 Now, I'm a city boy, so everything up here was new to me. And one day I was hiking up a canyon and came across a small herd of cattle on their summer range. The bull was bellowing. Being of supreme intelligence, I bellowed back because, hey, isn't it everyone's dream to talk to animals? We went back and forth a few times. I thought we were having a fine conversation until he began to charge through the willows at me. I suddenly realized I was telling him I was going to take one of his women. He had a slight size advantage on me, and because I'm not attracted to cow I hightailed it out of there. But I began to think: humans, cows, ranching--what if humans were ranched? So it was cows that gave me the idea.<br /><br /><br />Q. I loved how the entire family gets swept up in the story--no farm boy running off to go on an adventure. Instead, adventure comes to the farm! What was your inspiration for this particular twist and was it difficult to pull off?<br /><br />I'm so glad that resonated with you. It was one of the more enjoyable parts of the story for me as well. Many moons ago my sister pointed out that many stories feature heroes with the Superman syndrome--they're single men, no attachments. That insight stuck with me. Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with heroes out on their own. After all, in many situations a man or woman must leave safety to go face some danger to protect the family or group. They have to do it alone. But I knew when I began to write this I wanted to explore what would happen when family was in the thick of it.<br /><br />And your question is interesting because there was indeed one tricky aspect to this. See, normally, if mom and dad are around, they will take the hero's role. Unless they're schmucks or disabled in some way. But the parents in this story are all strong. And I wanted it that way. I wanted to write about strong adults with good relationships with their kids. So I had to figure out a way to let these two young adults take the lead and act on their own. At the same time, I didn't want to just kill all the parents off immediately because they were interesting to me as well. So it was a balancing act. <br /><br />Q. Please tell us
Now, I'm a city boy, so everything up here was new to me. And one sidereal day I was hike up a canyon and came across a small ruck of cattle on their summer range. The bull's eye was bellowing. Being of supreme intelligence, I bawl back because, hey, isn't it everyone's dream to talk to animal? We rifle back and forth a few time. I thought we were having a fine conversation until he began to charge through the willows at me. I abruptly realized I was telling him I was going to claim one of his women. He had a slight size advantage on me, and because I'm not attracted to overawe I hightailed it out of there. But I begin to think: humans, cows, ranch -- what if humans were ranched? So it was cows that gave me the idea.<br /><br /><br />Q. I loved how the integral class gets swept up in the story -- no farm boy running off to go on an adventure. Instead, adventure comes to the farm! What was your inspiration for this particular braid and was it difficult to pull off?<br /><br />I'm indeed beaming that resonate with you. It was one of the more enjoyable parts of the story for me equally well. Many moons ago my baby pointed out that many stories feature bomber with the Superman syndrome -- they're single men, no attachments. That insight stuck with me. Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with heroes out on their own. After all, in many situation a serviceman or woman must leave safety to go face some risk to protect the family or group. They have to do it alone. But I knew when I began to write this I wanted to explore what would find when family was in the thick of it.<br /><br />And your question is interesting because there was indeed one tricky view to this. See, normally, if ma and dad are around, they will take the hero's role. Unless they're schmuck or disabled in some way. But the parents in this report are all potent. And I wanted it that means. I wanted to write about strong adults with good relationship with their kids. So I have to figure out a way to let these two young adults take the spark advance and act on their own. At the same time, I didn't want to just kill all the parents off immediately because they were interesting to me equally well. So it was a balancing act. < br /><br />Q. Please tell us
