As a children’s book author, I’ve learned that having a marketable topic is a crucial part of the business. One of the first questions I’m often asked by gift shops is, “Is there a plush toy to go with the book?” When a children’s book can be paired with an attractive toy, sales often get a big boost. Luckily, for many of the animals I write about, there’s a plushy out there!
Sometimes, I’m asked to write about a topic because there aren’t many books available on it, even if it’s an important and fascinating subject. This was the case for books on Arizona ground bees, the Night-blooming Cereus, and Sonoran Desert ground squirrels. However, more complex topics, like my book on bat communication, Bat Chat, can take a while to research and write—or rewrite. I’m hoping to have Bat Chat out in 2026.
The Cutest Competition
A few years ago, a new book idea emerged unexpectedly at a reptile show. At the event, my booth was next to a school that breeds and sells axolotls. At first, it seemed fine. The students and teachers were great, and we chatted happily. That is, until the doors opened to the public.
Suddenly, everyone was captivated by the axolotls. They lined up right in front of my table, not to buy my books, but to see the adorable white salamanders with their pretty pink gills. The crowd completely blocked my customers from reaching my books!
I politely brought this up with the organizers and requested on my post-festival survey that I not be placed next to the axolotls again. The following year, they moved the cute salamanders to the other side of the hall, which was a huge relief! Plenty of people still came to see the amphibians, but they weren’t blocking my booth, and a few even stopped to look at my books.
A New Book on the Horizon
After that experience, I realized something important: there weren’t many axolotl books on the market, especially ones with solid scientific information. I thought that selling a book alongside the axolotls could benefit both of us.
I approached the teacher in charge, and while he wasn’t interested in writing a book himself, he did agree to check a book for accuracy if I wrote one. So, an axolotl book was added to my “to-be-written” list. I collected a few facts here and there but didn’t start the real writing process… until this month.
With the Tucson Reptile and Amphibian Show coming up in October, I felt a new sense of urgency. I wanted to have a solid first draft ready to share with the axolotl people.
For most of the summer, I hadn’t been in the mood to rhyme. The lack of monsoon rain seemed to have created a lack of muse. But one morning in mid-August, the muse returned! I opened a new document, and the stanzas flowed effortlessly. By the end of the day, I had about 75% of the lines written. The next day, I finished most of the rest.
I still have a few tricky stanzas to work out, but I’ll get them. I’ve already submitted the draft to my critique group and might even send it to the poetry society. After some final polishing, I’ll send it off to the axolotl folks for their expert review. Who knows? Maybe next year, I’ll have a new book to sell alongside the axolotl crew. Two markets for the price of one!
Read More About Our Scaly & Slithery Friends!
From desert rattlesnakes to Bahamian Curly-tail lizards, my books are full of fun facts and captivating stories about reptiles and other animals. Explore all my books here!