Gnarlys of the North Woods received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Mary Cuffe Perez.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Gnarlys of the North Woods, published August, 2019
What’s the book’s first line?
Fiddledum!
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
It is about the dumbest, smartest, most bothersome and adventuresome creatures in the North Woods. Their adventures will entice kids to search for the fictional Gnarlys, discovering in their quest, the very real world of the forest at their feet.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’m a woods roamer, an amateur naturalist, and whenever I am in the woods I closely observe and wonder about the many life forms that compose the woodland environment. The Gnarlys sprung from one of these outings. I leaned down to study a perfectly round hole at the base of an oak, and wondered – who goes there? Gnarlys of course!
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
To follow the Gnarlys on their many adventures in the forest environment and their run-ins with the know-it-all Gnomes. It will entice young and old to explore the world at their feet.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Since all three Gnarlys are central to the story, there is no main character. The one quality they share is a certain gnarliness. However, Newt, the smallest Gnarly, has the special gift of juju, the ability to imitate any sound in the forest – animal, bird, wind, etc.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Hmmm …. A Gnarly?
When did you first decide to become an author?
It was never a decision. It sort of happened somewhere along my life’s path.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
No, I’ve written five others – this is my first indie book.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
Writing workshops, grant writing, taking care of horses.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Very hard to say. Sometimes hours a day, sometimes much less.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
Getting the respect your book deserves. Also, doing the promotion necessary to get the book out there – in bookstores, libraries, etc.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Be sure you absolutely believe in your product because you are going to work hard and spend some money to get it out there. It is essential to have a physical community you know will buy the book; also, an online network. If you know people who have the talents you need – such as an illustrator, copyeditor, etc. — that is a big plus. Tapping into local talent will not only save you money but enable you to have a more intimate and productive working relationship. Also, I would go with a publishing company that will work with you directly. I used Epigraph in Rhinebeck, NY, and they were very good.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Sure. They have far more resources than I have. However, that’s conditional. If they want to make drastic changes, no way.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
A good story.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Too many to name. Conrad Richter is one of my favorites – The Light in the Forest.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Also, too many to name, but just to pick one: The Education of Little Tree.