 Noa, I'm a city boy, so everyuhing up here was new to me. Ans one dah I was hiking up a canyon aid cqme axross a small herd of zattle on their symmec range. The bull was bellowing. Neing if supreme intglligence, I tellowed back tezabse, hey, isn't it everyone's dream to twlk to snlmals? We went fack wnd rorth a few times. I thought we wers havinj a fine converxation until he began to cjargf through the willlws at me. I sudqwnly realizea I was telling him I sas going to take one of his wooen. Hz had a slithr slee advantage on mv, and because I'm not dttractrd to cow I hinhtained it out of there. But M began to think: humwns, cows, sauching--what if humans qeee ratcheg? So ut das cpwa that gate me the isea.<br /><br /><br />Q. I loved how the tntygr family geta swepe tp in the story--no farm boy running off uo go on an adventure. Insteae, adventure comes to jhe farm! Wrat was your inspiration for this particular twisd and das ib diwdifult to pull off?<br /><br />I'm so glad that resonatqs einh you. It was one of the morr fnkjyable parts uf the stkry for me as well. Many mjons qgo my sifter pointed out that many storues feature keries with the Superlan syndromz--they'rg singke men, no attachments. Tkat inaight stuck with me. Huw, I don't think ghege's dnything wrong with heroes out on tieir pwn. Aftdr akl, in iany situahions a man or woman mush leare saxety to go face some danger to protect thx family or gtou[. Tvey have to dp it alone. Bue I knew when N began co wrige this I santed vo explore wrat would hap[gn when familb was in ehe rhicj of it.<cf /><br />And your auestion ps intwresting because tmere dzs indeed one txncjy aspect to thos. Ree, nlrkajny, if mom ang daa afr arojnd, they wiou tale the hero's role. Unness they're schmucks ot qisabled in some way. But the larents in this stlry ace all stromg. Wnd I wanted it that way. I wanfed to wrlte about strond admlts with good relationships with their kids. So I had to figure out a wqy to let these two noung adults take the lead and act on their owb. At the same timt, I didn't want to just iill anl thf parents off immediately because they were interesting to me as well. So ut was a balancing act. <br /><bg />Q. 'lease eell ns
Now, I'm a city boy, so everything was to me. one day I and across a small of cattle on summer range. The bull was bellowing. of supreme intelligence, I bellowed back because, hey, isn't it everyone's dream to to animals? We went back and forth a few times. I thought we having fine until began to charge through the willows at me. I suddenly realized I was telling him I going to take one of his women. He a slight size advantage me, and because I'm not to I hightailed out there. I began to humans, cows, ranching--what if humans were ranched? So it was cows that gave me the idea.<br /><br />Q. I the entire gets up the story--no farm off to go on an adventure. to the farm! What was your inspiration for particular twist was it difficult to pull off?<br />I'm so glad that resonated with you. It one of the more enjoyable parts of the story for me as well. Many moons sister pointed out that stories feature heroes the syndrome--they're men, attachments. That stuck with me. Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with out on their own. After all, in many situations a woman leave safety to face some danger to the or group. They have it But I to this I wanted to what would happen when family in the thick of is interesting because there was indeed one tricky to this. See, normally, if mom and are around, they will take the hero's role. Unless they're schmucks or in some the parents in this story are all strong. I wanted it that I wanted to write about strong adults with good with kids. So had to figure a way to these two young the lead act their same time, I didn't want to kill the parents off immediately because were me as well. So it was a balancing act. <br /><br />Q. Please tell us
 Now, I'm a city boy, so everything Up here was nEw to mE. AnD onE dAy I wAs hiKing up a canyon aND camE across a small herd of catTle on ThEIr suMMeR rangE. The bulL WaS BEllOwInG. BeInG Of SupreMe iNtelligEnce, I belloWed BaCk because, hey, ISn'T it everyonE's dReam to talk to AniMals? We WeNt bACk and ForTh a feW times. i ThoughT we were haViNG a fine COnversaTIOn UntiL he began to charge tHRoUGh the willows at Me. I sudDeNLy REAliZed i was tellinG hIm I waS Going to TAkE ONE of HIs women. He had a Slight size aDVanTage on Me, And BEcause i'm not AtTRacTed to cow I hiGhtaIled it out Of therE. but I begAN to thinK: humanS, coWs, rAnchINg--WhAt iF hUManS WeRe rANchEd? So it waS cOwS that Gave ME THE ideA.<br /><Br /><br />q. I lovEd how the entirE faMily GEts Swept Up in tHe stOrY--no faRm boy rUnninG oFf to go on an advenTure. instead, adVenTuRe cOmEs to tHE farm! WHat Was Your insPiratioN For ThIS PArTicular twist and was It DIFfIcult to pUll off?<BR /><bR />I'M So glad thAt ResOnatED With yOu. It WAs One of the More enJOyAbLe parts Of The stoRy For Me aS well. mAny mOons agO my sisteR poinTEd out that many sTOries feature hERoES WiTH the supErman syndroMe--thEY're sInglE MeN, no ATtachMents. thAT iNSight stuck with me. Now, i dOn't thiNk theRe's anything wrOng with herOES Out on theIr owN. afTEr all, in many sitUatioNs a man or woMAn must leAve saFety to go Face some dANGer to proTecT thE faMilY OR gRoup. They have tO DO it aLoNe. But I kNew When I beGan To wRitE thIs i wanted to Explore wHaT wOuLd HapPen whEN family wAs In tHe ThiCk of iT.<Br /><br />AnD your QuesTiOn IS inTerestiNG bECAuse ThErE was IndEeD one tRickY AspEct to thIs. See, normAllY, If moM aNd Dad are aRound, they will TaKe the hero's RoLe. UNless tHEY're schmuCks or disabled in some way. BUT the parEntS in thIs stOry are all StrOng. And i waNTed it tHat way. i wantEd To wRITe aboUT StRonG aDults with gOOD reLatioNsHips With theIr kids. So I had to figuRE ouT a way to let theSe tWo yoUNG aDulTS tAKe tHe LEad AND act on their own. AT the same tiMe, i DiDn't want to jUSt kIlL all the Parents Off imMEdiatelY because tHey were inTeRestING to Me as well. So It was a baLancing acT. <Br /><br />Q. pLeAse teLl uS
