Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds follows a pack of hunting dogs and how they react when a horse is brought to their farm. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

The inspiration for Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds began when we lived in Catoosa, Oklahoma. We had horses and many hunting dogs. The memories of all our animals are what I want to record for the next generation of young readers.

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Mike Minick?

Mike Minick is a wonderful illustrator. He is an illustrator and a graphic designer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mike and I are very compatible. I send Mike my manuscript which he reads and then we talk about his ideas for the illustrations. He makes many sketches, we discuss, and then he lines them up with the text. He will send me colored-in sketches during this process. Then he completes the illustrations with the text and sets it up in book form according to Archway Publishing’s guide lines. Then we send to the publisher. We spend around one hour each week talking with each other until the process is complete.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

1. Life lessons for children shown through animals—team effort, helping friends, being nice to others, and learning from family members.
2. Relationships between different kinds of animals.
3. Learning about nature.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

Chatty the Hen Pheasant (Travels With The Pack) – It became available 11/11/2021.

Desert Friends (Travels With The Pack) – I’m sending it to Archway Publishing in a couple of weeks.

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