Instititute of Children's Literature

Rx for Writers

Transcripts

"Writing About Animals" with Nancy Furstinger

Thursday, October 26, 2000

Moderator is Kristi Holl, author of 24 books for children and teens, plus 100+ articles and stories. Kristi is also the web editor for this site.

Nancy is Nancy Furstinger, a full-time freelance writer and editor who has worked in newspaper, magazine, and children's book publishing, including as managing editor for Simon & Schuster and copy chief for Troll Associates. In 2000, three new books on animals were released: Catskill Creatures, Creative Crafts for Critters, and The Interactive Dog Book: Fun Stuff to Do with Your Best Friend.

Names color coded in blue are viewers who had questions.

Interviews are held on Thursday nights: 9-11 p.m. Atlantic/Canada, 8-10 p.m. Eastern, 7-9 Central, 6-8 Mountain, and 5-7 Pacific

Moderator: Welcome to tonight's interview where we're going to hear Nancy Furstinger speak on "Writing About Animals." I'm Kristi Holl, your moderator for the evening and the web editor for this site. Nancy is a full-time freelance writer and editor who has worked in newspaper, magazine, and children's book publishing. In 2000, three books on animals were published: Catskill Creatures, Creative Crafts for Critters, and The Interactive Dog Book: Fun Stuff to Do with Your Best Friend. Welcome, Nancy!

Nancy: Thanks, Kristi, I am delighted to "talk" about two of my favorite topics: writing and animals!

Moderator: First, Nancy, were you a writer before you were an editor, or vice versa?

Nancy: I've been a writer since third grade, when I penned a play, so this certainly came first. Then after college I became a feature writer for Palm Beach Daily News and later a managing editor for several consumer and trade magazines. Next stop was children's book publishing. It's sometimes difficult being a combo writer/editor when I'm scribbling first drafts. I have to keep myself from self-editing and ruining the flow.

Moderator: Can you tell us some of the publishing houses you've worked for?

Nancy: I was the managing editor for three juvenile imprints for Silver Burdett Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, where I managed an annual list of 200 books. They ranged from preschool to young adult fiction and nonfiction. Then I was copy chief for Troll Associates, supervising all stages of manuscripts for juvenile books, CD ROMs, catalogs, and promotional pieces.

Moderator: Have animals always been a passion with you or your family?

Nancy: Yes, "dog" was practically the first word out of my mouth. After years of begging, I finally received one for my 10th birthday. I adore all animals. You might say that Saint Francis is my zoological hero. I've always felt a connection with all creatures great and small, perhaps because my surname (fur + stinger) conjures up images of bears and honeybees. My significant other, Ken, and I share our tiny chalet with a large lab mix and a quartet of house rabbits. If I had any more four-footed kids, we'd need an addition. LOL!

Moderator: Fur--stinger! I hadn't even noticed! :) What made you think of using your love of animals in your writing?

Nancy: Write about what you love, everyone advised me. I came up with the idea for Creative Crafts for Critters when creating holiday presents for my critters. Fun Stuff with Your Best Friend: The Interactive Dog Book was the book I was born to write as I'm practically Velcroed to my dog, Diamond Dreamer. And Catskill Creatures was germinated when I moved to a mountaintop in the Catskills and became curious about the wildlife who shared my backyard.

Ducky: Are your three new books on animals meant for children?

Nancy: Yes, Ducky, but adults enjoy them as well!

Moderator: Can you name for us some of your other animal books?

Nancy: In addition to the three I've had published this year, I edited, rewrote, and/or Americanized a slew of titles, including Blanca & Arusha: Tales of Two Big Cats, The Great Dinosaur Atlas, I Can Save the Earth, Your Calf, Stopwatch--a nature photography series, Killers--a predatory animals series and Popcorn Park Zoo. More animal titles for books are percolating in my imagination!

Moderator: I know you have written newspaper features and magazine articles about companion animals. Should an "animal writer" start with short nonfiction first in order to get published?

Nancy: I would build up credentials and clips by submitting to some of the great magazines for kids--and adults--that focus on animals, such as Pets: Part of the Family. Don't forget writing about local creatures for regional magazines, too.

Moderator: How else can you build up animal life writing credentials?

Nancy: You might consider volunteering for local humane societies. I am the editor of The Shelter Scoop, our shelter's newly created newsletter. And I write a monthly interactive pet column, Pet Tails: Ask Diamond Dreamer, which also spotlights dogs and cats for adoption. This pro bono writing not only helps you build up clips, but makes you feel terrific knowing you're making a difference for homeless pets.

