The proof of my new children’s chapter book arrived last week! The actual release date is January 2, 2022. Until then enjoy this first installment of the journeys both the illustrator and I took to create The Legend of Lop-eared Larry. It all began with…

Where I got the Idea for the Story

I’d been working on this story for a long time, probably 20-plus years. It’s a chapter book that was submitted to editors for the past few decades, with no takers. But every time I revisited the story, I still loved it. So the time came to take the hop and self publish my bunny book.

Welby, the bunny that fell down the window well.

Ever since I was a baby, I loved bunnies. My first stuffed toy was a white rabbit named Boing Boing. Later, in my 20s I got a tawny lop-eared rabbit for my birthday and named it Br’er. (He was the inspiration for my tale.) Then one snowy day in Colorado, a baby bunny fell into the window well. I took it in and fed it until the storm passed three days later. It was a challenge to keep my curious cat from wanting to “meet” the bunny! When the storm let up, Welby was released back to the wild. But all that summer a bunny that I’m sure was Welby hung out in the backyard. So you see, my love for bunnies couldn’t help but sneak into a story!

As an ode to Beatrix Potter, I wanted to tell a legend of how lop ears on rabbits came to be. In The Legend of Lop-eared Larry, Larry is born with droopy ears. His parents try to fix them but can’t. The other rabbits make fun of him. Larry dreams of fitting in and finding a talent of his own.

As a lover of Easter (‘cuz bunnies!) I tied my story in with Easter to show a holiday tradition from the rabbits’ point of view. In Hare Hollow, after the Easter Bunny delivers all the eggs, the rabbits throw him a big party, complete with a carrot cake.  (Easter Bunny has a sweet tooth like someone else I know.) This Easter, Larry’s lop ears save the day when he’s the only one who returns from Old Man Hooley’s garden with carrots to make the cake. Larry goes from being an outcast for having different ears to a hero.

My childhood Easter basket with Boing Boing in front. 

In a way I’m glad that it took so many years for the story to be published. My writing skills improved in that time, and I also was able to find the perfect artist to illustrate the story, Brittany David. Sometimes things happen for a reason. But all these years, I didn’t give up on the dream of putting this story out into the world, no matter how long it took.

The Legend of Lop-eared Larry will be officially released January 2, 2022 for Easter 2022. But if you want to be notified of the pre-release sale, send me an email to: natashawing@gmail.com with the subject line: Larry Book, and I’ll put you on the list. Thanks as always for your support. Can’t wait for you to read it!

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