James Segelstein

I had a long career as a producer at CBS News and CNBC. My scripts had to be rigorously fact-based but on weekends, I found myself writing stories that were entirely fact-free. I loved being unshackled by accuracy… which made writing “Springtime Miracles and Mud” great fun.

I wouldn’t have written the book if I hadn’t grown up in New York City. There, “wildlife” meant pigeons and squirrels! So when my wife and I moved to the suburbs, I was thrilled by the animals crossing our lawn. The book’s characters owe their existence to that parade of woodchucks, skunks, bobcats and more.

Since retiring, I’ve been considering life’s more important questions: Should my next main character be a badger or a bunny? Are some animals naturally funny and others self-conscious? And are the creatures crossing my lawn trespassing? Or am I the interloper on their property?

I have an answer for that last one. But I’ll have to write another book with characters who can explain my thinking better than I.