Hunnie Bunny’s Garden follows a young bunny who, while on a stroll, finds some seeds and plants them in her garden to watch what grows. What inspired you to write this children’s book?

I wrote this story in 1985 when my son was two years old because I wanted to encourage him to like vegetables. It wasn’t until my grandson was born last year that I finally decided to find an illustrator to bring the book to life. Though I am active and healthy, it is important to me to leave something special behind for him to remember his grandma by. So, I formed my own publishing company, SimpleReadsBooks, and have begun my journey as a published author. I am thrilled that he loves Hunnie Bunny, Mr. Squirrel and Mr. Frog and wants the book to be read to him every day.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

I wanted to make sure that the information contained in Hunnie Bunny’s Garden (and all the upcoming books) is factual, offering a learning opportunity about animals, nature, and the aspects of gardening. For example, all the herbs and vegetables that are planted in the garden grow from seeds and are foods that bunnies can eat and enjoy.

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

Sandamali is an incredibly talented illustrator, with a master’s degree in digital art design, among other skills. When I was searching for an illustrator for the book, I kept coming back to her because I liked the samples of her illustrations from books she had done for other clients. I feel that we were destined to work together. I am very detail oriented, and she is extremely gracious and cooperative with all the changes I ask for. Initially, I just gave her minimal ideas about the main characters and was blown away with her designs of Hunnie Bunny, Mr. Squirrel and Mr. Frog! In fact, when the book was finished, I was so overwhelmed to finally see my story come alive that I cried. And, because of her illustrations, Hunnie Bunny has taken on a life of her own, inspiring me to write nine more Hunnie Bunny books. Sandamali will, of course, illustrate them all. I can’t imagine doing any of my books without her!

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

There are a total of ten books in the Hunnie Bunny series. The second book, “Hunnie Bunny’s Garden Mystery,” is about to go to print, and I plan to release it by the first of November 2023. Sandamali is currently illustrating the third book, “Hunnie Bunny’s Christmas Wish,” which will hopefully be available sometime in the middle of November 2023.

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