June 25, 2025

From Nature to Novels: Writing Children’s Books with Rosanne Parry

Show Notes

When we think about saving the environment, kids aren’t typically the first thing that comes to mind for most people – especially when it comes to fiction books written for children. But maybe that’s an important missing link…

I’ve been seeing more and more scientists coming out with children’s books, and to be completely honest, it’s something I’ve thought about myself! In fact, I remember reading the book 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth, and it had a profound impact on me.

You see, over my 20 years of working in science, first as a researcher and then leading a citizen science program focused on middle school kids, I realized that science alone cannot save a species.

For most species, the solutions to their conservation challenges are embedded in how people view wildlife whether it’s from an educational, political, economic, or cultural lens. And it’s difficult to change adults’ minds.

By working on such conservation issues over the years and understanding their root cause, the importance of keeping children interested in nature from a young age has become more and more clear to me.

When kids love nature early on, it sets them up to be lifelong environmental advocates, stewards of nature, and conservationists. While adults tend to have their minds made up, kids are still curious; they’re still learning about the world and how it works.

That’s where children’s author Roseanne Parry comes in. She connects children to nature through the fiction novels that she writes. Parry has authored books such as A Wolf Called Wander, a #1 Indie Best Seller, A Wolf Called Fire, a 2025 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, and A Horse Named Sky, which debuted on the New York Times Middle Grade Hardcover Best Sellers List at #4, continuing on the list for over 30 weeks.

Parry’s books are written from the perspective of different animals, including orcas, mustangs, and more. She conducts thorough research on the species to ensure scientific accuracy, but crafts stories from fiction, allowing children to view the world and understand it from an animal’s perspective, ultimately creating empathy.

If you’re interested in publishing, reaching a younger audience, or learning about how kids are key to saving and supporting our environment, you won’t want to miss this interview with Rosanne Parry. I finished this podcast feeling inspired by her story. She has great advice not just for aspiring authors, but also for how getting interested in nature.

Specifically, I go over:

Roseanne Parry’s journey to becoming a children’s author
How she comes up with ideas for her best-selling books
Her research process before writing so that her material is scientifically accurate, while engaging
What her writing process is like and how she goes about it
How she makes a living as an author
Tips for writing and publishing a children’s book
The differences between self-publishing and working with a publisher
And MORE!

Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…

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I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.

🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg

Full show notes:

👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/127-rosanne-parry/

Jump Links:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

02:15 The Journey to Becoming a Children's Author

03:55 Balancing Writing and Family Life

07:05 The Inspiration Behind Animal-Centric Stories

09:47 Writing Process and Research

16:18 Publishing Children's Books: A Guide

22:29 Exploring Middle Grade Books

22:47 Challenges of Writing for Young Children