Interview with Wild Author Scotti Cohn

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:

I have been writing poetry and fiction since I was about eight years old. Around that age, I received my first rejection letter from Walt Disney Studios for a book my best friend and I co-authored. I loved fairy tales as a child. Teachers and librarians had to practically coerce me to read nonfiction. Later in life, I discovered how much I enjoy researching a subject and presenting it to my audience in an accessible, entertaining manner. Behold: The Nonfiction Writer! I should add that I'm currently working on several fiction projects. Fantasy is my favorite genre both for reading and writing. Oh - and I have five cats.

WHERE DO YOUR IDEAS FOR NONFICTION COME FROM?

My ideas for children's nonfiction arise from my fascination with animals and the natural world. I have also written six nonfiction books for adults related to American history. In those cases, the publisher proposed a topic and I agreed to write the book because I was intrigued by the subject.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE HARDEST PART ABOUT WRITING?

For my children's books, sitting down and actually writing is the hardest part for me. I tend to let ideas tumble and turn in my mind, day in and day out. It's almost as if I fear that putting words on paper would be like capturing and caging a wild creature. I worry that something will be lost.

WHAT IS THE STRANGEST FACT YOU HAVE LEARNED?

One of the strangest facts I have learned is that scientists believe that black wolves are the descendants of offspring born to wolves mating with domestic dogs -- probably the companions of the earliest Native Americans. Read more here: http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/02/blackwolves.html

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST WORK.

One Wolf Howls arose out of an interest in wolves that became very strong about ten years ago. I didn't really "decide" to write about wolves. The concept and words for One Wolf Howls formed in my mind in 2003, and I followed through. Beginning in 2004, I submitted the manuscript to 22 publishers before Sylvan Dell picked it up in 2007. I was thrilled when I learned that Susan Detwiler would be doing the illustrations, and I am totally in love with her treatment of One Wolf Howls. I also love that the book appeals to toddlers at certain levels, while also containing information and images that engage older children.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

Awrroooooooooooooo!

Scotti was interviewed by 'Wild Writer' Laura Crawford.