Two Bunnies and a Library?

Does it seem odd that both of my books were inspired by trips to a library? In my first book, The Bunny Poets, I was at the St. Helena Library for a special event involving several published poets. Since the library is a bit of a drive, three friends and I had decided to carpool.

When we arrived, we filed into our seats set up toward the back of the building. We faced a wall of windows that looked out to a vineyard. As one poet read, I noticed something move. A jack rabbit was poking around in the dirt!

For the rest of the readings the image stayed with me, and I mentioned it in the car on our way home. No one, but me had noticed so I described the scene.

“Maybe the bunny was trying to listen to the reading,” I said.

My pals commented.

“How sweet, The Poet and the bunny.”
“That sounds like a children’s book!”

From that moment on, I started playing with the idea of writing the story of one bunny, Bonny, wishing she could write a poem like her friend, Percy.

In my next book, The Bunny Poets and the Library Book, I wanted ideas for a new project, so I sifted through a file of old poems. I discovered several I had written when my children were small about playing at the park on swings, a seesaw, monkey bars, and a sand box. Now I realize that my work had been inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson and his poem, “The Swing.” It’s one of my favorites from his book, A Child’s Garden of Verses.

At an elementary school reading of The Bunny Poets, one student asked me if I could write more stories about Bonny and Percy. Why not? I could imagine my bunnies doing the same thing I was, searching for inspiration, so off I sent them to the library for new ideas because Bonny wanted to write a new poem. And just like me she was inspired by the writing of Robert Louis Stevenson.

My books are on the way! If you would like a copy of The Bunny Poets and the Library Book, click or contact me for an autographed copy and when I receive them, I will ship you one. I hope to have them in time for an event on May 13th at the Jessel Gallery See her website for more information under Writers Salon. I also plan to have a book launch in the near future.