Stacey Patterson on Her Newest Book – Fidget’s Folly

This interview is with author Stacey Patterson who talks about her new children’s book “Fidget’s Folly”, a follow up to her first book “Fidget’s Freedom”. Fidget’s Folly is about two young peregrine falcons embarking upon their first adventures of freedom, incredibly illustrated by the greatest wildlife illustrator in Russia Vadim Gorbatov. Stacey also discusses her writing, publishing and marketing journey.

Interview with Stacey Patterson on her new Children’s book Fidget’s folly

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Congratulations to Stacey Patterson our newest winner of the On Purpose Magazine Author / Book Contest. See Stacey’s winning back story below.

I received this book in the mail and immediately loved it at first glance. As you can see from the cover, the art inside is incredible.

Stacey Patterson was able to get one of the greatest wildlife artists in Russia to make this wonderful story come to life.

Stacey was wonderful to talk to and although I used to work with the Forest Service, years ago, I have not worked on any environmental causes in some time.

It is wonderful to know that their are people out there that care so we can all enjoy the beauty and majesty of nature today and tomorrow.

It was great to talk with Stacey who has worked and volunteered numorous hours to help out the organizations she cares about. – JW

Fidget’s Folly

Fidget and her brother Echo are two young peregrine falcons embarking upon

their first adventures of freedom. Both falcons were hatched in an incubator by humans and are now living in a “hack” box nestled on a cliff. This is their home as they learn to hunt and fend for themselves. Their caretakers, both falconers and scientists, were concerned about the plight of the peregrine due to the use of the pesticide DDT in North America. DDT caused egg shell thinning and without intervention, extinction in some parts of their native territories was a possibility. When the hack box was opened, Fidget threw caution to the wind and encountered an eagle on her first flight. New adventures are now in store for the two youngsters while they learn to maneuver and hunt on their own, as they become wild and independent “masters of the sky”.

Fidget’s Folly is published in cooperation with the Raptor Education Foundation whose mission is to advance environmental literacy through educational programs, books, research services and their website: www.usaref.org.

Fidget’s Folly selected as one of the children’s books of the year 2012 by the Pima County Library Association.

Stacey Patterson

(Picture of Stacey and her falcon Trish)

received a B.A. degree in biology from the University of California in Santa Cruz. When she moved back to the Los Angeles area, she obtained her state and federal permit to practice falconry and became a volunteer with South Bay Wildlife Rehab as a raptor rehabilitator and educational presenter. She worked with her first peregrine in 1995 and has never looked back.

Stacey is the Imaging Supervisor of the Margie Petersen Breast Cancer Center in Santa Monica, CA, and shares her life with her husband, Mark, her peregrine Larissa, and other members of a furred and feathered menagerie.

Vadim Gorbatov

Russia’s greatest wildlife artist, was born in Moscow in 1940.

Birds of prey and falconry have always fascinated him. “Hunting with birds of prey has a special place in my mind. I am fascinated with this kind of hunting; it is simply a part of nature’s process…everything is in the process, not in the result.”

The Fidget series are Vadim’s first work for an American audience. His mastery of that space, those moments where man and animal meet and move together as one, is unequaled by his peers.

In the fall of 2006, he journeyed to the western US for the first time, and traveled through 5 states in 25 days. The spectacular wildlife, including raptors, antelope, elk and coyotes captured his imagination, and the illustrations in Fidget’s Folly reflect his beautiful vision of the Rocky Mountains.

The Fidget series is published in cooperation with the Raptor Education Foundation, whose mission is to advance environmental literacy through educational programs, books, research services and their website.

Raptor Education Foundation…

“The only wildlife theater company in America promoting science to cure Nature-Deficit Disorder*“

The Raptor Education Foundation (REF) has been promoting environmental literacy since 1980 by providing schools, corporations, conventions, and gatherings of all sizes unique innovative programs and seminars that connect people with the natural world. REF utilizes an extensive cast of live, non-releasable raptors to focus attention on environmental concepts and issues. Other environmental Consulting Services are also available. These consulting services benefit from REF’s extensive natural history experience and network of associations at an international level. REF has field experience in Africa, the Caribbean, Micronesia, Fiji, Mexico, Central and South America, Australia, Indonesia, and Russia.

In 1999, working with Colorado legislators, Colorado Governor Bill Owens and numerous county officials, REF designed and issued Colorado’s first-ever motor vehicle license plates featuring an environmental/wildlife theme and benefiting REF’s environmental literacy mission. The Colorado Respects Wildlifelicense plates are available only to qualified REF members. The beautiful graphics featuring America’s national symbol, promote REF’s mission on the streets and highways of Colorado as part of REF’s ongoing Driving For Wildlife campaign. Thousands of vehicles display these exclusive license plates, and their numbers steadily increase. Shouldn’t you be driving for wildlife and spreading respect? In 2012 REF’s plates are still the only license plates available in Colorado that benefit wildlife and education. They are exclusive to REF members!

In 2002, REF published a revised and expanded edition of its popular coloring book: Raptors, the Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Owls of North America. Reviews from raptor scientists, librarians, and parents confirmed another significant achievement featuring 51 raptors in beautiful color illustrations and line drawings by renown wildlife artist, Donald Malick. Precise and informative vignettes of each species written by Anne Price, REF’s Curator of Raptors, completes the book’s mission. This book is in its 9th printing. Fidget’s Freedom, REF’s second book aimed at the beginning reader, written by Stacey Patterson, and illustrated by Russia’s premier wildlife artist, Vadim Gorbatov is now available at our store. The story illustrates “hacking” a peregrine falcon into the wild, which is the process utilized by scientists world-wide to bring back endangered raptors from the edge of extinction. Fidget’s Folly, the second book in the series has now been released by Mountain Press Publishing of Montana. All of REF’s books focus on generating interest in science at a young age, which is what REF’s live raptor programs have been doing longer than any raptor organization in America. In 2012 The National Geographic Society contracted REF to provide special programming for their signature BioBlitz event held in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Stacey’s Winning Back Story

Who is the author?I have worked with birds of prey since1986; specifically with peregrine falcons since 1996. This has given me a familiarity with these magnificent birds, and enabled me to create characters whose story is a backdrop to the recovery of the American Peregrine Falcon – one of the most successful conservation movements in history.What is this book about?

The story showcases the adventures of a headstrong, yet engaging young peregrine who must learn how to hunt and adapt to life in the wild after hatching in an incubator. This fictionalized account mirrors the environmental pressures peregrines were subjected to during the real recovery effort.

Why did I write this book?

My desire is to bring this scientific story to a mainstream audience. The avian characters bring the story to life with drama and adventure, yet the story is very much a human one. The people who undertook the challenge of bringing peregrines back from the brink of extinction had no idea if they would succeed. The universal underlying theme speaks to cooperation between like minded individuals making a positive difference.

Why should someone read this book?

Along with the lavishly beautiful and vivid illustrations, readers of any age can learn fundamental concepts of biology, ecology and peregrine behavior in a picture book format. The reader can soar with “Fidget” as she takes them to new heights on her journey; a journey that ultimately takes one into the inner workings of the human heart.

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