Posted by Avalon Robinson on 1/1/2019 to
Welcome to a little Q&A session on The Fantastic Adventures of Captain Acorn based on some frequently asked questions. I'm so excited to get this book out in the world and into your hands! So without further ado, let's dive into the world of Captain Acorn and how this book came to be.
How would you describe The Fantastic Adventures of Captain Acorn?
The story is about a fearless little squirrel who takes to the high seas aboard her beloved ship, The Golden Acorn, for a series of mishaps and adventures alongside her faithful crew. She shares her escapades with characters like Bunnerton the rabbit, Timothy Chip the Chipmunk, and her first mate Pounce the cat. Her adventures come from the imagination of a group of sisters and each chapter is its own adventure during her most recent voyage. Through their escapades on the seas, Acorn and her crew learn to face their fears, reach new heights, and overcome quirky and exciting challenges.
What inspired The Fantastic Adventures of Captain Acorn?
The book was actually inspired by a game my sisters and I used to play when we were kids. We had a giant tote bag filled with stuffed animals that we'd haul into the family minivan every time we had a long car ride ahead of us. My youngest sister owned a stuffed animal squirrel that she named Captain Acorn and we started coming up with adventures for the squirrel to go on any time we were in the car to keep boredom at bay. The idea of a Captain Acorn book is very much a salute to childhood fun with my sisters.
What is your favorite passage of the book and why?
I think my favorite passage of the book is a chapter where Captain Acorn and Pounce go diving for underwater treasure. It was fun to write since I got to really delve into these two character's friendship with each other and really explore their individual quirks and how they work with each other. These two animals have known each other for years, but they're always learning more about each other through their adventures.
Who is your favorite Character in the book? Are the characters based off of people you know?
It's difficult to choose just one, but I think I would have to say my favorite character is Captain Acorn's first mate Pounce, mainly because of how much sense she makes to me. She loves a little bit of fun in her adventures and is always ready to be silly and goofy. Pounce doesn't always pay attention to her surroundings and more than once Captain Acorn has to keep her out of trouble, which just gives Acorn more chances to be a hero. There definitely are a few characters based off of people I know, mainly because of what characters my sisters and I played when it was a game with stuffed animals. We've all grown and changed a lot, but a lot of elements from our personalities are still very present, particularly in Acorn, Pounce, and Bunnerton!
What other books have inspired you?
As with most authors, a lot of writing The Fantastic Adventures of Captain Acorn was influenced by books I read in my childhood. I've always gravitated towards anthropomorphized animals whether it was the Narnia books, Winnie the Pooh or many others. There's something so fun about the imaginative worlds those authors made and the sweet, heartfelt style they wrote with. C.S. Lewis has always been one of my biggest heroes and my go-to pick for the "If you could have lunch with anyone" question.
What was the proudest moment you had during the process of creating the book?
I would have to say my proudest moment was probably the day I finished the first draft of the book. It was just another weekday afternoon when I was able to carve out some writing time and I made that final push to finish the draft. There was still so much work to do between editing, getting the book illustrated, and getting it published, and I still felt more than a little nervous for the journey ahead, but I felt so proud knowing that I'd done it. Yes, there was a lot of work to do (and there still is!) but all I could think of was how much I had already accomplished. The journey was really in full swing!
What do you hope readers remember most when they read your book?
I want my readers to come away from my book remembering their own sense of imagination, joy, and adventure. Sometimes life can be tough and messy, and so often a bit of storytelling can help take us outside our troubles, even if it's just for a little while. So if Captain Acorn can help someone remember to be joyful, adventurous and imaginative, I'll feel like I've truly done my job as an author.
Will we see more Captain Acorn adventures in the future?
Captain Acorn has gone on so many adventures and this book only scratches the surface! One voyage could never be enough for this fearless little squirrel. I'd love for readers to get even more time with this intrepid squirrel who has changed my world!
Thanks for learning more about Captain Acorn! I can't wait for the book to be available and for us all to delve into the world of a squirrel who lives for adventure!
Let's find some joy!
A.R.