"... I wrote a 13,000 word sample and summary of a children's novel, Tortoise Reform, because publishers said they wanted children's material from me. In my experience, if there's one thing an editor will bounce, is what he sees when a writer shows him exactly what he asked for. But I decided to give it a try, and we'll see.

"This novel features five Florida animals and a ten year old girl who is isolated from her family. So what makes it fantasy? It's that the animals are telepathic, and teach it to the girl. The title character is Gopher Tortoise, who lives in the burrow he dug, and shares it with several other animals including an owl.

"This is the way it is in Florida; gopher tortoises really do live underground, and share with other creatures. They are what is called a keystone species, one that enables many others to survive. But in the neighboring realm, it is the animals who are smart and the human beings who are dull beasts of burden. The animals are amazed and not thrilled to discover a realm where the natural order is inverted, and humans are smart. The girl, being sensible, rather prefers the telepathic animals to human beings. Wouldn't you?

"With telepathy there is complete understanding without deceit; the little owl will ride companionably on her shoulder, chatting mentally. The indigo snake associates similarly, and the armadillo and rabbit. Burrow mates are like family; a predator does not prey on a burrow mate, and will protect him from other predators. They look out for each other, each contributing his skills to the group. Contrast that with the way we non-telepathic humans treat each other and animals. Yes, I suppose there is an environmental and social aspect here; I regard it as better for children than the mindless violence they see in other fiction. So maybe it will bounce.

"Another reader, Mishawn, sent me an interesting list of dates and their corresponding trees. You check your birthday and discover your tree. For example, my birthday has the poplar tree. Does that mean I'm poplar with my readers? The writeup says it signifies artistic nature, uncertainty, lack of courage, animosity--um, I'm not sure I like where this is going. My wife's birthday has the ash tree. That reminds me of a joke I think I won't tell my wife: a little tree asked his dad what kind of tree he was. His dad said "Well, I'm not sure, son, but I can tell you this: your mother was the finest piece of ash in the forest." There doesn't seem to be a web site for this list, so I can't share it with you. Anyway, Daughter #1's tree is the Rowan. I didn't recognize that, so I looked it up, and learned that it is also called the Mountain Ash (now there's a family connection: wife is Ash, daughter Mountain Ash) with orange or red berries. I was then looking for a name for a lead character in Tortoise Reform, so I named her Rowan."