From Nature to Novels: Writing Children’s Books with Rosanne Parry
When we think about saving the environment, kids aren’t typically the first thing that comes to mind for most people – especially when it comes to fiction books written for children. But maybe that’s an important missing link…I’ve been seeing more and more scientists coming out with children’s books, and to be completely honest, it’s something I’ve thought about myself! In fact, I remember reading the book 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth, and it had a profound impact on me.You see, over my 20 years of working in science, first as a researcher and then leading a citizen science program focused on middle school kids, I realized that science alone cannot save a species.For most species, the solutions to their conservation challenges are embedded in how people view wildlife whether it’s from an educational, political, economic, or cultural lens. And it’s difficult to change adults’ minds.By working on such conservation issues over the years and understanding their root cause, the importance of keeping children interested in nature from a young age has become more and more clear to me.When kids love nature early on, it sets them up to be lifelong environmental advocates, stewards of nature, and conservationists. While adults tend to have their minds made up, kids are still curious; they’re still learning about the world and how it works.That’s where children’s author Roseanne Parry comes in. She connects children to nature through the fiction novels that she writes. Parry has authored books such as A Wolf Called Wander, a #1 Indie Best Seller, A Wolf Called Fire, a 2025 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, and A Horse Named Sky, which debuted on the New York Times Middle Grade Hardcover Best Sellers List at #4, continuing on the list for over 30 weeks.Parry’s books are written from the perspective of different animals, including orcas, mustangs, and more. She conducts thorough research on the species to ensure scientific accuracy, but crafts stories from fiction, allowing children to view the world and understand it from an animal’s perspective, ultimately creating empathy.If you’re interested in publishing, reaching a younger audience, or learning about how kids are key to saving and supporting our environment, you won’t want to miss this interview with Rosanne Parry. I finished this podcast feeling inspired by her story. She has great advice not just for aspiring authors, but also for how getting interested in nature.Specifically, I go over:Roseanne Parry’s journey to becoming a children’s authorHow she comes up with ideas for her best-selling booksHer research process before writing so that her material is scientifically accurate, while engagingWhat her writing process is like and how she goes about itHow she makes a living as an authorTips for writing and publishing a children’s bookThe differences between self-publishing and working with a publisherAnd MORE!Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes:👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/127-rosanne-parry/Jump Links:00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview02:15 The Journey to Becoming a Children's Author03:55 Balancing Writing and Family Life07:05 The Inspiration Behind Animal-Centric Stories09:47 Writing Process and Research16:18 Publishing Children's Books: A Guide22:29 Exploring Middle Grade Books22:47 Challenges of Writing for Young Children23:47 Inspiring Young Readers and Writers26:40 Citizen Science and Nature Exploration29:16 Female Perspectives in Science35:19 The Financial Realities of a Writing Career39:51 Upcoming Projects and Final ThoughtsLet’s connect! 🤝✨Website: https://fancyscientist.com/Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiologyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientistThreads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientistBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.socialPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/
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