Interview with Author Madeleine Dunphy
Madeleine Dunphy
I am thrilled to have interviewed author Madeleine Dunphy, who shared with us details of of writing life, her book ‘The Turtle Dove’s Journey‘, which was released on 18th June 2020, and answered a few fun questions. This post contains affiliate links.
Madeleine Dunphy’s books have been published by Hyperion Books for Children, Millbrook Press, and her own publishing company, Web of Life Children’s Books—a publishing company devoted to publishing picture books about the environment. Madeleine is also a teacher, activist and mother.
Madeleine has traveled extensively to research her various books. Her travels include visiting the mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, camping out in the Amazon rain forest in Peru, visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and scuba diving with sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, dog and two cats.
1) Where did the inspiration for your book come from?
I have always been interested in bird migration. It fascinates me that some birds travel thousands of miles back and forth every year. They travel over different habitats, environments, cities, and bodies of water. I thought that following a bird on its migration would be a great way to teach kids about bird behavior and geography.
2) How did you plan out the plot?
I based the story on the migration of a real turtle dove named Titan who was tracked by satellite telemetry by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). I mapped out Titan’s journey and then decided where the bird in my story would stop along Titan’s route. That gave me the structure for the story.
I then had to find ways to incorporate the various challenges the turtle dove encounters along the way. I needed to answer such questions as: How does he find food and water? What food does he eat? Where does he sleep? Who are his predators? How does he know where to go? Where does he go? How long does it take him to migrate? How many miles (km) does he go? How does he manage various weather conditions such as wind, rain or drought? Does he interact with other birds? I also wanted to include as many interesting locations/environments as possible.
3) When did you choose the title for your book?
The Turtle Dove’s Journey: A Story of Migration is the second book in a series about bird migration. The first book was The Peregrine’s Journey: A Story of Migration. I like the word “journey.”
4) How did you come up with the names for your characters?
There aren’t any characters with names in the book.
5) Can you give us a hint to any sections that you removed?
I would have liked to include information in the back matter about Titan—the turtle dove this story was based on, but there wasn’t enough room. Picture books are typically only 32-pages long.
6) What made you choose this genre?
I would put this book under the category of creative nonfiction. I like to create stories based on what really happens in the world.
7) How long did it take you to complete your book?
Idea stage to publishing was three years, which is actually a very short time in the publishing world.
8) Can you describe your book in three words?
Miracles of Nature.
9) What’s the hardest part of being a writer?
Having the motivation to keep at it especially when you don’t have a deadline.
10) Why should our readers pick your book up?
People should pick up my book because our natural world is so much more interesting than people realize! The Turtle Dove’s Journey: A Story of Migration is based on the migration of a real turtle dove who migrates from England to Mali in West Africa. Turtle doves are highly endangered, and they need all the help they can get.
A Story of Migration
Illustrator – Marlo Garnsworthy
Publisher – Web of Life Children’s Books
Pages – 32
Release Date – 18th June 2020
ISBN 13 – 978-1970039016
Format – Hardcover
Synopsis
Based on the migration of a real turtle dove tracked by satellite telemetry, this book follows a turtle dove on his annual migration from Europe to Africa.
Starting in the prim hedges of Suffolk, England, instinct drives the dove high into the night skies for a 4,000 mile trip to the savannahs of Mali, in West Africa. Along the way there are lonely, moonlit flights above the sea, a cozy hideout in the bushes of Bordeaux, France, a meeting of the birds at Gibraltar, the fountains of Casablanca, winds flowing “like a river” down canyons of the Atlas Mountains, and a Sahara sandstorm churning below. With carefully researched prose and luminous paintings, this book is perfect for anyone who has ever wondered about the mysterious journeys of Earth’s feathered creatures.
Other Books in the Series: THE PEREGRINE’S JOURNEY: A STORY OF MIGRATION.
Free, downloadable activities designed to accompany the book are available on the publisher’s website. Research, mapping, anatomy, nature, art, vocabulary, and literature activities address Common Core State Standards: ELA/Literacy and Next Generation Science Standards.
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Fun Questions
1) Do you have a writing buddy (i.e. a pet)?
My dog Teddy.
2) Do you have any writing quirks?
I have to write in silence, and it is much better if there is no one else in the house. Black tea is a must.
3) Where do you write?
I write in my office at my desk. It is important to have ergonomically correct furniture for long hauls so that your back or wrists don’t get tired.
4) Your book has been made into a movie, you’ve been offered a cameo role, what will you be doing?
I will be a cheerleader with pom poms cheering the turtle dove on!
5) A talking owl has just finished reading your book, what’s the first thing he says to you?
“Wow! I want to meet this bird. But I’m not sure he would want to meet me because I might eat him!”
Author links
Goodreads
Website
A big thank you to Madeleine Dunphy for sharing her writing life with us and for a wonderful interview.
