An Interview with Susan Shining-Star: Creator of Sunny Stella® World

Whenever a new idea pops into my head, I write it down on a scrap piece of paper. If I don't, the chances of remembering it later are greatly reduced. Sometimes the idea disappears completely, forever lost in the deep recesses of my mind.

These notes cover a good portion of my desk, with no rhyme or reason to their placement. You should see the top of my desk! About once a week, I go through them, sort through related ideas, and decide what to keep. Sometimes I combine several notes into one, condensing or summarizing the information. Other times, I discard notes that are no longer needed. The remaining notes stay on my desk until I'm ready to use them.

As for pursuing new ideas, I generally don't let them pull me away from whatever I'm working on. I stop just long enough to jot down the idea, then return to my writing. The exception is when the idea relates directly to something I'm actively working on and needs to be addressed before I can move forward.

I think the best approach is to capture new ideas while they're fresh, set them aside for later, and stay focused on the project I'm currently working on. After all, an idea written on a scrap of paper can always be revisited, but an idea forgotten may be gone forever.

Without a doubt, that would be Stella. She's the main character in the Sunny Stella® Series and the inspiration behind Sunny Stella® World, so she holds a special place in my heart. As I've mentioned, Stella is my mini-me, and much of her personality reflects my own curiosity, creativity, love of nature, and passion for hands-on learning.

What I enjoy most about writing Stella is seeing the world through her eyes. She's curious about the things happening around her, isn't afraid to ask questions, and enjoys learning through firsthand experiences. Through Stella, I can introduce children to backyard homesteading, nature, practical skills, and the everyday discoveries that come from observing the world around them.

Stella requires the most attention and detail from me as a writer. I want her personality, actions, and experiences to remain consistent as the series develops. She's eleven years old, so I have to be mindful of how she thinks, speaks, responds to challenges, and interacts with the other characters. I want her to be knowledgeable and curious without making her sound like an adult.

My education, professional background, and personal experiences all play a role in my writing. I have a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Adult Education. I'm a Certified Pollinator Steward and a certified Nature Journaling Educator, with additional certificates in regenerative agriculture and beekeeping. My yard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat. It provides opportunities to put much of what I've learned into practice. My education and hands-on experiences have expanded my knowledge of the natural world and given me practical skills that I incorporate into my writing.

I've always believed that learning doesn't have to take place in a traditional classroom. Nature offers countless opportunities to ask questions, make discoveries, develop practical skills, and connect what we're learning to everyday life. I bring that philosophy into Sunny Stella® World, where children and the adults who guide them learn through stories, observation, exploration, and hands-on experiences.

My background in homesteading also provides much of the inspiration for my stories. Before being struck by lightning, I spent years living off-grid and practicing old-fashioned skills. After the lightning strike changed my life, I eventually found my way back to those roots through backyard homesteading on a small desert city lot. Those experiences have given me firsthand knowledge that I weave into my books, including raising animals, growing food, practicing sustainability, and learning to work within my abilities.

Homestead and nature-based learning for families, educators, and homeschoolers.

One of the most important things I hope readers take away from my books is that learning doesn't have to stop when they close the book. The stories in the Sunny Stella® Series are meant to encourage children and the adults who guide them to take what they've learned and apply it to their own lives.

Through Stella and her friends, I want readers to discover that nature offers endless opportunities to explore, ask questions, make observations, develop practical skills, and learn through hands-on experiences. They don't need a large homestead or expensive equipment to get started either. Even a small backyard, patio, balcony, or windowsill can become a place of discovery. Sometimes all it takes is a little curiosity and a willingness to try something new.

Another takeaway that's important to me is the recognition that everyone has something valuable to contribute, regardless of their abilities or limitations. Through characters like Melanie, I want children to understand that people may approach activities differently, but those differences don't have to prevent them from participating alongside others. Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, contribute, and enjoy new experiences.

Most of all, I hope my books inspire readers to put what they've learned into practice. Perhaps a child will plant a seed after reading about gardening, begin observing the birds visiting their backyard, or become curious enough to experiment with natural dyes. Not every reader will be interested in the same activities, and that's perfectly fine. What matters to me is that something in the story encourages them to explore an interest of their own. After all, learning can happen just about anywhere.

One of the most challenging critiques I've received came from an Outstanding Creator review of Homestead Harmony. The reviewer felt that some of the educational content slowed the story's momentum, particularly Chapter 4, where the children learn how to make natural dye from beet peelings. They suggested that the chapter sometimes read more like an instructional manual than a children's adventure.

What made this critique particularly challenging was that Chapter 4 had already been one of the most difficult chapters for me to write. As someone living with Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia following a traumatic brain injury, sequencing information can be especially difficult. Natural dyeing involves several steps that must be completed in a particular order. I understood the process, but translating that knowledge into a story while maintaining the correct sequence took considerable time and effort.

