Have you ever thought…what if I spent the day as an animal? Well, in Lisa Connor’s debut picture book, Oliver’s Otter Phase, one little boy spends the day as his favorite animal from the aquarium!
How did Lisa dream up this idea? It was after a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium, but don’t take it from us. Here is Lisa’s interview!
Were there any funny, special or unusual circumstances or incidents in the conception/writing of this book?
I knew I wanted to write a story about sea otters after I attended a program on otters at the Vancouver Aquarium. I learned facts about sea otter behavior that I did not know, and I wanted to share this information with kids. I attempted to write a nonfiction book, but kept getting stuck, feeling it was too dry. Then I had a memory of sticking bologna on my tummy as a child and I realized I needed to write a fiction story instead.
When did you become interested in writing?
I first dreamed of writing in my early 20s after reading Winter by Rick Bass. I thought how wonderful it could be to arrange words in a way that made the reader laugh, cry and ponder those words for days after.
When are you most creative?
A long solo walk or traveling always spark my creativity. Driving last summer in Montana, I had to pull over and have my husband drive, so I could get an idea down on paper.
What is most rewarding and/or challenging about writing children’s books? 
The most challenging aspect of writing children’s books is letting go of an original idea while revising – to rearrange it, chop it up and start over, letting the best story grow. The most rewarding aspect is when this revision process works.
Get to know more about Oliver’s Otter Phase and all the educational extras that we offer on the Arbordale website.
Arbordale Publishing's Blog 
Reblogged this on ReadWriteDream and commented:
I would be appreciative of anyone who bought a book writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Thanks so much.