Read, Write, Repeat.

Melissa Stewart has written more than 100 children’s books. She loves writing nonfiction, especially about nature and science. Her latest picture book explains what some animals do during the dead of winter when most people are safe and sound inside.

Here, she tells Read, Write, Repeat how the book came to be and shares other highlights of her writing life.

Tell us a little about your latest book:
The idea for Under the Snow (Peachtree, 2009) came to me back in 2002 – during a winter walk in the woods. I did the research right away, and I decided what my focus would be – animals that hibernate and animals stay active under the snow – in a matter of weeks.

But then the project came to a screeching halt. Try as I might, I couldn’t find a structure that I was happy with. I struggled with it for a lo-o-o-o-o-ng time. Two years, in fact. The inspiration came on a frigid winter night in 2004, when I heard author-illustrator Timothy Basil Ering speak at a local college.

Tim was so engaging, so charismatic, his energy was so contagious that I was fired up to take another stab at my manuscript – as soon as I got home. I finished the new draft around 1 a.m., took it to my critique group meeting the next night, made some changes based on their suggestions, and mailed it to my editor the next day. She loved it, and only a few tiny things changed during the editorial process.

What’s the most interesting thing you learned working on this book?
Oh, where to start? This book is chock full of fascinating information. Who knew that wood frogs freeze solid during the winter – and survive. Newts have no trouble swimming in chilly pond water, and voles make mazes of tunnels under the snow. This book allows readers to take a peek into a hidden world.

What do you think kids will be surprised to learn?
In school, kids learn about migration and hibernation. But a whole range of animals stay active all winter long under ice and snow. I think kids will find that surprising and fascinating.

What topics would you still like to write about?
For me, the natural world is so incredibly interesting. I want to write about it all, so I can get kids excited too. Children are naturally curious, so they love probing for facts and learning new things about the world. I have a book called A Place for Frogs coming out next spring. It’s dedicated to my nephew, Emile, because he loves the little critters just as much as I do. Right now, I’m working on a book about oceans. They are another hidden world teeming with interesting life.

With TV, computers and video games, do today’s kids know less about nature and the outdoors?
Most kids have limited exposure to the outdoors. It’s partially because of exciting electronic gadgets, but it’s also because parents are so worried about safety. They don’t just say to kids: “Go out and play.” This means kids aren’t encouraged to use their imaginations, and they don’t understand the magic and the comfort of having their own secret places outdoors, away from adults. I think that’s a real shame. If kids don’t love natural places today, why will they want to save them in the future? Kids need unstructured time in places that are all their own.

Tell us about a memorable school visit:
I have written Readers Theater scripts (reading activities where kids take on the roles of the animals, like a play) for several of my books. The kids prepare in advance and perform for me when I arrive. Then we discuss the science concepts and the book-making process. The students arrive feeling really invested in the content, because as they rehearsed for their performance, they internalized the science concepts. They love taking on the roles of animals. It’s a great way for them to see the world through the eyes of other creatures. That makes for a great school visit.

How did you go from aspiring writer to published author?
I have degrees in biology and science journalism. After grad school, I edited middle school and high school text books for a few years. Then I edited kids books intended for the school and library market. That’s when I truly fell in love with children’s books and started writing them.

The publisher I worked for had a policy against editors writing for them or anyone else. It took me several years to convince my boss to change that policy. But finally I produced a manuscript he couldn’t refuse. It was called Life Without Light: A Journey to Earth’s Dark Ecosystems.

What’s your favorite part of writing?
I love researching and crafting language. Sometimes revision makes me impatient. I just want to get it done, but revision is a critical part of writing. Nothing is perfect the first time.

What do you do when you need inspiration?
I have a secret spot, a little fort that I created under a spruce tree in our yard. Sometimes I go there when I need to clear my mind. It’s quiet and peaceful. Going on walks also helps me solve writing problems. When I’m not thinking about anything in particular, solutions just pop into my head.

If I really get stuck, I visit my muse. She’s a really amazing sculpture called Venusvine in the outdoor sculpture garden at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Mass. She looks like an uprooted, gnarled tree, but really she’s made of bronze.

What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited?
Firsthand research is really important for nonfiction writers, so I always try to see the animals I’m writing about in their natural habitats. That means I’ve traveled to all kinds of cool places.

I went of safari in Africa before writing a series of books on African animals, and I went to Costa Rica before writing about sloths. I’ve also swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands and gone snorkeling along coral reefs off Mexico. It’s all background research for books I’ve written. Do I have a great job or what?

Anything else you’d like to add?
If anyone would like to learn more about me or my books, I hope they will take a look at my Web site. I also started a blog recently. Celebrate Science includes fun activities that you can do with kids as well as tips for writing nonfiction.

Thanks for sharing your insights with us, Melissa. Good luck with your future writing projects.

Have you read Melissa’s book? Tell us what you think.