s no tougher (or more honest!) audience than grandkids. I shared the story with them early on, and their reactions were everything I hoped for: lots of giggles, big questions about the raccoon twins (“They’re so funny when they come running and almost make Mother Deer drop everything she’s carrying!”), and plenty of opinions about Skully the skunk. They even debated the book title and very seriously suggested I add an opossum to the next story. Seeing their excitement, creativity, and laughter reminded me exactly why I wanted to write this book in the first place.