Woody Woodchuck: Lost in the Woods follows a young woodchuck who is taking the laundry down when a strong wind knocks his glasses off and blows the laundry into the nearby woods, causing him to lose his glasses and to go searching without them, ultimately getting lost.What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I went on a 17-day African safari in 2024 to Kenya and Tanzania and was part of a six-person Land Cruiser with five fellow travelers. Over the long, 12+ hour travel days that followed, the six strangers would become six close friends. Each person had a unique personality, but we formed a lifelong friendship on this amazing, shared journey.

​What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

To show kids that it’s easy, fun, and rewarding to make new friends. All of the characters in the story had a weak sense and a strong sense (lack of smell, hard of hearing, etc.) Working together and using everyone’s unique strengths, a group can overcome whatever challenges they may encounter on the journey to reach their goal. Meet someone new. Be a friend to them. Make a new friend.

What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?

When Woody gets hopelessly lost in the deep woods, he is alone and afraid. The scene sets up the story for Woody to meet four woodland creatures that would ultimately become friends. Together on a journey to help Woody get home, the new friends use their unique strengths to overcome the obstacles they face and get Woody back home safely to his Mama.

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out and what can your fans expect in the next story?

Book two in the series, Woody Woodchuck: Adventure in the City, is being illustrated and will be out in July 2025. Woody’s love for “wild-berry and acorn” pie gets him in big trouble this time as he gets trapped in a bakery delivery truck and ends up in the city over 30 miles from home. He’ll need the help of new friends, and old, to make it back home to Mama this time!

Author Links: Website | Amazon