In the soft light of a South Florida evening, long before she ever imagined becoming a published author, Elizabeth Anne Scherer listened closely as her father spun tales of bunnies, owls, and squirrels. Those stories became a nightly ritual in the Scherer home, a cherished exchange that shaped Elizabeth’s early world. She remembers the joy in her father’s voice, the way he made animals appear wise, brave, or mischievous, and the way the stories lingered long after the lights went out.
Today, Elizabeth has become the storyteller. Her children’s book Squirlie and Maude: The White Squirrels of Brevard introduces young readers to two spirited, snow colored squirrels who carry generations of history inside their tiny paws. The book traces the legend of how the rare white squirrels arrived in North Carolina and how they built a thriving colony that became the pride of a small mountain town. It is an adventure that merges folklore and natural history while honoring the spirit of the bedtime stories that first shaped her imagination.
The author’s connection to the natural world began long before her written words. She grew up in South Florida where warm weather invited children outdoors year round. Her days unfolded among crabs darting between rocks, turtles pushing through swells, seagulls tracing the sky, and squirrels that raced up the trees outside her window. That world of constant movement and curiosity formed the backdrop of her childhood and inspired a sense of responsibility that would remain with her for life.
Some of her earliest memories involve sea turtles struggling to reach the shore. Streetlamps distracted newly hatched turtles, pulling them toward danger instead of the ocean. Elizabeth and her brother marked nests, gathered flashlights, and stayed awake on humid nights to guide the hatchlings safely back to the water.
A Childhood Built on Bedtime Stories
They spent years performing this quiet rescue work until government programs eventually took over. Those nights strengthened the values that would later appear in her writing. They shaped her understanding of stewardship, patience, and the importance of protecting what is vulnerable.
That sense of responsibility followed her to college. She studied biology and ecology, discovering a deeper fascination with the smallest forms of life. Invertebrate zoology was her first course, and the microscopic protozoa seen through a classroom microscope opened an entirely new universe. These discoveries deepened her respect for animals, reminding her that wonder exists at every scale.
Animals were no longer just bedtime characters. They were beings with habits, instincts, and intricacies that influenced ecosystems. This scientific perspective helped her view nature as both delicate and powerful, inspiring future stories with richer detail and authenticity.
Writing, however, came later. Elizabeth once believed life should be experienced before it was described. For years she collected moments but never set them on the page.
Nature Lessons From the Florida Coast
That changed after a close friend, a bestselling author, offered a simple piece of advice. The only difference between a writer and a published writer is that the published writer does not give up. The words stayed with her. Eventually she began writing, capturing memories and ideas with surprising ease, as if they had been waiting for her to begin.
A pivotal chapter unfolded in Japan where she lived for five years. Immersion in a new culture broadened her understanding of perspective and experience. She realized that books allow readers to explore lives they cannot live themselves. They open minds and expand worlds. When she returned home, she felt ready to write stories that others could enter and enjoy.
Her journey to Squirlie and Maude began in Brevard, North Carolina where a high school friend introduced her to the town’s most famous residents, the white squirrels who appeared like small snowflakes among the branches. They were elusive and enchanting, and their legend traced back to an overturned carnival truck.
Elizabeth recognized immediately that the history had the makings of a remarkable children’s story. It reminded her of the whimsical narratives her father once created, but it also carried the depth of real natural history.
Science Opens a New World
Swish, Old Mr. Squirrel, and the book’s other characters came alive through a blend of memory and discovery. One took on the curiosity of a young explorer and another adopted the role of wise storyteller, much like the bedtime stories she had once treasured. Their voices emerged naturally as she developed the world they inhabited.
Nature provided the inspiration, but research gave the story structure. Elizabeth gathered information through books, field studies, and online resources. The more she learned, the easier it became to imagine the squirrels’ personalities and translate their real behaviors into engaging scenes.
Collaboration played an essential role. After two illustrators struggled to capture the look and spirit of the squirrels, she met artist Susan Shorter. The partnership brought the characters to life with warmth and authenticity. Susan read the manuscript carefully and understood the emotional tone Elizabeth hoped to convey.
Together they crafted visual storytelling that complemented the narrative. The illustrations helped readers step into the world of the white squirrels with imagination and empathy.
From World Traveler to Emerging Author
The finished book blends adventure, education, and environmental awareness. Young readers experience the excitement of the squirrels escaping the carnival truck while also learning about community, survival, and the importance of protecting wildlife.
Elizabeth’s writing honors the intelligence of young readers. She uses vocabulary that encourages growth, questions, and curiosity. The book quietly strengthens language as well as understanding, reminding children that learning can be woven into stories they enjoy.
The book’s message extends beyond its pages. Elizabeth believes that if children learn to show kindness toward animals, they will extend that gentleness to their communities and the world around them.
Through empathy for small creatures, children can develop a lifelong respect for nature.
The author’s upcoming projects continue that mission.
The Mystery of Brevard’s White Squirrels
She is writing Myrtle the Sea Turtle Swims Home, a story inspired by her years guiding hatchlings back to the ocean. In this tale, a Loggerhead sea turtle returns to the beach where she was born, accompanied by a porpoise on the journey. The story honors resilience and the cycles that guide marine life.
She is also developing a series called The Bitsy Books which explore familiar animals, cloud formations, and lessons about counting and observation. Each story carries a gentle message about curiosity, appreciation, and the magic found in paying attention.
Elizabeth sees storytelling as a collaboration between knowledge and imagination. The more she learns about animals, the more inspired she becomes to share their worlds with readers. She hopes children will read with their parents and discover joy in nature together.
Reflecting on her journey, she imagines what her younger self would think of her work today.
Turning Local Legend Into a Children’s Adventure
She believes that little girl would be proud. She would see that the stories were finally told and shared with the world. She would understand that perseverance made the dream possible.
For readers, the strength of Squirlie and Maude lies in its sincerity. It is entertaining and educational. It encourages curiosity and empathy. It celebrates the uniqueness of species and the power of community.
Elizabeth writes with a voice that respects young minds. Her storytelling invites them to explore, question, and care. In a gentle editorial way, the book becomes a tool for teaching about animal habitats, environmental responsibility, and the beauty of coexistence.
The story, and the values woven through it, reflect the same lessons she learned as a child on the Florida beaches.
The Characters Who Carry the Heart of the Story
Sharing this story through America Inspire Magazine allows her work to reach families across the country and beyond. Her hope is simple. She wants young readers to enjoy the tale and perhaps fall in love with the tiny white squirrels who changed a small town.
She also hopes parents will see the value in stories that honor nature, encourage empathy, and invite children to explore the world with open hearts.
In a publishing landscape filled with distractions, Squirlie and Maude stands out as a reminder of the beauty in paying attention. It celebrates the elegance of simple stories and the joy that comes from seeing the world through the eyes of animals.
It is a gift to readers and a tribute to the girl who once guided sea turtles back to the ocean under the glow of Florida’s moonlit sky.
Link to the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Squirlie-Maude-White-Squirrels-Brevard/dp/1546246991