Breazenda: I have devoted my adult life to helping animals and hope to write stories about it.

Nancy: You are my kind of person. Is there a local humane society nearby that might need you to publicize it, or perhaps you can do what I did and start a newsletter. Or contact a local newspaper and ask if they'd like a monthly column on animal issues and photos of pets for adoption.

christine collier: Nancy, I can well imagine that a book on making crafts for your pet was a big seller; everyone I know buys gifts for their pets, especially at Christmas.

Nancy: Yes, I did a lot of homework about statistics and it's something like 75% buy gifts for their pets! I know it puts a big dent in my budget.

chaser: Nancy, how long have you been writing and how long did it take to get your first writing published?

Nancy: I've been writing professionally since 1980, when I started off as a newspaper reporter. My first book was about 1-1/2 years in the making, and I had it sold to Scholastic book clubs, until they decided to change the focus of their clubs and dropped all books that had been contracted. So I had to persevere for another year until it was finally published, which was actually 2 weeks ago. In the meantime I had two other books published.

Ducky: Are children's magazines receptive to this sort of writing?

Nancy: Definitely, especially nonfiction pieces for middle-grade children. Go to your local bookstore or library and thumb through the variety to get an idea of which magazine publishers are receptive to animal articles.

christine collier: What are some good magazines for animal stories?

Nancy: Ranger Rick, for one. Focus on the Family, Ladybug, My Friend, Your Big Backyard, Cat and Dog Fancy (both have kid sections) and many regional publications are good selections as well for articles about wild animals.

princess steph: What was the newly published book called?

Nancy: Creative Crafts for Critters, by Stoddart Kids in Canada.

lisajg: My son and I got our dog from the humane society in our home town; the life between my son and his dog has inspired a couple of stories for me. (Note from Moderator: is this "writing from life" a good source of material?)

Nancy: Yes, especially short stories in the vein of James Herriot, the British vet.

Mountain Gal: Are children's magazines wanting more nonfiction about well-known animals or the more unusual ones?

Nancy: I think it's a blend of both. Of course unusual ones that kids haven't read about are always intriguing subjects. But what kid doesn't enjoy reading about bats, snakes, dinosaurs, and there's already tons of info written about these topics. The key thing is to find new facts and sources of information about these animals so it will be fresh.

Ducky: Do your books require a lot of research or are they based on personal experience?

Nancy: Well, the crafts and dog book were based on my interaction with my pets and neighborhood pets. When I started having local pooches taste test the treats in the book, I became the pied piper of dogs! The Catskill Creatures book required tons of research.

chaser: Nancy, what about short picture books about animals for preschoolers and first readers? Are they hard to sell? I can't seem to find a publisher interested in mine.

Nancy: I think picture books are harder to sell because everyone wants to write them. I'd suggest that you study the market carefully before submitting to a publisher. Flip through some books in the library or bookstore that are similar to your manuscripts and then if you like the way the book was produced, submit to that publisher and do NOT give up! The dog book took almost a year to sell, but I had faith and was persistent.

c: When writing about animals is it good to fictionalize a scenario, but keep the facts straight or just write it all straight?

Nancy: A great question! Actually the manuscript I'm sending around to publishers now combines these two points. It's a blend of the story line of an animal who's arriving at a sanctuary, with parts of the scenario fictionalized. But the facts about the sanctuary animals (burros) are straight nonfiction. It was a challenge to blend the two together.

KarenO: Do you write talking animal stories?

Nancy: No, publishers in general seem to veer away from all anthropomorphized stories these days, but I just returned from an Animal Communication seminar, so who knows? Maybe I'll reveal what my dog is actually thinking in my next story!

Moderator: There are so many stories and books about animals: how do you know when the market needs another one?

Nancy: Do your research, checking titles in Books in Print, which is a reference book at your library. If the animal topic you selected has already been written about, find a new twist. The manuscript I was just talking about--the burro sanctuary--is a good example. When I looked up burro in BIP, all the children's titles were about the burro in the Christmas story. There wasn't anything even remotely resembling my story out there.

Ducky: That is something I don't understand about researching the market. If they have something similar why would they want my ms.?

Nancy: Perhaps it could fit into a series, if there is something similar that they have already published. Or you might look for a book with a similar feel in the writing and contact that publisher.

Moderator: Do animal books show trends like other nonfiction books?

