Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.
Recently, we interviewed Susan Marie Chapman about her writing and recently released book, Grumpy and Green Parrot Find a New Home in Naples, a sweet, sun-drenched adventure with plenty of heart and a dash of whimsy (Read the review here).
Susan Marie Chapman grew up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania and is the eldest of eight children.
She has always had a special connection with animals and nature because of her storybook childhood. Today she resides in Naples, Florida with her two white and very fluffy Pomeranian dogs, Cookie and Sugar. Susan is the author of the Grumpy the Iguana and Green Parrot Adventure series(15 books) as well as the Sugar and Cookie series (4 books, two of these books are available in Spanish)
What inspired you to write Grumpy and Green Parrot Find a New Home in Naples, and why did you choose Naples, Florida, as the setting for this adventure?
When I moved from Miami Beach to Naples, Florida, in real life, I decided to bring my characters to Naples as well. I am inspired by my surroundings and nature walks so it only seemed natural that my characters experience the same.
Mr. Pelican is an interesting character who combines wisdom, kindness, and a love of meditation. What inspired his creation, and what role does he play in the story’s larger message?
I absolutely love pelicans. They are fascinating to watch as they scan the water for food. They line up on the Naples Pier every morning and dive head first into the gulf to catch their breakfast.
I introduced Mr. Pelican into my series because he plays a very big part in my next two books.In this book, Mr. Pelican knows the area well and he is a good friend to the newcomers, Grumpy and Green Parrot. He makes them feel welcome and shows them that moving to a new place can be quite fun once you find the perfect home and good friends to enjoy it with.
The young pelican’s determination to join the elite Pelican Squad adds humor and a lesson about patience and perseverance. What inspired this character and his relationship with his grandfather?
I introduced Grandpa Pelican and his grandson because I was already planning my next book called, The Littlest Pelican. It is about the relationship between the grandfather and grandson and a competition and a hero.
What first inspired you to become a children’s book author, and how has your writing journey evolved over the years?
This is a great question because honestly it happened organically. I was only ever going to write one book about my dogs. They were my inspiration. Now 24 books later it is hard to believe. The books just kept coming out of me, in my dreams and during my walks on the beach and in the park, my characters came alive.
I did write a short story in six grade and with the help of my English teacher, I submitted it into a contest and won. I never forgot that feeling and in fact, I kept the medal that I received for over 50 years. I still have it. But, that being said, I never thought about becoming an author. English was always my favorite subject in school. My dad was an English major in college and graduated Summa Cum Laude. So maybe my love of books came from him. I graduated with a degree in Economics and an undergraduate degree in Business. I worked and eventually married and had children. It was not until years later that I wrote my first book, Love, Sugar And Cookie in 2017.
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