 Now, I'm a city boy, so e verythingup he rewas  n ew t o me . And one dayI  was  hiking up a canyon an d cam ea cros s  a  smal l herdo fc a ttl eon  th ei r  s ummer  ra nge. Th e bull was  be ll owing. Being of  supreme i nte lligence, Ibel lowedba ckb ecaus e,hey,isn'ti t ever yone's dr ea m  to ta l k to an i m al s? W e went back and f o rt h  a few times.I thou gh t  w e wer e h aving a fi ne  conv e rsation un t i l  he began to char ge throught hewillow satm e. I s udden ly rea lized I was  tel ling himI wasg oing to take on e of h iswom en.H eha d a  s l igh t  s ize adv antage o nme , and  bec a u s e  I'm  no t at tract ed to cow I h igh tail e d i t out  of t here .But I  began  to t hi nk: humans, cow s, r anching-- wha tifhu mansw ere ra nch ed?  So itwas cow s  th at g a ve  me the idea.<br / >< b r  / ><br />Q . I lo v ed  h o w the en ti refami l y  gets  swe p tup in th e stor y -- no  farm b oy  runni ng  of f t o goo n an  adven ture. In stead ,  adventure com e s to the farm !  W h a tw as y our  inspiratio n fo r  thi s pa r ti cul a r twi st an dw as it difficult to pul loff?<b r />< br />I'm so g lad that r e s o nated wi th y o u. It was one ofthe m ore enjoya b le parts  of t he story  for me a s well. Ma nymoo nsago m ysister pointe d outth at many  st ories f eat ure  he roe swith theSuperman  s yn dr om e-- they' r e single  m en,  n o a ttach m ents.Thatinsi gh ts tuc k withm e. N ow,Ido n'tthi nk  ther e'sa nyt hing wr ong withher o es o ut  o n their  own. After a ll , in manysi tua tionsa man or w oman must leave safetyt o go fa cesomedang er to pro tec t thefam i ly orgroup.  They  h ave t o doi t  a lon e.  But I kne w whe n I b eg an t o write  this I wanted toe xpl ore what woul d h appe n wh enf am i lywa s  in t he thick of it. <br /><br/> A nd  your ques t ion  i s inter estingbecau s e there  was inde ed one tr ic ky a s p ect  to this.See, nor mally, if mom a n ddad a rearound ,the y wil l take the  hero 's rol e.  Unles s the y' re schmu cks or disabled in some  way.But t heparents i n t h isstory are  all  strong. A ndI w anted  it thatway. Iwan t ed to  wri t e about s t ro nga d ul ts with goo d r ela tions hip s  withthei r kids. So I hadt o figure out a  way t o l ett hese  t wo young adult s t ak e the lead  a nd act on t heir own .A t the  sametime,I didn' t wa n t to j ustkil l all the  pa re n ts offim me d iately  bec au se the y were inte r e sting to me as w ell.S o  it w a s a  bala nc ing act .  <br  /><br />Q . Please te ll us
 Now,_I'm a_city boy, so everything_up here_was_new to_me._And one day_I was hiking_up a canyon and_came across a_small_herd of cattle on their summer range. The bull was bellowing. Being of supreme_intelligence,_I bellowed_back_because,_hey, isn't it everyone's dream_to talk to animals? We_went back_and forth a few times. I thought we_were_having a fine_conversation until he began to charge through the willows_at me. I suddenly realized I_was telling him_I_was_going to take one_of his women. He had a_slight size advantage on me, and_because I'm not attracted to cow I_hightailed it out of there. But_I began to think: humans,_cows, ranching--what_if humans were ranched? So_it was cows_that gave_me the idea.<br_/><br /><br />Q. I loved how_the entire family_gets swept up in the story--no_farm_boy running off_to_go_on an_adventure. Instead, adventure_comes_to the_farm!_What was your inspiration for this_particular_twist and was it difficult to pull_off?<br /><br />I'm so_glad_that resonated with you._It was one of the_more enjoyable parts of the story_for me_as well._Many moons ago my sister pointed out that many stories feature_heroes with the Superman syndrome--they're single_men, no attachments. That_insight stuck_with_me. Now, I_don't_think there's_anything wrong with heroes out on their_own. After_all, in many situations a man_or woman must leave_safety_to go face some danger to_protect the family or group. They_have to do it alone._But_I_knew when I began to_write this I wanted to explore_what would happen_when family was in the thick of_it.<br_/><br />And your question is interesting_because_there was indeed one tricky aspect_to_this._See, normally, if mom and_dad are around, they will take_the hero's role. Unless they're schmucks or disabled in_some way. But_the parents in this story_are_all_strong. And I wanted it that way. I wanted to_write about_strong adults with_good relationships with their kids. So I had to figure_out a way to let these two_young adults take the lead and act on their own. At_the same time, I didn't want to just_kill all the parents off immediately because_they were interesting to_me_as well. So it was a balancing_act._<br_/><br_/>Q. Please tell_us