Beth Anderson, Children's Writer

People often ask authors where book ideas come from. The answers can be wide ranging. While some ideas require tons of research, others are right in front of us. How do you dig into the familiar and see it in new ways, with new eyes? Here, Nancy Castaldo shares how two new books came from her own “familiar” environment. 

GIVEAWAY! Nancy’s offering a copy of WHALES IN THE CITY! Just leave a comment below to enter the giveaway.

Congrats to Cathy Ballou Mealey, winner JOAN MITCHELL PAINTS A SYMPHONY from Lisa Rogers!  

Behind the Scenes: “Write What You Know”  by Nancy Castaldo

So many nonfiction book ideas begin as a spark. My curiosity often leads me to write about topics involving long-distance research. Those are a lot of fun to explore. But ideas also spring from the natural world surrounding us daily—the advice to write what you know may often be the best.

I live in New York’s beautiful Hudson River Valley. The river has shaped not only it’s valley but also my life and sparked many of my books, including River Wild and Back from the Brink. It has now inspired two new books, Whales in the City (FSG) and Riverkeeper (Holiday House), releases this spring.

Whales in the City began on a Metro-North train ride alongside the river with two visiting friends. As the train pushed along the riverside rails, I pointed out the landmarks, including where I grew up and the mountains that inspired the tales of Washington Irving. I also talked about the transformation in the river’s water quality and the fantastic return of whales around Manhattan. That’s when one of my friends, a fellow writer, pointed out that the return of the whales would make a great book.

When a story sparks book writing, the next decision has to be who is this book for? Is it for young adult, middle grade, or picture book readers. I decided that there were really two stories here, both set in the Hudson River and focused on how we can make a difference in our world when we join together. These books would have a local setting with a global message.

The first of the two books began as a poem highlighting the whales and their return after a century. It became a picture book for young readers. It has evocative illustrations by fellow Hudson Valley artist Chuck Groenink, who captured the river, whales, and growing city perfectly. The message is clear and simple for younger readers. Back matter provides a timeline and resources to delve into the topic further.

The second book tells the story of Riverkeeper, the organization at the heart of the river’s advocacy and conservation. Every inch of the United States is in a river’s watershed. But in 1966, one of our most essential watersheds was dying. Dead fish washed up on the Hudson River’s shores, and the once-clear water reeked of oil. With too much pollution to support human or animal life, America’s “First River” was in too deep—until a Riverkeeper, a pioneering group of environmental activists, fought to get rivers around the globe out of troubled waters. Riverkeeper describes the founding of the Riverkeeper organization and its legacy worldwide.

Sold at the onset of the pandemic for middle-grade readers, Riverkeeper, includes much more information and is accompanied by my photographs. It was such a treat to research the book by sailing upon the river on Riverkeeper’s patrol boat at the end of the pandemic. I bring my readers along with me on the research journey. The middle grade text is able to introduce many other STEM concepts, including STEM career choices, water testing, data entry, ecosystem studies, and more. It delves further into the themes that the picture book introduces.

Two books with the same setting and overall conservation message written for two distinct audiences. They are an example of acting locally but thinking globally, sage advice for communities.

It shouldn’t take a period of pandemic quarantine to find them. We do ourselves a disservice when we don’t write the stories we know in our hearts. These stories are often waiting right in front of us.

 Don’t forget to leave a comment below to get in on the giveaway! (US addresses only, please. Winner announced 3/21/25)

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