While volunteering at her local zoo, Brown first encountered capybaras, a South American mammal that looks like an over-sized Guinea pig. The experience sparked her interest in exotic pets, a subject she continues to pursue with avid interest.

A freelance writer by trade, Brown’s animal books are written for her own pleasure and the edification of her readers. She is a strong supporter of animal rescue and welfare organizations, and works with programs educating young children about the proper care of pets.

Brown maintains something of a menagerie of her own, making room in her home for a 180-gallon saltwater fish tank, a 20-year old Scarlet Macaw, a Golden Retriever, and several highly tolerant cats. (She advises that good cages make good multi-species homes.)

“If I become interested in a particular animal and have no direct experience with the creature, I get some before I start to write,” Brown says. “All animals have a unique perspective on the world and their place in it. They all have particular needs — physical and emotional — and they all have unique personalities. These are things I want to understand before I try to communicate them to my readers.”
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