Nancy: Definitely. Now there is a proliferation of books a la Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers' Soul showing the emotional and spiritual connection between humans and pets. There are Internet web sites that specialize in this connection, like Petwarmers, Angel Animals, and Penelope Smith's site on animal communication. This is beginning to trickle down to children's books. And many of these sites are producing books and asking for short submissions. I read The Compassion of Animals and the author wrote in the back that she'd like readers to write her with similar stories for a follow-up book, so I submitted one about the unusual friendship between my dog and rabbit, and it will appear in her next book.

Moderator: Are the formats for the books changing, and if so, how does that translate into changes writers need to make?

Nancy: I see more affordable paperback 4-color book series on animals for kids of all ages. Each series is more inclusive, such as books on different breeds of dogs.

chaser: If the publishers are steering away from talking animal stories, where are the bedtime stories going to come from and what would they be about?

Nancy: The stories that become classics seem to have interaction between child and animal, such as Jane Yolen's Owl Moon. Of course, there will always be talking animal bedtime stories, but they do seem to have fallen out of favor with many publishers just now.

teresa kaaz: What age group do you target when writing fictional animal stories?

Nancy: I generally write for the 8-14 range, but the manuscript I'm shopping around now is a picture book for older children in the 5-8 age range.

Moderator: Do you ever submit the whole manuscript, or just an outline?

Nancy: It depends on the publisher's writers' guidelines, which you should always send away for or view on the web site. Some just want a query and outline. Others desire an introduction and sample chapter and others still want the whole shebang.

Moderator: Is your research primarily through print media or the Internet?

Nancy: This is an interesting question. It's a combination, leaning toward the Internet. When I moved to the Catskills, I was shocked at the outdated books in our library, which is only open part-time to boot. For example, on my forthcoming book on Connecticut, the only kids' book on the topic ended its timeline with 1985! The Internet has been a real salvation for research, but you must double-check facts since anyone can post a web site. On-line encyclopedias and university sites are reputable. With Catskill Creatures, I submitted the information I discovered to experts for verification. And later listed the experts in the credits, plus sent along a copy of the book.

Mountain Gal: I have trouble with the research aspect. I don't feel very confident that I have all the "facts" when writing an "animal" article. How do you get past the "research fear"?

Nancy: Good question! I tend to have about 5-6 pages of research for each page I use. You might consider checking your facts in several different places and then asking an expert to read over what you've written to see if you've missed any vital information. Most are very approachable and flattered that you asked for their help.

Lou: I live in a rural section and have access to only a small town library; how do you find your information on the Internet?

Nancy: You're in the same predicament as me! First I type the subject into the search engines. And then I explore the most promising sites, usually spending several hours sorting through the dreck. You wouldn't believe the problems I had researching Catskill Creatures. First there's apparently a punk rock group named Skunk, so I had great difficulty finding information about the mammal. And I wouldn't even go into the problems with the beaver section! I did go directly to expert's web sites such as Bat Conservation International, Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife, and the North American Bluebird Society. And I really took advantage of all the free encyclopedias that you can access, plus I purchased some CD ROM encyclopedias that have updated web sites and suggestions of other sites to visit.

Lou: Do you always have to research even if you feel you know a lot about the subject?

Nancy: Yes, I do feel better about doing some research. Even for dogs, which I think I'm an expert about. There's always intriguing information out there that you might miss unless you search. Like in the dog book, I included a chapter on Frisbee, as my dog was a Frisbee champion, but the more I looked for additional information on this topic, the more I kept seeing Flyball. So I researched this fun activity to do with your dog and ended up including it in the chapter.

Moderator: How much "on hands" research do you do, like visiting zoos or vets or pet shows?

Nancy: Not as much as I'd like to, alas. I do ask experts such as the Department of Environmental Conservation to review the factual content of the manuscript. It's important to specify factual content only, as they might disagree with your point of view. For example, the DEC encourages fur trapping, and in Catskill Creatures I took a pro-animal stance in the How You Can Help section, where I said that the only one who can wear a fur coat with grace and beauty is the animal born with it and to boycott fur! The DEC had a problem with this point of view. I'd love to write and take photos for a book about an African safari--photo safari, that is--and to do infield research.

Lou: How ever did you know to ask the Department of Environmental Conservation to review your manuscript?

Nancy: Good point! I had actually been to a lecture on black bears way back when I first moved here. Then I went to another one about attracting wildlife to your backyard. Both were given by conservation officers, so they were a natural to approach when I had the book in manuscript form.

jstrassh: What kind of animal stories are publishers tired of seeing?

