We moved from the city to the mountains, where we expected to enjoy and embrace a peaceful life with nature.
Who knew the Madness that would follow…?
We met our neighbours early in the moving process… A large flock of Cockatoos, a family of large, very noisy parrots!
Some interesting Cockatoo facts we learned:
1. Cockatoos are left-footed.
2. In captivity, Cockatoos live as long as humans.
3. The word ‘cockatoo’ has its origins in Malay and means ‘vice’ or ‘grip’ because of their incredibly strong beak.
4. These noisy birds feed on berries, seeds, nuts and roots.
5. They’re equally at home in the city and in the bush.
6. They poop on everything around them!
Questions for Jarrod Jones
When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?
– In primary school. My grade 2 teacher read us a picture book that had been written by a kid. From that point on I always wanted to write a book. I could never commit to a single story or see it through from start to finish though.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
– When I find time, after the kids go to bed usually. Buying out time for this first story was a lot harder though than it will be from now on. As I reckon my wife will be encouraging me to go and write another book!
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
– So far, I have drawn from my life and exaggerated it for humour and to appeal to younger audience.
What does your family think of your writing?
– Depends on who you ask. My mother loves everything, my Dad offers constructive criticism, and my wife hears every version from initial draft to completed story.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
– Reading your work aloud and to an audience, then realizing… This needs more editing!
Do you have any suggestions to help others become a better writer?
– What helped me was writing what I know. Keeping it simple.
Do you like to create books for kids cause? Why?
– I have really enjoyed writing, mainly because I want to read my own stories to my kids one day, taking it of the bookshelf with all the other books.
Who inspires you?
– Gardening Australia.
What do you think makes a good story?
– Not sure, so many stories so many ideas. It’s hard to say, stories are like art. Different pieces appeal to different people.
What are your plans for your future book/s?
– I’d love to create a series that helps our kids draw closer to nature.
What were your inspirations?
– I wrote this book mainly after I was trying to write a great story to read to Demetre. I had “writers block” and was getting frustrated. Then one day my wife said to me, “why don’t you write a story about the cockatoos” and so I then wrote a first draft… Then many more!
How had you decided on the characters in the book?
– The characters were based on my family, although my kids were still toddlers, so I drew on personalities of my younger cousins and friends’ kids that were around the ages of the kids in the book. For the Brian, well Brian is a real bird that continues to taunt me, so I drew from the very real personalities of our native birds. My pops name is Brian and I remember he always hated cockatoos because they ate his walnuts from the tree claiming a huge portion of them. So I thought how fitting!
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