Alene loves to travel and photograph nature, animals, scenery, and flowers. Putting them together for the pond soaring story was pure joy. At Craggy Eggy Pond At The Moore, all of the animals were photographed at Dragonfly Pond. Yet, the beautiful deer at Old Wetlands Pond and fish in Mariner's Money Mine The Wishing Pond, were photographed while traveling. Raised on a chicken farm, with a wonderful orchard surrounding her home, gave her access to many different animals, plus fruit and nut crops, and beautiful blossoms in springtime, not to meantion the fruit. So, it was only natural to write about farm life, where a mystery evolved when animals disappeared, as well as another important item, and the Royal Raspberry Realm played an important part. When the Secret Butterfly Meadow story was planned, "I wanted to also teach about the alphabet, and with a wide variety of things to write about in the meadow, that made it possible, yet not easy. I wanted to challenge children, as they see nature, to perhaps play an alphabet game of their own in a car, classroom, home, or backyard, by finding things beginning with the letters of the alphabet. Loving snow, I had to throw in a surprise snowstorm as Wings and the clan were celebrating Christmas. With a great respect for antiques, I used an antique urn from the Byzantine era to make a difference at Dragonfly Pond and for nature, and had a scavenger hunt on a secret island for more fun, and to suggest that anyone can do this. A little girl asked me to give her a card game, and that puzzled me for awhile. But it seemed like the perfect ending for this book, and I hope it brings joy to her and many other families."