Sidney Upcavage is an oncology nurse and a proud mother of eight-year-old twins and a two-year-old. When she was a child, Sidney’s father told her to always keep an eye out for bunnyflies. The painting of a bunnyfly her dad had commissioned for her high school graduation now hangs in her children’s room. Inspired by that memory and her children’s backyard explorations, Sidney wrote this book in hopes of spreading the joy of fluffy, flying companions to kids everywhere.
In her free time, Sidney loves being outdoors, walking her dogs, cooking, watching football (go Noles and Bucs!), and spending precious time with family and friends. Sidney lives in Tampa, Florida, with her husband and their three kids.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: My dad, who passed away ten years ago, used to tell me before bed to “look for bunnyflies.” Before I graduated from high school, he gave me a bunnyfly painting, which I later hung in my twins’ room when they were newborns. The idea came to mind when I watched my kids going on little explorations in our backyard. It took six years for the story to fully come together—and for me to find the courage to put it out into the world—but now I know the timing is exactly right.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: If you have an idea that keeps coming back to you, stick with it. Don’t get discouraged if you go through a season where it feels like no new ideas are coming. Stay the course, don’t rush it, and look for inspiration all around you. It will happen, even if it takes six years!
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd and Hamlet.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: Yes, the main characters are my three children. I even used actual quotes that they have said over the years throughout the book.
My dog, Trigger, is also in the book. My coworker found him ten years ago in a parking lot. He is the best dog I will ever have!
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: I kept a notebook hidden in my nightstand for six years with pieces of this story in it. Every now and then, I would jot down a vision, an idea, or a quote from one of my kids. My favorite part was when an idea would come to my mind and I would go right to my notebook and be able to connect the dots. That’s when the book really started to fall into place.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or natural talent?
A: I definitely believe it is a developed skill, at least for me! I do not think of myself as a naturally talented writer—this book took me six years! But if they really believe in what they are writing about and are patient with themselves, anyone can be a "good writer.”
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
A: In the season of life that I am currently in, I love this quote and reminder from Mary Poppins:, “Though childhood slips like sand through a sieve, and all too soon they’ve up and grown and then they’ve flown, and it’s too late for you to give just that spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.”
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: I would absolutely write another book! I have a list of ideas for a Bunnyfly series. One of them is from a bunnyfly’s point of view. Hopefully, everyone likes my first book so I can work on another!
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
A: I love Ina Garten, not only for her cooking show, but also because she is a great writer and very funny! Her writing style in her cookbooks and her memoir makes you feel like she is one of your best friends talking to you.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
A: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Hamlet, Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, The Mermaid Chair, and Be Ready When the Luck Happens (Ina Garten’s memoir).
Learn more about Sidney Upcavage and her new children's book, Looking for Bunnyflies, here. Coming soon February 24, 2026!