An Interview with Book Bridge Press Client Bethany Masters

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We hope you'll visit the Book Bridge Press website and read our new interview with author and photographer Bethany Masters. She explains how her book An Osprey Summer is helping to connect her with new and exciting opportunities in the Education Marketplace.

For the complete interview, please visit: Interview with Book Bridge Press Client Bethany Masters.

BB: How did you get interested in osprey?

I have always loved nature, and spent many hours as a child exploring the banks of the Mississippi River.  Later, I studied to become an artist.  The river, with its abundant wildlife, became a favorite subject for my painting and photography.   I discovered the osprey nest on Channel Marker 825.6 when I was out on the river with my camera.   I had never seen osprey before.  I was captivated!  Over the next few years, I took more than 600 photos of that nest, documenting the osprey pair as they raised each new batch of chicks.  I began to learn about the rhythm of the nesting cycle and formed a special bond with these magnificent birds.

BB:  What inspired you the take your images and create a book for children, and how did Book Bridge Press help you bring it to life?

I learned so much from the osprey family.   They live virtually in our back yard here in the Twin Cities, yet I knew that most of my students had never seen an osprey.  I wanted to share this special experience with them. My book began as a PowerPoint presentation for elementary students.  I decided to create a book that could be used by parents and educators.  Book Bridge Press helped me take that initial “manuscript” and turn it into the polished product that I knew it could be.  They offered technical advice on preparing my photos and text for publishing, and they guided me through every step of the publishing process.