Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Katie Specht is talking with Ben St. James, author of Guinea Pig Power.

FQ: Tell our readers a little about yourself. Your background, your interests, and how this led to writing a book?

ST. JAMES: I had been a writer for online entertainment news content, as well as a ghostwriter and illustrator. I've also worked with over 200 authors as a consultant. I was happy to be behind the scenes, but I thought I should try creating and releasing a book on my own. After drawing Fuzwald and Rex and drafting a rough version of the story, my family and friends told me I had to complete it—and I did.

FQ: What was the hardest part of writing your book? That first chapter, the last paragraph, or something else?

ST. JAMES: I’d say the last couple of lines were the trickiest, while the first half of the book rolled along nicely. I had two versions of the ending that I liked, and after getting some feedback from another writer I know, as well as a blogger, I settled on the version that is now published in the book.

FQ: Do you have any plans to try writing a book in a different genre? If so, which genre and why?

ST. JAMES: My latest book, Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town, is also a children's picture book, but it’s aimed at a slightly higher reading level and falls into the Western genre—a departure from Guinea Pig Power and the world of pet superheroes.

The reason I was inspired to create Cowboy Cooper's story happened organically. I had the opportunity to connect with historians who study the wagon trails used by settlers across the U.S.A. Many shared concerns about disturbed and looted artifacts, which became a key inspiration for the story. Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town encourages kids to respect history by not taking objects from historic sites, even if the original owners are long gone—because if everyone takes something, soon there will be nothing left.

Interestingly, I was told that many people don’t realize they’re looting. Some even turn in artifacts they find while hiking or on their property. However, without proper excavation, authentication, and cataloging, these objects often end up in limbo, lost to history rather than preserved.

FQ: Which do you find easier, starting a story, or writing the conclusion?

ST. JAMES: Getting a story started is definitely easier. I always have lots of concepts popping into my head—it’s becoming a running joke with my friends.

FQ: If you were to teach a class on the art of writing, what is the one item you would be sure to share with your students and how would you inspire them to get started?

ST. JAMES: What I would share with students is that the rules of writing aren’t there to restrict or limit you; they exist to help you connect with the reader and provide a framework for creativity. I think people sometimes feel that 'rules' hinder their creativity instead of seeing them like the rules of a game, which are there to guide players.

FQ: Is this the first book, the second, etc. in the series and how many books do you anticipate writing in this series?

ST. JAMES: Guinea Pig Power is the first in a series. I have a follow-up about a heroic hare that just needs a few finishing touches. I’ve also drafted a third book featuring sibling pets who save the day. I think having a trilogy is a good goal—it’s not too much pressure. But I also don’t want to limit it to just three books.

Only time will tell.

FQ: Have you been contacted by fans anxiously awaiting the next book in the series?

ST. JAMES: The very first review of Guinea Pig Power mentioned that the reviewer hoped it would be released in paperback and become a superhero pet series. That was encouraging and helped inspire me to imagine new characters and scenarios.

FQ: Many authors say that it’s hard to say good-bye to the characters in a series? Do you think it will be difficult for you? Have they become part of your life?

ST. JAMES: My problem is I keep coming up with more and more characters. I think I have the opposite of a problem!

FQ: Where did the idea for your story come from?

ST. JAMES: A friend of mine, Brittany (who wrote the foreword for the book), rescues guinea pigs and posts about them frequently on social media. One day, I thought, "What if they secretly became superheroes?" and the story grew from there.

FQ: Did the story change as you wrote the book?

ST. JAMES: The story didn’t really change. I actually challenged myself to complete the book in 30 days—illustrations included—because I had seen so many picture book projects get held up during production and sometimes take 2-3 years. So, I was exploring what types of timelines were possible if there wasn’t anyone around to slam on the brakes. It was a very impulsive project, done on the fly, with no room to second-guess, which I think was a good exercise.