Goodreads asked Erndell Scott:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Erndell Scott Paper Boats grew out of my love for history and adventure. As a boy I spent my time exploring the woods and dashing across fields, playing games such as cowboys and Indians. I was drawn to WWII and knew I wanted to write a novel that took place during that event. I began writing my book, Paper Boats, with one of the characters named Otto, who only showed up during the first three chapters and then was written out. He played a small role and wasn't the main character. I consulted with my mother, an avid reader who is very well educated, to see what she thought and boy was I surprised! She read the first few chapters and told me it wasn't good! Ha! Why am I not surprised! However, she felt something for Otto and connected with him immediately. She wanted to know more about him. I thought long and hard about it and I decided to drop the original story in favor of focusing on Otto’s journey. But I still needed a purpose for Otto. There had to be a reason for my readers to want to follow him. Otto needed greater depth. He needed a life. Then I read Anne Franks diary and I finally found clarity. Anne was innocent, pure and loving. She was accepting, positive and good-natured and she became my new inspiration for my character, Otto. Beyond my gut telling me everything I wrote into Otto was right, I received my first review from a reader I didn’t know, and this reader told me she couldn’t put the book down because she didn’t want to leave Otto alone. Lesson learned: Ideas can come from anywhere! Be open to them!

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