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Whenever I have a new book published, I post 5 questions and answers here that I think my audience might find interesting (or questions I wish someone would ask me!).
The Love Song of Mr. Byrd (DCB, 2025) is my latest book, my 15th, and is now out in the world.
So please enjoy 5 questions about the book, answered:
1. What is The Love Song of Mr. Byrd about?
As the title suggests, the book is unapologetically about love and friendship, in this case between two unlikely creatures: a bat and a bird.
Mr. Byrd is somewhat fussy and a little anxious, Bat is calm and wise, more worldly than Mr. Byrd. One magical summer night, Mr. Byrd accidentally steps on Bat's foot and the two agree to meet on the tree branch at twilight all summer long. The friendship surprises them as together they discover the beauty of rain and fireflies, the danger of cats, the meaning of joy, loss, fun, and much more.
The Love Song of Mr. Byrd is about a gentle friendship that grows between creatures who at first seem very different, but as summer turns to fall, they realize their similarities far outweigh their differences, and they have become friends.
2. What made you write The Love Song of Mr. Byrd?
One summer night a few years ago, a bat and a robin flew over my head as I was walking down the street. They clicked and chirped and flew together, wingtip to wingtip, into a tree. I tried to find them, but they'd disappeared. I was fascinated. What were they up to? Were they friends or enemies?
I did a little research and found that robins and bats aren't natural enemies, since one is diurnal and one nocturnal. They rarely overlapped in time and space, which just made their flight over my head together more fascinating!
That summer I had access to a sailboat in Toronto harbour. Once a week I'd visit the boat at twilight and write a little more about Bat and Mr. Byrd. I handwrote the first draft of the book in an 80-page notebook over 10 weeks, which is why there are 10 short chapters, and the word count is about 8,000 words!
3. Are there books that inspired The Love Song of Mr. Byrd?
The story is pure creative impulse. I let the act of writing take over and at first didn't really think about who I was writing for or what kind of book this was, I was simply writing a sweet story about Mr. Byrd and his friend Bat. I was writing for everyone who has ever had a special summertime friendship or connection. I think we can all understand that feeling, whether we are children or grown up.
I wanted to be honest about friendship. To gently note that at first it can be a bit hard to make a friend, it can ask much of us to make room on the tree branch for each other, and no matter how tender, one day all friends must part, one way or another.
So in that way the book may feel a little like the friendship between Charlotte and Wilbur, or Pooh and Christopher Robin, or Ratty and Moley. The lovely sailboat, the twilight, the gentle lull of the waves, definitely made me nostalgic and that is reflected in the language and feel of the book.
4. Who would enjoy this story?
My wonderful publisher, DCB Young Readers, have published The Love Song of Mr. Byrd as an Early Reader Chapter book, a first for them and for me.
I believe the story is wonderful for children of all ages, or as an independent reader for ages 6-9. It's also a lovely read-aloud for grandparents, parents, for anyone who has ever become a friend!
With a shorter word count, larger type size, and 10 short chapters with 10 accompanying illustrations each on a single theme, such as Rain, Friends, Feather, Dawn, Loss, Fireflies and more, the book reads like a gentle, thoughtful meditation on loss, love, friendship, and joy. We can all use a little more love and joy!
5. What else should readers know about The Love Song of Mr. Byrd?
The book is dedicated to my brother and sister. The epigraphs are for my father; he was a Shakespearean actor and his favourite book was The Wind in the Willows. The gorgeous cover and the 10 beautiful interior illustrations are the work of Newfoundland artist Caroline Clarke, who did an amazing job bringing Bat and Mr. Byrd to life.
If you have questions you'd like me to answer, ask in the comments below!
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