It sparked such excitement in me. I didn’t realize at the time that it was my soul wanting to get going writing in a similar style, with a mix of sometimes absurd humor and sweetness.

Patti Calkosz – 15 October 2024

The Back Flap

A fox and bear take on bumbling witch kidnappers and the NYPD’s Chief Magic Detector to protect a magical baby and the witches of New York.

In an alternate New York City, Olaf, a bear living in Central Park, accidentally scares away two witches. They leave behind a baby, whom they’d kidnapped to force the father—the NYPD’s Chief Magic Detector—to stop harassing the magical community.

Olaf’s mother died when he was just a cub, so his natural instinct is to protect the child. When he and his best friend Essex, a fox, find the presumed parents and attempt to return the baby, they witness the female witch, in a fit of pique, turn her husband into a frog.

Now Olaf and Essex must keep the baby safe, find the real mother, keep the magical baby away from her Magic Detector father, and avoid getting turned into frogs.

About the book

What is the book about?

Two best friends, a bear and fox, thwart the kidnapping of the NYPD’s Chief Magic Detector’s infant daughter. Olaf and Essex must evade both the witch kidnappers and the Chief to keep the baby safe and find her mother. The story is about friendship, loyalty, bravery, and trying to understand others’ points of view. And it examines what possibly happens after we leave this world.

When did you start writing the book?

I got the first ideas sometime in 2019 and began writing in the late fall or winter.

How long did it take you to write it?

I sent the first version to my first freelance editor in September of 2021 and received his notes back in December. I completed my revision in July 2022 and sent it to a second freelance editor. I started querying in October of that year. I added several more scenes and passages in 2024. So, I would say the whole process took about four and a half years.

Where did you get the idea from?

An image formed in my head: a fox and bear standing with a young girl in a tundra. I knew my subconscious took the animals from my plush fox and my brother’s teddy bear—in childhood we sometimes put on puppet shows for family friends. But I changed the girl into a baby and set the story somewhere I was familiar with—New York City, specifically Central Park.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Lots! J Especially the beginning—figuring out the bear’s motivation to steal the baby, to whom the baby belonged, and how to get readers on board with the animals caring for the child. When my first editor wanted me to strengthen the plot, I already had a scene in mind of a high-ranking police official denying my villainess her phone call. But it was a while before I could figure out how to revise the story to make the Conflict Resolution Department the overarching baddie.

What came easily?

I never struggled to find a joke; they all came very naturally.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I may have given my new villain, the Chief Magic Detector, some traits belonging to my first editor. I was quite irked with him. We knew each other in college, so there was some history there. Also, as I was beginning my revision, I started taking improv classes. Someone in my first class joked that I was going to put them all in my novel. Since I needed a whole bunch of new character names, I wound up using all the other students’ last names but two. Then one of those two joked that I purposely left him out. So, when I found I needed to expand one of the new characters’ roles, I decided instead to create a new character, the Chief Engineer. I named him after my improv friend and gave him some of his characteristics.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’m not aware of anyone who has consciously influenced me, but I’m sure many have, unconsciously. When I was in my early twenties, I read what’s been my favorite short story ever since, Donald Barthelme’s The School. It sparked such excitement in me. I didn’t realize at the time that it was my soul wanting to get going writing in a similar style, with a mix of sometimes absurd humor and sweetness.

Do you have a target reader?

Olaf and Essex is a Middle Grade novel, but I feel I’m writing for anyone who enjoys humor and introspection about relationships and this mystery that is Life.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I write down ideas that occur to me, and I think about them and allow characters that form to talk and do things in my head. When there’s enough that suggests a story, I’ll read what I already have over and over and continue to think and daydream.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do not outline. Often ideas will come to me that I know are meant for later in the story, so I’ll write those and place them farther down in the Word doc. As I continue to write and read my story over, the structure organically begins to take shape, and I’ll intuitively know how the existing parts need to link up and what’s missing.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

As I go. I continually read over old parts and rework them.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I hired an editor for a developmental edit, and then I hired a second for an editorial assessment. And before I sent the file to my formatter/interior designer, I had the second editor do a proofread and grammar edit.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I often listen to music while I’m writing, but when I’m self-editing I do not, because I want to be sure any emotion I feel while reading is being triggered by my words and not the music.

My musical taste is wide-ranging. Right now, I’m listening to Annie Lennox, and earlier it was Anita Baker, Andy Gibb, and Alicia Keys. (I’m currently going down the As on my laptop.)

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I sure did!!!

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

If no one gives you a chance, you have to take a chance on yourself.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I originally looked for a fabulous artist to do work for my website, and when I decided to self-publish, I used her art for my front and back cover. She also did about 50 awesome illustrations for my interior. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the look of the book.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I think it’s a little of both.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Do a lot of research but follow your heart and your gut in everything.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Queens, New York

Where do you live now?

Brooklyn, New York

What would you like readers to know about you?

That my cat needs my book to be successful so I can continue to feed her the good food.

What are you working on now?

I’ve got about 80 pages written for a sequel.

End of Interview:

For more from Patti Calkosz visit her website.

Get your copy of Olaf and Essex from Amazon US or Amazon UK.