Nancy: I think they are bored to death about the lost puppy who finds his way home, or the kid who begs his parents for a pet, unless it's done with a twist--perhaps the kid wants a boa constrictor!

Moderator: Are animal books more likely to sell if you can create a series?

Nancy: So far mine have all been stand-alone titles, but I'd love to write a series. Someone asked me if there would be an Interactive Cat Book, but the publisher specializes only in dog books.

patmc: I've sold several biographies, but I'm interested in doing books on wildlife. Any suggestions?

Nancy: Congrats! I take it the publisher you've done the bios for doesn't do wildlife books? I'd start by writing up a proposal, maybe for a series on wildlife. Then take one topic, say on wolves, and write the outline for this. Target a publisher who had published books on wild animals or one that might seem receptive. Then send away for that publisher's catalogue and writer's guidelines, and depending what they ask for, submit your series proposal, outline and sample chapter, and let them know why your book is unique from the other books on wildlife out there, what your target audience would be, and anything that would help them market and sell the book, as the marketing and sales departments unfortunately often dictate to the editorial department which titles to pursue for the lists. Best of luck to you!

00:28 Moderator: Are the animal books you publish in hard-cover (like for schools and libraries)? Where do they sell the most?

Nancy: So far, these three have been in soft cover. They are geared to the trade market and sold through bookstores. Catskill Creatures is making inroads in special markets, such as hobby shops, pet stores, gift shops, and such.

Mountain Gal: Do the magazines (or book publishers) generally want us to provide photos as well?

Nancy: A good question that I was going to talk about next. It can't hurt to mention to magazines that you have good quality photos or know of a source where you can obtain them. Some book publishers would prefer that their art department/designer obtain the photos, and others ask you to do photo research, which can be a real chore. In a rare instance, a publisher will request that you find an artist to illustrate your book. This occurred with my dog book. I hit the Internet--back then I was a total novice--and came up with a promising selection of about nine animal artists. The wonderful British artist Bob Ebdon won; he also illustrated Catskill Creatures. We worked exclusively through e-mail. I would send him web sites about the different creatures; he'd scan in and send me his sketches; I'd make comments and he would make any revisions. It was exciting to open my e-mail each day!

Lainey: When you are writing from an animal's point of view, is it better to stay within the animal's natural capabilities?

Nancy: Yes, for example, if you were writing from a dog's point of view, you would accentuate his keen sense of smell and hearing, but not of color vision.

Mom of 3: I recently saw some animal book in the shape of the animal, complete with 'stuffed' appendages on the ends. [Is this a new trend?]

Nancy: Cute! These are die-cut books in the shape of the topics they contain, but I haven't seen any with those stuffed appendages--very clever--a neat marketing tool like including a stuffed bunny with Goodnight Moon.

jstrassh: Are publishers bored with stories where the animals take on human characteristics?

Nancy: I think they're requesting more reality and less anthropomorphizing. Yet those Animorph books were a popular trend a while back, so you can never tell which way the winds of the marketplace will blow.

North: When writing nonfiction text and pairing it with interactive text, are there any do's or don'ts? Let's say you're using some activities a junior naturalist could do.

Nancy: Make sure it is doable for kids that age. I had to delete some tricks from the dog book that would take too long for impatient kids to teach their dog. You might test market the interactive portion with local kids to see if their interest level holds. With so much competition from TV, videos, the computer games, and Internet, you really have to immediately grab and hold kids' attention or they'll put your book aside. In the interactive activities I've included in the dog and Catskill books, I try to select activities that are at the appropriate age level and not something so difficult that it will be frustrating for the kid.

jstrassh: If you can illustrate yourself [or take your own photos], are your chances better for publication?

Nancy: Only if you are a professional artist or photographer. Otherwise it will hurt your chances. You must present a professional package deal to the publisher, with a portfolio of artwork or photos that are of top quality. In some cases this might sway a publisher over to your side.

jstrassh: Is there a "hot" animal topic that publishers are really looking for right now?

Nancy: If there is I wish I knew about it! Some topics are always hot, such as dinosaurs. Kids are perpetually intrigued by them. The series called Killers that I worked on was another perennial favorite--animals that are cold (or hot) blooded killers. And I see many series about pet care for even the youngest of kids.

chaser: Do you send out multiple mss, or do you just target one publisher until they respond?

