Interview With Author Olga Scott

 

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? I've always found that nature has a lot to teach us. I take inspiration from various animals' skills and traits, and I'm fascinated by the resourcefulness of raccoons and their ability to learn. Raccoons are not normally found in the UK, and I love coming across videos of raccoons on social media, usually doing something very funny and cute (but also very clever, and inevitably cheeky). One evening, my husband was away for work, and I occupied myself with funny animal videos, which included those of raccoons. I thought to myself, if they could speak, they would have so many stories! And somehow that line - 'a story of a raccoon' - prompted me to start writing.

 

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? It's written for children, probably 6-9 years old. It's about one raccoon's craving for adventure and exploration, but ultimately about the value of family. The story also highlights the importance of friends to rely on when we need a little help along the way. 

 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?  It's a rhymed story so first of all, I hope that the readers will find it entertaining. I also hope that this story reminds children of the importance of family and helping someone on their quest when able.

 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The title was the first thing that got into my head and motivated me to write the story, so it couldn't have been anything else. And the design cover represents a culmination of the story, but the highlight of it is the motivated little raccoon setting off for his adventure.

 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Well since you've covered that one already... On a serious note, everyone's journey is completely individual, so don't get put off by stories from others who faced disappointment along the way. Being well-connected and comfortable with self-promotion helps, as well as having good sales skills and acumen. But I think it's important to recognize that this is a very competitive industry so do it for the love, not the money. 

 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Since I am in children's publishing, what makes it very hard to succeed is that we're competing against the classics and celebrity children's books. This will always mean a very small window of opportunity for new authors and I don't see that changing. But equally, while for some time there have been a lot of prediction of printed publishing dying out in favor of digital publishing, but the book shops still stand, and the feeling of a book in your hands many find much more wholesome than a Kindle. I think there will be market for print for quite some time. Another consideration is that books fulfil so many purposes - some use them to educate themselves and learn, some use them as an escape, for some it's a relaxation mechanism and reading books is simply a healthier habit than ours of TV or social media. So, I think publishing will continue to play an important part in the lives of many. 

 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? I am originally from Ukraine, and I was growing up in the era before plasma TVs, smartphones and social media. Video games also came to the market much later. So most of my childhood, I had to create my own fun, spending lots of time outside and inventing your own adventures. So I am very familiar with the sentiment of the main character, who is bored and sets his mind on an adventure with an unrealistic goal, the outcome of which is an essential part of learning.

 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I write both prose and rhymed stories, but I believe my signature style is telling a story in rhyme. I am not aware of any writers my work would be similar to, which is positive for me - authenticity plays a big part in writing.

 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? To write, I need my space without distractions, not only physically but also mentally. Getting this space, when all that exists is just you and the characters evolving as part of the story, is difficult with a very busy job and study (I studied psychotherapy at the time).

 

10.  If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? It's a good entertaining bedtime/pastime read, which will hopefully keep your kids entertained for a bit, as well as remind them to not take their family for granted.

 

About The Author: Olga Scott is an accomplished Communications professional and children’s writer, with a keen interest in nature and sustainability. Originally from Ukraine, Olga lives in the UK countryside with her husband and a small menagerie of four much-loved animals: three cats and a house bunny. They provide her with endless inspiration for her books. For more info, please see:  https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/olga-scott or  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrZ6Dj9itQM 

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.