SusieC’ Interview with Author, Hazel Nutt. Nov. 14, 2013

Susie Caron’s interview with the author of Secret Santa Squirrels, Hazel Nutt.

Please note: This interview involves talking with a little girl who is “forever two years old.” Please understand and accept the unusual spelling and speech.

Susie: Hi Hazel Nutt. Thank you for agreeing to visit me here and to talk about your book: The Secret Santa Squirrels. I know you are only 2 years old, so I promise this chat will be fun. Can you tell me just a little bit about your new book?

Hazel: Secret Santa Squirrels is a Christmas picture book revealing the secret of how Santa manages to deliver presents worldwide in such a short space of time, with the help of reindeer poo and squirrels!

Susie: Reindeer poo? Hm, that’s interesting. How did a two year old end up writing picture books?

Hazel: I dictate to my parents what I want written down and what pictures I’d like drawn, in same way I try to dictate what they do each day, where they have to sit when I’m playing and making them make several lunches, because I ask for something, then refuse to eat it! Although I think they might take some artistic license.

Susie: How did the idea for Secret Santa Squirrels come about?

Hazel: Well, as my fans will know I absolutely adore squirrels and Secret Santa Squirrels is my fourth picture book featuring squirrels. However, the specific idea for this book came about whilst watching Christmas adverts – I thought where are all the squirrels at Christmas and what do they do, as you don’t see them in any adverts. Secret Santa Squirrels is about what I think squirrels get up to at Christmas (and they might just have told me this joyous secret, as I do like chatting to them).

Susie: What makes Secret Santa Squirrels sizzle?

Hazel: This is a really imaginative take on how we get our Christmas presents an I don’t think that anyone else will have ever thought of (or about the role) that squirrels play at Christmas, let alone how the reindeer help.

Susie: You are only 2 years old so you probably know why kids would love your books. Tell me what they will like.

Hazel: As long as picture books are fun, with a bit of silly and can sometimes teach us something, I think us toddlers can be kept quite happy. I think that the adult’s inner child needs to connect with a book as well so that it can be told to us as if we are reading it ourselves.

Susie: What advice would you give someone who wants to write a picture book?

Hazel: I think that every child and every parent has a picture book in them. You can make a picture book about animal facts, take pictures of a day trip and make that into a picture book, or scan in your 2 year olds paintings – the opportunities and ideas are endless and fun – so in the words of a famous ad – just do it!

Susie: What will you be writing next?

Hazel: Now I’ve written a few books that are mainly squirrel based (apart from Groovy Owls and Elephants Go Woof Woof!) I think I’d like to try illustrating a book, so some of the pictures I’ve been painting with Mummy and Daddy and at playschool could make up a good story, so look out for that one.

Susie: Tell us something funny that has happened to you recently.

Hazel: I did three big trumps whilst I was eating my dinner tonight and Mum and Dad had to leave the room, that made me laugh for a long time (and I could hear them sniggering too)!

Susie: Where can Mommies and Daddies buy your books?

Hazel: All my books are available on Amazon, so Mummy and Daddy tell me. Please feel free to go to:

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Santa-Squirrels-Rhyming-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00GJ2G3Y0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384431883&sr=1-1

Susie: Thank you Hazel Nutt. You are a delightful little girl and wonderful guest.

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