Book: Animal Council and the Disappearing Sea Ice
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I was born in Westchester county, New York to a mother from Brazil and a father from England. They met at an international party and decided to settle in New York. I moved to Baltimore at the age of 18 and began higher education study at Johns Hopkins University.
The dream to be an author and write books has been with me since childhood. My economic situation was such that being an author would have to be a hobby, with moments to write stolen from the evenings after the kids were in bed, some hours on the weekends or while on holiday. One has to make time and prioritise, or the dreams will vaporise.
Personal life challenges brought me and my three boys to Iceland and then further east to Norway. I am now living in southern Norway and work as a protected areas manager. One can rarely control the inevitable bombs of life’s unforeseen destiny, but even so, I never gave up on my dream to be an author.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Animal Council and the Disappearing Sea Ice ’ book?
Finding time and being clear-headed enough to write in complete sentences were the key challenges. I was a single mother of three young boys at the time I conceived the outline of this book. Not long after, I began a PhD in northern Norway. There wasn’t much left in my brain at the end of the day after helping with homework, and I often fell asleep from pure exhaustion while writing. Then I would discover typos left over from sleeping fingers. This continued throughout the 15 years, but I never gave up on the dream. I remember being so very exhausted all the time. There was never enough time or energy to write without falling asleep.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A. A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh; the House at Pooh Corner), Rudyard Kipling (The Jungle Book), Agatha Christie, J. K. Rowling.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I have lived in three countries – the US, Iceland and Norway, and I have also travelled a good bit around the world (though not nearly enough). My favourite spot is always the ocean. No matter where I am, or the time of day, I seek out the sounds, smells and serenity of the ocean. For some reason, when I am near the ocean, whatever writer’s block might be in place dissipates into the sea air and I begin to write. It’s magical.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
For me, the answer is no. When the words begin to flow, I begin to write. The key is to start writing, allowing the words to move from my imagination and take form on the page. The rest will come over time, as the images and characters become real.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Animal Council and the Disappearing Sea Ice’ book?
I worked on this book for 15 years. I was a single mother of three young boys when I first began the idea for this book and was living in northern Iceland. My boys are now grown men. Originally, I had targeted a much younger audience – more at the level of Winnie-the-Pooh, but my vision didn’t flow correctly at that level of writing. This book was my first, and in many ways an experiment, in creative writing. I published an earlier draft and sent it around for feedback to check on my direction, and over time the book evolved into its current form, though the title and concept has been consistent from the beginning.
Q7. On what platforms can readers find ‘Animal Council and the Disappearing Sea Ice’ book to buy?
The book was published by In-House Publishing, Brisbane, Australia. For residents in Australia and New Zealand it is recommended to buy directly from In-House Publishing. The book is also available on Amazon US and Amazon UK. All links are available through my website: http://www.mvsolstrand.com
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Animal Council and the Disappearing Sea Ice’?
The title has been there since the beginning, 15 years ago. I was working for the Arctic Council at the time and one of our most challenging projects focused on how biodiversity of the Arctic was being affected by disappearing sea ice.
The book cover is a rather lovely story, actually. It was my son, Kristian, who recommended an above-and-below ocean scene. There is a website called Reedsy (www.reedsy.com) which offers services to authors. I was scanning for an illustrator and found Madli Silm (www.madli.eu). She took the time to read the book first and we discovered that we shared a synergy of thought and vision. We started with the colour pallet and worked on the design from there. Madli and I worked through every detail together, down to the crumbling ice, George’s facial expression and even Bubo’s wing tips. Finally, came the choice of font. It was quite a special journey to see the book cover evolve and the reviews have been outstanding. It is a book cover to be proud of. Madli Silm is a truly gifted artist and there is no doubt she will be my first choice for all future illustrations.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
For the last 15 years, I have not read a children’s book or seen a Disney movie or any other children’s film in order to avoid being influenced. I have waited, almost as an eager bystander, while my own imaginings took form on paper.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
The names all have special meanings. If readers are interested, please join me in creating the sequel – book 2! I will begin research in 2021 and the book will feature the bleaching of coral reefs, illegal wildlife trade, deforestation and more on the theme of marine garbage. Send your ideas for plots and species! A few of the delegates to the Animal Council will have deputies with them in book 2, and I warmly welcome recommendations for highly unusual species who will attend the 13,998th meeting of the C7!
Book Is Available On Amazon
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