Q&A with Gail Kuhnlein

 

 

Gail Kuhnlein is the author of the new children's picture book Into the Thicket. She also has written the picture book How Happy Is a Lark?. She lives near Ann Arbor, Michigan.

 

Q: You’ve said the inspiration for Into the Thicket came from a family experience--can you tell us more about that?

 

A: Sure, I’m always happy to talk about my sons. If we travel back in time some 22 years ago, our boys were playing catch in the backyard on a late spring day.

 

When big brother’s throw soared over little brother’s head, he dashed next door to retrieve the football. Next to the ball, he spotted “something.” The creature was too young to be recognizable. It lay alone in the dry grass and hot sun, rocking a bit from side to side, its heart visibly thumping. The mystery animal turned out to be an injured baby rabbit!

 

From this point forward, except for taking the kit (as baby rabbits are called) to a wildlife rehabilitator, the rest of the book is fiction. With the help of my wonderful editor, Bob Comenole, I rewrote and edited the manuscript.

 

From the get-go, I rewrote the ending so that the baby rabbit lives. In real life, ours was too young to survive. In an author’s note at the end of the book, I mention how impactful it can be to write about and change our stories and rewrite endings.

 

Q: What do you think John Megahan’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Oh my gosh. Working with John on this book was a chance of a lifetime. John’s illustrations bring the story to colorful, magical, breathtaking life. I’m over the moon with how our book turned out. The time, love, and patience John put into our book shows. The level of detail is incredible.

 

His hand-drawn sketches with watercolor give soft, nostalgic life to the characters and settings. The different perspectives he captured, within a limited number of settings, makes each page turn a delightful surprise.

 

The illustrations add personality, enchantment and enhance the emotional feel of the story. A number of reviews mention the story’s emotional depth and how it will stay with the reader long after the final page.

 

Q: Did you need to do any research for the book, and if so, did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: My research was in different phases, starting some 20 years ago when I spoke to the wildlife rehabilitator we took the rabbit to for help. I used her name, Felice, in the book. She graciously shared details of the animal’s care with me.

 

After decades seeking a publisher (it’s tough out there), I was reworking the story to self-publish and realized how much time had passed. So, a wildlife rehab friend directed me to Keirstie Carducci of Out-Back Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

 

As a result of our discussions, I updated some rehab strategies and added further detail. I’m grateful for her help and chose to donate half of my proceeds to Out-Back. After a year, I may choose another wildlife rehab or related organization. John will donate to conservation causes.

 

What was most eye-opening (if not so surprising) to me was learning how difficult it is for rabbits under a week old to survive without their mother. Rabbits’ eyes open at about a week old.

 

This helped explain what happened to our rabbit in real life. Its eyes were closed when my son found it. Rabbits get a special food from their mothers during the first week that helps them survive. I “aged” the rabbit in my story to make its survival more realistic.

 

I was pleasantly surprised to learn strategies to protect a nest of baby rabbits, for people with dogs who find a nest in their yard, for example. If a nest is moved “to protect” the babies, sadly, mama rabbit won’t find them.

 

Placing an upside-down wheelbarrow or a lawn mower over the nest to keep your dog out works. As long as Mama has a couple inches of space, she can get to her babies.

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?

 

A: I hope that children take away an enhanced feeling of compassion, love, and respect for wildlife and our natural world. This upcoming generation will be faced with mounting environmental crises. They are the ones who are going to have to, quite literally, save the world.

 

I want them to know that they can make a difference by caring and taking action. I hope that in our hero, Patrick, they see that children can overcome their fears, a step at a time. I’d also like Patrick to be a role model for difficult times everyone eventually faces when we love deeply and have to learn to cope with letting go.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: My main writing related activity now is marketing Into the Thicket. I have a couple more older manuscripts I’m thinking about rewriting and editing in the future. I think one of these would be a good project for the new year.

 

One I have in mind was, interestingly, also inspired by our youngest son and fictionalized. I have a couple of new ideas brewing, too. It will be fun (for me) to see where I go next.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I take the honor of writing for children to heart. Writing picture books combines two loves of my life. I have a profound respect and love for children. I remember what it was like to be a child.

 

In many ways, I feel the same INSIDE now as I did then: in our core, our soul, perhaps. I hope that my life experiences have made me somewhat wiser, but that shy little girl will always be within.

 

I know she would be happy to see this newfound chapter of my life: this dream of ours coming true. When I see photos of my little self, I think how I’d love to hug her and tell her it’s going to be hard, at times, but we’ll be alright. In a way, by continuing to write, as little me did, I’m honoring her and wrapping her tightly in my arms.

 

More broadly, I’d love to play even a tiny role in encouraging young writers (or whatever it is their heart desires) to follow their dreams.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Gail Kuhnlein. Enter this giveaway for the chance to win one of three signed hardcover copies of Into the Thicket, each accompanied by a set of custom stickers featuring illustrations from the book. One grand prize winner will receive a signed hardcover of Into the Thicket with an adorable rabbit companion stuffie and a set of custom stickers, plus a signed paperback of How Happy Is a Lark? along with a singing lark stuffie.