Nancy: Well, this is a terrific question that I always discuss with my writer friends, and we came to the conclusion that if we didn't send out multiple mss, one publisher could sit on our manuscript for up to two years! So, yes, I do send out multiple mss, but I note it in the query letter.

Moderator: Your job for publishers is described as in-house freelancer: what is that exactly?

Nancy: That is when you physically work on the premises. Nowadays, I do all my freelancing through Federal Express and e-mail. Isn't modern technology grand? Especially when there's a blizzard raging outside.

Moderator: No kidding! What have or do your duties entail at publishing houses?

Nancy: Everything from creating concepts for a series to updating books for reprints and all the steps in between. At Simon & Schuster I dealt a lot with overseas publishers as we co-published many series. I would have to Americanize the black plate --type-- for the U.S. market. Today I write, ghostwrite, edit, and proofread for a variety of trade and educational publishers.

Moderator: Do you have an "in" with publishers since you work as an editor?

Nancy: Nope, unfortunately that division of S&S is no longer in existence, and Troll passed on publishing the crafts book.

Moderator: Your books have been published by a wide variety of publishers. Is this a recommended marketing technique for new writers?

Nancy: Since big conglomerants are gobbling up publishers, I think new writers have to search out new niches. I tend to favor smaller independent publishers, who can give your title more individual attention. Plus it is less likely to be remaindered (go out of print) so quickly. And since they publish less books, they tend to give you more individualized attention. You can study catalogs to discover what some of these small publishing houses produce. Doral Publishing, which published The Interactive Dog Book, does strictly dog titles, primarily nonfiction and mostly adult. I contacted them when I saw that the one children's title they had published had won an award from the Dog Writers of America. Stoddart Kids, who published the crafts book, publishes a blend of nonfiction and fiction for a variety of age ranges. And I'm discovering new niches all the time. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators publishes a great bulletin with a publishers' corner and submission information, highlighting some of the more interesting publishers.

JAMES55CLINTON: Are publishers interested in working animals? Sheep dogs, draft animals, performing animals, for example.

Nancy: Yes. Great topic. I've seen a series on dogs with jobs, such as Seeing Eye Dog, drug and bomb sniffing dogs, etc. but haven't seen anything on performing animals. Wonderful idea--very kid friendly--you should try writing up a proposal on this one!

Lainey: If I have a specific idea for a new column in a magazine, would surveys help to show the publisher/editor that there is a need/market for it?

Nancy: That sounds like a feasible approach and would surely show the publisher that you are serious about the topic and devoted to the marketing, so they would consider you a professional and be more receptive to your column idea.

chaser: What is a reasonable length of time to wait, after you have revised and rewritten and reworked your ms, before submitting to the same publisher? Or is that a no-no?

Nancy: If the publisher has asked for a revision or expansion, by all means go for it! For instance, my crafts book initially featured only homemade gifts for dogs and cats, and the publisher was interested--she even had a proven artist in mind--but asked me to expand to fish, birds, small animals. I did and sent it back immediately. If the publisher expresses interest in seeing a revision, send it back as soon as you've revised and rewritten.

jstrassh: Can I consider myself an author if I haven't had something published yet, and an illustrator if I have an art degree but also have not illustrated a book yet?

Nancy: Yes, as long as you are writing and illustrating actively. Keep on doing this and submitting--don't give up--persevere!

Lou: When do you find your most productive writing time, and how?

Nancy: It varies. I've been struck by inspiration in the middle of the night and without a pen and flashlight have lost many great ideas until I got smart. I do tend to be very productive in the morning, when I seek inspiration during walks with my dog--perhaps it's the blood rushing through my head. I always set aside a chunk of time in the afternoon for revising. As for how--sheer determination to get those animal stories out there!

Moderator: I'm sorry to interrupt here, but I'm afraid we're out of time. Thank you so much, Nancy, for coming tonight and talking about a fun and fascinating subject!

Nancy: Thanks--it was a blast! And to all out there, keep on submitting those animal stories. There will always be a need as long as there are kids who love animals!!!

Moderator: How true! Do come back in two weeks to hear Sharelle Moranville speak on a topic very dear to many of our hearts: "Writing, Working Full-time -- and When to Make the Break!" Sharelle has published fiction in many magazines, one of her stories is in Best of the Children's Market, and her newest chapter book The Purple Ribbon is due out in 2001. You won't want to miss this! In the meantime, enjoy your writing life. Good night, everyone!

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