About Terri Common
Where Stories Are Born
As both a photographer and an author, I find inspiration in the everyday magic that surrounds me on my farm. My writing journey began where many of my photographs do—observing the playful antics of my two terriers, Groot and Suki, as they explore our farm with boundless curiosity and joy.
Life on the Farm
My home is a living storybook. Here, chickens strut and cluck behind their coop, marmots peek cautiously from their burrows, and rabbits dash through tall grass at dawn. My constant companions through it all are Groot and Suki, whose adventures and interactions with our farm's wildlife have become the heart of the Roo and Mooki series.
The sunflower field that Roo and Marty the marmot reach together? It exists just beyond our chicken coop, where in summer, golden blossoms tower overhead. The friendship between different animals that features prominently in my stories reflects the unexpected harmony I witness daily between the diverse creatures sharing our farm.
From Camera to Page
My background in photography taught me to notice details others might miss—the way a terrier's ears perk up at the sound of a marmot, or how chickens tilt their heads when something catches their interest. These observed moments become the seeds from which my stories grow.
I began capturing these interactions in photographs, but soon found that some stories needed more than images—they needed words to express the personalities, challenges, and friendships developing before my eyes. The Roo and Mooki series allows me to share these joyful discoveries with young readers.
Adult Fiction: From Dreams to Page
While my children's books are inspired by the visible world around my farm, my adult fiction emerges from my dreamscape. "Chains We Inherit: A Family's Hidden History" explores how memories persist across generations in unexpected ways, delving into the supernatural as a vehicle for preserving untold stories.
My upcoming novel draws inspiration from a powerful dream I experienced - one of concentric triangles with a central dot alongside a skeleton dragging chains. This vivid imagery has stayed with me, demanding to be explored and understood in a future work.
Many writers throughout history have found that dreams offer a unique window into our collective unconscious, revealing symbols and narratives that connect to deeper truths. By paying attention to these dream messages, I strive to illuminate connections and memories that might otherwise remain hidden - similar to how I observe the natural world for my children's stories.
