Peter is an animal lover who has no pets; a concerned parent with no child younger than 30; and a close observer of the black squirrels of Kent, Ohio. These are great qualifications for the author of a book for children. So too are his keen interest in the U.S. Civil War, his love of Leonard Cohen's poetry and music, his resolute refusal to exercise and fondness for good wine. Perhaps helpful is his Bachelor's degree in Theology gained through the South African Theological Seminary (the graduation ceremony was fun). He is the author of "Snooks North and South," a Civil War adventure as well as...