Followers of this blog may remember a time a few years ago when I wrote a book called The Fox Diaries: The Year The Foxes Came To Our Garden. Those days seem like yesterday, but they are not.
When the foxes first arrived in my yard back in 2010, I was just enamored with this special connection I felt with these beautiful animals and the interactions I had with them. It’s as if time stopped, the veil between being human and animal was lifted, and for the first time, I viewed both the foxes and myself as sharing the same home, the same world.
When I initially shared the story of my little foxes on my personal blog, thousands of people would show up on Thursdays to check in on our little garden visitors. Through those visits, I’ve met so many wonderful people who are equally enchanted at the thought of a fox family living in their yards. Without the foxes, I would have never made such excellent friendly connections with people from six continents.
Our blog visitors, family and friends started asking if I would make a book about the foxes. That’s when I looked into publishing and decided that I wanted to not only write books but also wanted to be a publisher.
The greatest connection from starting my own publishing house (Audrey Press) was the reconnection to my mother. Audrey was my mother’s first name and she was one of my greatest supporters in life. Sadly, she passed away when my youngest child was 4 months old. But I also know that my mom is with me everyday, through every adventure and creative moment.
She also had a front-seat view from above as I toiled through the process of writing my first book and creating my first publishing house.
Writing a children’s picture book is not for the faint of heart, but the story of my beloved foxes seems to flow from my fingertips effortlessly.
Once the storyline was done, I spent weeks pouring over the hundreds of photos that I had taken of Rennie and her babies as they frolicked and grew up on my property.
The weeks turned to months, but I never lost sight of my desire to publish The Fox Diaries: The Year The Foxes Came to our Garden.
When it felt like publishing this book would never happen, it did! In May of 2011, my book was ready for the world to see and an added fun surprise was that a NEW batch of foxes had moved in the Budayr backyard!
The moment that book was in my hands, I felt success. I didn’t need one more thing to happen. Holding my fox book was enough.
As I type this, my precious first published book as an author AND publisher turns THIRTEEN.
Thirteen years and many batches of fox kits have graced our Tennessee property. Mama Rennie is no longer with us, but her daughters have returned to raise families of their own time and time again.
Even after all these years, and of the “fox time” I’ve enjoyed, they continue to take my breath away.
About The Book
Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr.
The Fox Diaries offers an enthusiastic educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together. From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into Momma Rennie’s and her babies’ private lives.
Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning individually and as a family. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing.
Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, but there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts that you can enjoy with your family.
Grab your copy at Amazon or from the Audrey Press Bookstore.
