From Idea to Adventure: How I Created Outside the Cage
Every book has a story behind its creation, and Outside the Cage is no exception. What started as a simple idea to entertain myself during a summer of immobility grew into a thrilling middle-grade adventure full of dinosaurs, mystery, and courage. In this post, I’m taking you behind the scenes of Outside the Cage to share how I built the world of Fern Flats, developed Spencer's character, and navigated the challenges of crafting a page-turning mystery.
The Inspiration: Dinosaurs and a Dash of Sherlock Holmes
It all started with my two dinosaur-obsessed sons. As they grew older, I noticed that the market for dinosaur books tended to fall into two categories: either time-travel adventures or books where dinosaurs were the enemies. I wanted something different—something that reflected the admiration and curiosity my boys had for these prehistoric creatures. I began to think: What if humans lived alongside dinosaurs, not as foes, but as part of their daily lives?
This concept sparked the initial idea for Outside the Cage. I also knew I wanted to add a mystery element, drawing inspiration from stories like Sherlock Holmes where the protagonist has to use their wits to solve a problem. Combining dinosaurs with a classic detective-style mystery felt like a fun and original direction for a middle-grade novel.
Developing Spencer: A Reluctant Hero
Spencer, the protagonist of Outside the Cage, is an eleven-year-old boy who lives just outside the domed town of Fern Flats. Unlike typical heroes who are eager for adventure, Spencer doesn’t initially see himself as someone who saves the day. He’s a normal kid who loves his family, enjoys working on the farm with their helpful dinosaurs, and is used to a quiet life. But when the mysterious attacks begin, he’s thrust into a situation where he has no choice but to act.
I wanted Spencer to feel relatable to young readers. He doesn’t have superpowers or special abilities—just a strong sense of loyalty to his family and a desire to do what’s right. As he unravels the mystery, Spencer grows from a cautious, unsure boy into a courageous, determined young man. His journey is less about finding the truth and more about discovering his own strength and resilience, which I hope will resonate with readers.
Building the World of Fern Flats and Free-Farm
World-building is one of my favorite aspects of writing. For Outside the Cage, I wanted to create a setting that felt both familiar and fantastical. Fern Flats is a small town encased in a massive protective dome—an idea that came to me while watching documentaries about enclosed ecosystems. What if a town needed protection not from weather or disease, but from dangerous dinosaurs that roamed outside?
In contrast, Spencer’s family lives on Free-Farm, which operates outside the safety of the dome. I envisioned a harmonious relationship between the humans and dinosaurs here—dinosaurs as farm helpers rather than threats. I loved the idea of dinosaurs being an integral part of everyday life. This unique relationship allowed me to explore themes of cooperation and co-existence in a fun, adventurous way.
The Human-Dinosaur Relationship
When I started outlining the relationship between humans and dinosaurs, I knew I wanted to avoid the typical “humans versus dinosaurs” trope. Instead, I saw dinosaurs as an essential part of the ecosystem in my story. I wanted readers to view them not as monsters, but as creatures with their own instincts and roles within the world of Free-Farm.
I researched modern-day farming and animal behavior to inform how the dinosaurs would fit into the daily operations. Of course, this partnership isn’t without its challenges, and part of the tension in the story arises from the delicate balance between living alongside these powerful creatures.
Crafting the Mystery: A Balancing Act
One of the biggest challenges I faced was balancing the mystery element with the dinosaur adventure. I wanted the story to be gripping and suspenseful without becoming too dark for young readers. Mysterious attacks begin to rock Fern Flats, and suspicion quickly falls on Spencer’s family and Free-Farm. My goal was to keep the reader guessing: who—or what—is behind the attacks? Is it really the dinosaurs? Or is something more sinister at play?
This required careful pacing. I had to build enough tension to keep readers hooked while also allowing moments of levity and discovery. The mystery had to unfold in a way that young readers could follow but not solve too quickly. Writing a mystery for middle-grade readers involved walking a fine line between making the clues challenging yet accessible.
An Unexpected Writing Journey
The journey to completing Outside the Cage was as unexpected as the story itself. I actually started writing the book after a rather unfortunate accident—I fell out of a tree and broke my foot. With a summer of immobility ahead of me, I needed a creative outlet to distract myself, and I began writing Spencer’s story.
What started as a personal project to pass the time quickly became an all-consuming adventure. By the time my foot had healed, I had a full draft of Outside the Cage. Of course, the real work came in the next year of revisions, polishing the mystery, and refining the character arcs, but it all began with a summer on the couch and a big idea.
The Adventure Continues
Outside the Cage is just the beginning of Spencer’s journey. As I wrote the final pages, I realized there was so much more to explore in this world, and I’m excited to continue the story in future books. The world of Fern Flats and Free-Farm has plenty of secrets left to uncover, and Spencer’s story is far from over.
Creating Outside the Cage has been an incredible adventure in itself—one that I hope sparks the imaginations of young readers and dinosaur enthusiasts everywhere. Whether you're drawn to the mystery, the dinosaurs, or the adventure, I invite you to dive into Spencer’s world and uncover the secrets that lie beyond the cage.
Thanks for joining me on this behind-the-scenes look at Outside the Cage. You can order your copy here and keep an eye out for updates on the next book in the series!