Brandon Detwiler Interview Published on: 27, Apr 2026

From my earliest memories, I have always had a love for telling stories and creating new characters that could accomplish amazing things. I think the further and further we get into a fully digital world, the more we lose that ability to be creative and have sprawling imaginations. And, I think it is more important now than ever before that children are allowed to dream and have time to be creative. I always enjoyed any picture books I could get my hands on when I was a kid, so I wanted to make sure my kids had that same opportunity. And, what better way to do that than to create a book that was meant for them. Clyde the Reindeer Learns to Fly is my ode to them - a little book about a blue collar reindeer that has big dreams and won't give up on them. So, I'm not sure if my writing was influenced by becoming a father more than my writing influenced the father I hoped I would become.

I think as long as you make something fun, and you push it out for consumption in a light-hearted and whimsically-funny way, you can get away with being preachy because it's never shoved in the reader's face. And, what is more fun than a cast of super-powered critters? So, the lessons are there, but as you read the stories, you get inspired to do something to help, to become a team player, and to develop your own imagination and creativity.

Clyde is basically me. Now, I didn't want to learn how to fly, but my dream was to become a published author. So, the character of Clyde was basically a metaphorical way for me to figure out how to get to that plateau in my life. And, I now have three published books. However, it took me until 2022 to accomplish that dream of being a published author for the first time, but I never gave up. And, the characters that would eventually make up the Amazing Critter Rescue Crew all appeared in Clyde the Reindeer Learns to Fly. They didn't have names then, but they allowed me to accomplish the dream of creating my own superhero team with as much pop culture and comic book inspiration I could muster in my second book. So, with these characters, I was able to tie in my love for animals, superheroes, nature, and doing what's right for the world around us - all things I hope will influence others to dream and do something that changes the world for the better.

In writing my first book, the writing was never really the challenge. That challenge came when I had to draw all of the illustrations. I actually finished this first story (book) over nineteen years ago, but I was not able to get it published until 2022. I tried each year to finish my drawings but something would always pull me away. So, I was not able to get this first book out there into the world until I met my friends, Justin Dunn and Erin Galloway through a family friend. Since then, Justin and I have collaborated many times as author and illustrator. And, I can see my original vision for my characters in each drawing he creates, so it's a perfect match for me. In life, we sometimes need help to get things across the finish line. And, I think that is the biggest lesson any of us can learn and take to heart.

I always think back on the life lessons I learned while growing up. My parents took my siblings and I on camping trips, to visit national parks across the country, and so many other fun excursions. But, each one of those trips was a mini adventure for us. We learned how to do new things and the history of the places we visited, but my parents always did this in such a fun way, it just felt like part of the adventure. I like to think I face my writing that same way. You have to add some fun elements into the stories in order for the meaningful lessons to stick. In fact, that is what helps to make them stick.

It's not really any different. I still look for fun ways to write a story that can entertain both children and adults alike. I always feel like if I can do that, it will make it so much better for story times.

I really don't think we can get anything done without teamwork. In reality, I'm a very independent person that likes to figure out how things work and do tasks myself. But, I also realize that I can't do everything on my own. I often feel like the way I write my characters having teamwork and strong friendships is what I hope all of us can strive to aim for, including myself. So, I am constantly learning from my characters each day on how to help make this world better. The more division we have, the less we will ever be able to achieve. So, teamwork and friendship are the key to it all.

I grew up loving nature, the outdoors, animals, comic books, and cartoons, so it's easy to pull from all of the places and things I learned in my life's journey. Although my stories are totally imaginary, they are rooted in real places or things I experienced growing up. For example, I love Arizona with all of the different climates it has. I mean, it can be hot as can be in the lower regions, but you can still have snow in the upper mountains until late spring. And, the aspen forests there are beautiful, so that was the natural backdrop for Clyde the Reindeer Learns to Fly. And, I grew up in a blue collar household, so Clyde's job also reflected that. So, I like to think there is an aspect of every part of my characters and stories rooted in real-life, but then you realize that the Amazing Critter Rescue Crew are a a group of super-powered animals. So, I think everything plays in that happy balance between real-life and pure imagination.

The thing I like the most is that I can write stories or use new vocabulary words that make children think and promote a growth mindset. I don't think adults give children enough credit for how smart and deductive they can be. And, the way I write my stories, I always add elements that adults will enjoy and promote more conversation and bonding time with their children.

Yes, I was able to share the story of Clyde the Reindeer Learns to Fly with my own children when they were growing up. And, I have been able to share that book and my other two with various children at school reading events that featured an interactive question and answer session each time after I read my book. I have also been lucky enough to have had my books featured on various read-aloud platforms and podcasts, such as Kids Ask, Authors Answer. But, the thing that sticks out the most for me is the questions the children ask and how you can see the creative spark in their eyes after listening to my adventures. And, hopefully, it pushes them to come up with stories of their own to share.

Growing up, my favorite illustrators were Richard Scarry (Various Animal & Word Books), Charles Schulz (Peanuts), Berke Breathed (Bloom County & Outland), Chuck Jones & Friz Freleng (Looney Tunes), Frank Miller (Batman, Daredevil), Chris Claremont & Jim Lee (Uncanny X-Men), and Todd McFarlane (Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk).

And, my favorite authors were all from the realm of fiction. Those include Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island & The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), Elmore Leonard (3:10 to Yuma & Joe Kidd), Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove & The Last Picture Show), R.A. Salvatore (The Crystal Shard & Homeland), Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men and The Road), Stephen King (The Body & Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption), and Edgar Allan Poe (The Tell-Tale Heart & The Black Cat).

I would love to see my characters as a TV show that would fit right into a Saturday morning or after school line-up for kids. I think my characters would play out well as an animated series that has an educational piece at the end that teaches children to love the environment and animals. I could also envision some type of game whether it be board-based or digital that allows kids to use the super powers of each animal to complete different tasks and understand the importance of helping those in need.

But, I also have a couple ideas in the works for other books. One that would complete the trilogy series after Clyde the Reindeer Learns to Fly and The Call of Destiny. And, I have one other book in mind that would be more of rhyming musical adventure about a an aloof gopher name Eugene with the Amazing Critter Rescue Crew helping out in the background.

I actually try to write from the perspective of a parent telling an elaborate and grand adventure for story time. So, I don't really have a particular age group in mind, but I do try to offer some whimsy and humor for all with some pop culture added in for the adults that will allow for them to reminisce on stories of their own childhood memories with their kids. And, I always add in elements at the end that are either questions about the book or maybe a scavenger hunt that allows them to go back through the pages again.

I would tell them to write what you feel, and what makes you happy. When you write to the whims of what others think you should write, you tend to lose the parts in you that made you want to write in the first place. I believe there is a story and a writer in all of us, you just have to be brave enough to put your thoughts on the page. And, not everyone will like what you have written, but you should never lose heart or give up because a few people don't understand your goal or characters. But, you should always remember that writing for kids and adults are two very different things. However, adults reading kids books also need to remember whom they were written for.

I have been able to meet new connections here, as well as new fans. Since winning the cover contest, I have also gotten people that have read and reviewed my books just out of the blue. It has been a great learning and building experience for a self-published author with big dreams.