Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I have written three books to date and contributed chapters and music to three additional books.
My first book was written in connection with a nonprofit I founded and ran for eight years.
My second and third books are part of a new blog-to-book series I’m having so much fun writing!
To make a long story shorter, over the last several years I have taken my passion for mentoring (given and received) and turned it into an unfolding series of books. Each book is focused on the shared benefits of connecting with animals and nature to add more healing, joy, wisdom and love to daily life.
So far I have completed two books in this series.
“Love & Feathers: what a palm-sized parrot has taught me about life, love, and healthy self-esteem” is a fun memoir about my life with my senior cockatiel, Pearl. The book also features our late dachshund, J.P. Morgan (named for the bluegrass song not the bank), and an additional colorful cast of animal characters.
“Waffles & More: A Love & Feathers Recipe Book,” which was co-written with my mom, an amazing chef, features 70 recipes people and parrots can both enjoy. Recipes include suggestions for “birdifying” certain dishes to make them safe for avians to try.
Right now I am working on book three in the series, tentatively titled “Love & Feathers & Shells.” In this book, our little flock expands to include a hatchling redfooted tortoise named Malti and a rescued adult Texas 3-toed box turtle named Bruce. I am really hopeful to complete and publish it this year!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Love & Feathers: what a palm-sized parrot has taught me about life, love, and healthy self-esteem” and “Waffles & More: A Love & Feathers Recipe Book” were both inspired by our whole family’s bond with my cockatiel, Pearl.
Pearl came to me as a five-week-old chick. He was the clear runt of his litter, bullied to the point where he had lost three claws and the end of his left wing tip by the time I rescued him from a local pet store. The first time we met, I was still mourning the untimely loss of my three-year-old cockatiel, Jacob, and he was still covered in down and baby bird formula – we were each a hot mess by anyone’s standards.
We connected instantly. I held out my hand to him and he jumped on and scampered up my arm and proceeded to hide under my hair for 45 minutes. At one point the bird department manager actually came looking for us because she thought I had stolen him! Pearl immediately bonded with me but also with my parents.
He loves my mom’s cooking and wants to jump on top of pretty much anything she makes – whole pizzas, apple pies, biscuits, lasagna, fresh bread – I run a blog called Love & Feathers & Shells that shares his daily adventures and often features my mom as well.
Pearl also has a special bond with my dad on account of how, during one period of time when I was away and he stayed with them for a few years, Dad used to put Pearl on his knee and let him chew the library books as he read them. To this day whenever Pearl sees my Dad, who is 6’3″ tall, he screeches and launches himself up to Dad’s shoulder to roost.
We joke that Dad is Pearl’s personal “Tall Tree” and Mom is his personal “Small Chef” but it is really true.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a full-time freelance writer, so I am always switching hats back and forth from working on client projects to squeezing in time on my own creative writing projects. Because I work from home (which I love love love), Pearl, Malti and Bruce are always with me. Pearl shares the other half of my (our) writing table and if I vacate the laptop even for a moment he will climb on to try to pry off the keys or roost on the warm keyboard.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been an avid reader since before I entered kindergarten. My reading list is miles long – literally! I love Sy Montgomery’s books and the work of Dr. Irene Pepperberg, who is a pioneer in testing avian intelligence. Dr. Temple Grandin’s books are a huge influence, especially her book “Animals Make Us Human.” Jennifer Verdolin’s book “Wild Connection” will always be a favorite. Peter Wohlleben’s “The Hidden Life of Trees” and Elizabeth Tova Bailey’s “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” are shouldn’t-be-hidden gems! And so many more….I actually keep an updated reading list of my top favorite books if your readers would like to take a look: https://shannoncutts.com/reading/shannons-reading-list/
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on “Love & Feathers & Shells,” the next book in the Love & Feathers series. Up until Malti, my redfooted tortoise, joined our little flock five and a half years ago, Pearl had been an only bird since he was a hatchling. He was NOT pleased! Then, one year after Malti came along, I rescued a box turtle named Bruce. So we went from a little flock of two to four. Caring for exotic animals is not easy on any level and all three of my nonhuman flock mates have very specific care needs and very strong personalities. This next book will share what our daily life has been like as our flock has expanded and the ways each flock member has mentored and taught me.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The “Love & Feathers” books has arisen from a blog called Love & Feathers & Shells. The daily blog posts plus our Instagram videos is the number one way we stay connected with our followers and readers: http://www.loveandfeathersandshells.com
Do you have any advice for new authors?
A very wise mentor once advised me to “bloom where you are planted.” I still refer back to his guidance – in fact I was just the other day talking about it with one of my dearest friends. I truly believe we have what we need in each moment to carry our dreams that one more small step forward. If you have a dream, do one small thing today to fulfill it. Then tomorrow do another small thing. If you keep doing one small thing as inspiration strikes, one day you will wake up with your dream fully realized.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I think it would have to be from one of my longtime mentors, Don Miguel Ruiz. He shares five agreements that have completely transformed my life and my relationships with all beings, human and non-human:
– Be impeccable with your word.
– Don’t take anything personally.
– Don’t make assumptions.
– Always do your best.
– Be skeptical but learn to listen.
Don Miguel Ruiz and his whole family are writers and teachers – their books are phenomenal.
What are you reading now?
Oh boy. The stack beside my bed always looks like the leaning tower of Pisa. “The Body: A Guide for Occupants” by Bill Bryson, “City of Girls” by Elizabeth Gilbert, “Dessert First” by J. Dana Trent” are all in progress even as I type.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal is to continue developing the Love & Feathers & Shells blog while working to complete the book by the same name. I have also started creating short films featuring each flock member and I plan to do more of that in the very near future. Your readers can view the films on our YouTube and Instagram as well as on our website.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/smcutts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveandfeathersandshells/
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Stranded on a desert island with books….that’s a tough one. I would take at least one by Sonia Choquette (but I would have to think really hard about which one!), “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, “Letters to a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke, and definitely “Love & Feathers,” since the main reason I started writing the book was to preserve every precious memory of my life with Pearl, my soul-bird.
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