Welcome to Inside the Mind where we here at The Faerie Review interview authors and creators.
Our guest today is J P Cawood, the author behind It’s a Squirrely Life
Lily: Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview J.P. I liked reading It’s a Squirrely Life. What inspired you to write this?
J.P. : I first wrote It’s a Squirrely Life as a screenplay for an animated film. I started pitching the project to various studios and then realized how fun it would be to adapt it into a book. I already had the cover art done for the pitches, so the book came together really easily. I wanted to create a new Christmas classic that kids loved to return to every year.
Lily: That’s awesome, and I can definitely see this becoming a Christmas tradition for kids to read each year. Is George based on anyone?
J.P. : George the squirrel is very loosely based on George from It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s a Christmas classic that is actually quite dark and not very kid friendly, but the spirit of that film still holds up today. So I put a nutty twist on that loose premise of a small town bank in trouble during the holidays.
Lily: I think you did a great job translating George, and the premise, into kid friendly versions. Will George make an appearance in any other books?
J.P. : I don’t think so. I love the heartfelt ending in It’s a Squirrely Life, so I feel George’s journey is complete. He learned a lot about himself during the adventure, and although I’m sure he and his crazy cast of friends could have many more adventures, I don’t plan to write a sequel at this time.
Lily: They were certainly fun to read about! What’s one thing (without giving any spoilers) you hope readers take away from this?
J.P. : I hope kids and families are inspired by the Oak Creek animal community. Even when things aren’t going their way, they knew they could make their world a better place. They knew right versus wrong, and banned together to stand up for themselves. They’re stronger together, and that’s a lesson we should all remember, whether it’s Christmas or not.
Lily: It’s definitely a wonderful message. Now we’d like to talk about you as a writer. Where’s your favorite place to write?
J.P. : I revamped my home office during covid, and I absolutely love my space. I have a large desk with lots of room to spread out, and I also have a meditation corner with comfy pillows. I meditate daily, which helps boost my creativity. If I’m stuck on a scene, I can go in my corner and listen for clarity.
Lily: Sounds like the perfect creative space. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
J.P. : Plotter! Outlines are my friend. That way, I can plan out the beginning, middle, and end. Sometimes there may be holes in the middle or my characters will take me on a tangent, but at least I have the bones of the story so I know where I ultimately want to end up.
Lily: Sounds like it helps to have a bit of road map for the story. Is it harder to write or edit your first draft?
J.P. : I personally think it’s harder to write the first draft, but that’s also a lot more fun! That’s where the creativity really gets exciting. Editing can be a bit boring, and I always want to move to my next story with fresh ideas. Revisions are easier because the heavy lifting has been done, but not nearly as fun.
Lily: Creativity is always more fun, hehe. Let’s finish up with some fun questions and get inside your mind. Would you rather your only mode of transportation be a giraffe or zebra?
J.P. : Good question! A giraffe would be so cool to ride because they’re so tall. Talk about a great vantage point! Plus, giraffes look so funny when they run.
Lily: I’m trying to imagine a giraffe running around my small town, it would definitely be a funny sight. What’s your favorite dessert?
J.P. : I absolutely love ice cream cookie sandwiches. Trader Joes has the best ones.
Lily: Ooooh I haven’t had one of those in ages. Might have to grab some next time I’m at the store. If money/travel was no problem, where would you want to go on vacation?
J.P. : I really want to have sushi and saki in Tokyo, Japan. It seems like such an amazing city with so much to see and experience. The art, street fashion, food… That’s #1 on my bucket list.
Lily: That would be an awesome time! What’s one movie that never gets old no matter how many times you watch it?
J.P. : Jumanji. The original one with Kirsten Dunst and Robin Williams. I watched it well over 100 times when I was a kid, and it never gets old. The reboot was surprisingly good, too!
Lily: I love that movie! I remember watching it as a kid, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the reboot. What song(s) do you listen to when you need a boost?
J.P. : Lately, I’d pick “Man of the Woods” by Justin Timberlake. I think that album was underrated. My favorite band is Hanson, who made MMMBop. That’s not my favorite song of theirs, but it’s fun and makes me smile. Most of their music is upbeat and beautiful.
Lily: Oh my gosh Hanson takes me back. If you could spend the day in any book with the main characters, what book would it be, and what would you do?
J.P. : I recently read The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain. It was a wonderful family drama with time travel. I’d love to jump around in time and see what the world was like in different eras. The possibilities are endless with time travel!
Lily: Time travel would be awesome! Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
J.P. : Since It’s a Squirrely Life is a Christmas book, I’d love to tell you about my favorite Christmas tradition. My son is a toddler and I love seeing the season through his eyes. I bought an advent calendar with drawers, and it’s fun to put a new treasure in there everyday for him to discover. It can be hard to come up with new ideas, but I love the challenge! The holidays are great because it’s an excuse to show our loved ones how much we care, every day of the month of December!
Lily: Oh that’s awesome! My favorite part about the winter holidays is how magical it is for kids. How can readers discover more about you and you work?
J.P. : I currently have 5 books available; 3 for kids and 2 for adults. The Wrong Rock is a rhyming picture book for littles, and we made an Oscar-qualified short animated film to accompany the book. That can be found at www.thewrongrock.com, as well as on Amazon and YouTube.
Sam & The Secrets of the Universe is an outer space adventure for kids 9+ which is on Amazon and Audible as an audiobook.
Love from Mars and Tales from the 4th Dimension are my adult sci-fi books. I’ll be releasing a YA sci-fi adventure later this year. For updates, excerpts, and free books, sign up for my mailing list: http://eepurl.com/ciFUcb
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