All about the novel Trunk Goes Thunk!

Who is Heather Morris?

Heather C. Morris writes books for kids full of science, wonder, and imagination. She is a member of SCBWI and the 12×12 picture book challenge community, and her short stories and poetry have appeared in multiple arts journals and anthologies.

What is Trunk Goes Thunk about?

Interview

What was your inspiration for Trunk Goes Thunk?

I really love the “story behind the story” of this sweet book! You may or may not know that I am quite the science nerd. In fact, my formal training is in microbiology and I worked in labs and on science projects for years before I began writing full-time. So, one of my family’s favorite museums is the Cook Museum of Natural History in Decatur, AL, not far from where we live in Huntsville. This museum is small but mighty, and one of the first that I’ve found to outline the “central dogma” of molecular biology in a way that’s accessible for kids. But I digress…

One of the rooms in the museum is modeled after a temperate forest and displays the flora and fauna that can be found in that biome. As I browsed through this section, my attention was captured by a video playing on a loop. The footage was from a wildlife camera set up to capture one angle – a fallen tree trunk spanning a large creek. I was captivated by the variety of animals who used this “bridge” throughout the year. I kept thinking about the idea of a fallen tree as a log bridge for months after that visit. I found the original video (on YouTube as “The Log”) and watched it over and over. 

What drew you to writing?

I love story. And writing, to me, is magic. The idea that these marks on a page can convey meaning, and that meaning can become a far-away place, an imaginary character, and an epic journey leaves me speechless. The idea of creating something out of the nothing of a blank page is also staggering. Stories help us make sense of this crazy world. Even scientists rely on “stories” – simple, elegant explanations for the way things work or how their experiments fit together. 

What do you love about children’s literature?

When I think about my favorite books, especially the ones that still shape my views of the world, many of them are in the category we now call “middle grade.” Books like The Wind in the Willows, The Hobbit, The Secret Garden, Charlotte’s Web, King of the Wind, Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Sherlock Holmes, and Papa’s Wife. (Can you tell that I LOVE to read?!) Some of these books were not considered “children’s books” when they were written, others were written specifically for kids, but they have all stood the test of time because they pull on threads and themes that resonate with humans through history. Themes of love, beauty, redemption, friendship, justice, and family. I love that children’s literature tackles these topics in a way that is winsome and wise, but clear-eyed and doesn’t shy away from tough ideas.

How did you choose which character to centre the story around? 

Trunk Goes Thunk! doesn’t have one main character, unless you consider the tree that becomes the trunk/bridge to be the central character. Now that I think about it, maybe it is! 😊 I knew I wanted to explore the theme of something sad (a tree falling/death) actually turning into something good and beautiful (a bridge that is used by many animals). Something that links other creatures together. That is one of the main themes in my writing – how beautiful things are often born out of difficulty or mess.

What was your process for writing Trunk Goes Thunk?

I’ve found that I write best once I’ve taken time to think through an idea, often for many months. I think I first learned that with Trunk Goes Thunk. I saw The Log video in November, and I didn’t sit down to write even a rough draft until January. For those two months, I let the idea percolate to see if it had enough substance to be a full book. Did I keep thinking about it? Could I add any layers to it? In those months, I kept thinking about “cold” and “hot,” “light” and “dark,” “small” and “large” animals using the log. Once I added the concept of opposites to the natural re-purposing/recycling theme of the fallen tree becoming a bridge, I knew it was time to start writing.

How would you describe Trunk Goes Thunk in five words?

Lyrical, natural, together, forest, rebirth

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

The line “Day by day, pawprint by pawprint, the tumbled tree is transformed into…a bridge.” Ahhh, that line was most satisfying to write. 😊

What was your favourite book growing up?

That is an impossible question! Ha! I honestly can’t remember a time I couldn’t read, and I still feel incomplete without a book beside my bed. My parents had a hard time “keeping me in books.” When I was a kid, I read every horse-related book in my public library. Other favorites – The Secret Garden, Little Women, The Black Stallion, the Little House books, Anne of Green Gables, Sherlock Holmes, The Chronicles of Prydain, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit.

If I must choose…nope, I just can’t!

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

I love mystery and adventure, which is why I’m leaning into those genres in my upcoming middle grade manuscripts.