I can appreciate the reviewer's perspective. At the same time, as a Naturalist Educator, I intentionally incorporate hands-on learning into my stories. I want children and the adults who guide them to understand the processes well enough to explore them beyond the pages of a book.

Interestingly, the same Outstanding Creator review that offered this criticism also provided one of the most rewarding compliments I've received. The reviewer recognized how Stella and Melanie participate in activities despite their different abilities. They appreciated that the characters aren't defined by their medical conditions or disabilities, but are portrayed as capable children with their own personalities, interests, and contributions. That recognition is especially meaningful to me because I draw from my own experiences of living with multiple disabilities. I want children to understand that having a disability doesn't mean they can't participate, contribute, or enjoy the same experiences as others. Sometimes it simply means finding a different way to do things.

Competition from AI-written books is fierce, and even books written entirely by human authors are sometimes incorrectly flagged as AI-generated. My advice is to document your writing process along the way. Keep your drafts, revisions, notes, and research, so you have a record of your creative journey and can protect your credibility as a human author.

Having said that, writing may very well be the easiest part of becoming a published author. Marketing your work is an ongoing process that requires dedication and persistence.

Follow your dreams. If writing is your passion, don't give up on it.

Growing up, I wanted to be both a teacher and a writer. Teaching became a part of my life in many different ways, although I didn't always hold positions with the title of teacher. Throughout my career, I sought opportunities that allowed me to share knowledge, help others develop new skills, and encourage lifelong learning.

Over the years, I've worked in positions that involved teaching, facilitating educational programs, coaching, and instructional design. I've taught and worked with people of different ages and backgrounds, from children to older adults. Whether I was leading a group discussion, helping someone learn a new skill, or developing educational materials, I found ways to incorporate teaching into my work.

Writing, on the other hand, took a different path. I enjoyed writing poetry and short stories when I was younger and even won a poetry contest. Aside from those early experiences and a few short pieces, I didn't seriously pursue writing until I was in my sixties. Looking back, I find it interesting that the two things I wanted to do when I grew up eventually came together. Today, as a Naturalist Educator and Author, I have the opportunity to combine my love of teaching with my passion for writing through Sunny Stella® World.

The amount of time I spend writing a book varies considerably, depending on the project. 

Flock of Quackers: A Prayer With Every Step, my journey of faith, healing, and stewardship that later inspired the Sunny Stella® Series, took me approximately four months to write. Backyard Homestead Adventures: Storybook 1 in the Sunny Stella Series took about three to four months of active writing, while its companion workbook took approximately six months to complete. Homestead Harmony: Storybook 2 in the Sunny Stella Series took about a year from start to finish. However, I took quite a bit of time away from the manuscript during that period, so the actual writing time was closer to two or three months.

I think it's important to distinguish between the time a project takes from beginning to completion and the amount of time spent actively writing. In my experience, they can be quite different.

Outside of writing, I enjoy spending time with friends. Since I live about 2,000 miles away from my family, video chats help us stay connected. I enjoy spending time with and caring for my mobility service dog and my quail, too.

I've always enjoyed reading, learning new things, getting creative with DIY projects, and landscape design. Much of my time is spent outdoors, where I've designed and, with the help of friends, created several special places around my property, each with its own personality and purpose. Currently, these include: Pollinator Park, Gnome Land, Wheat Street, Goji Lane, Rabbit Island, Duck Palace, Quail Cove, Feather Field, Canine Court, Turtle Run, and Memory Grove. Since I am homebound, having these different outdoor spaces gives me a variety of places to enjoy nature, observe wildlife, write, and experience a change of scenery without leaving home.

Yes, I have a very personal connection to my characters, especially Stella and Melanie.

Stella is my mini-me. She began as a simple sketch for the cover of a backyard homesteading book that I was planning for adults. As I developed her character, she took on a life of her own and eventually became the inspiration for Sunny Stella® World. Looking back, I can see how much of my own homesteading journey, curiosity, love of nature, creativity, and passion for hands-on learning I've woven into her character.

Melanie's connection to my life is even more personal. In my upcoming book, Winter Comes to the Homestead: Storybook 3, Melanie reveals that she was struck by lightning. I survived a lightning strike more than 25 years ago, which left me with a traumatic brain injury and lasting challenges. Through Melanie, I draw on my own experiences of living with multiple disabilities. I know firsthand what it's like to face challenges that others may not see or understand. Every day, I find ways to adapt, come up with creative solutions, overcome obstacles, and participate in activities that are meaningful to me. These are the experiences I bring to Melanie's character.

Both characters reflect different parts of my life, and I hope their stories encourage readers to recognize that challenges don't have to define what we can accomplish.