Mitzi Scotten

Doctor Mitzi Scotten is a pediatrician, medical educator and researcher. Mark of the Pteranodon is her first novel.

A native of Kansas City, she currently lives in Northeast Arkansas with her husband. An animal lover, her current zoo consists of dogs, tortoises, cockatiels, chickens and goldfish

She is avidly working on getting the remaining story of Kai and the Pteranodons from inside her brain into print! Look for book two soon!

This novel began the day I was born as I have come to realize that it is really more an autobiography than a work of fiction. One of my first readers, my father, said- “you realize you just described yourself”. I can certainly identify with Kai on how it feels to be ostracized for being too studious and having more patience with animals than people. Ironically, it was my isolation in a new town that gave me the opportunity to do something that I had never had the time for before and that is finish one of those stories that flickers in my brain and just waits to come out in words.

Having ADHD, I struggle with completion of all projects I start. Finishing Mark of the Pteranodon is one of my proudest moments in life. I started this novel on a long weekend at a beautiful lakefront Bed and Breakfast with only a sketch pad and computer. I asked myself one question- what are your favorite things on earth. The answers came quickly- dinosaurs, animals and Maui. Tying those seemingly diverse topics together was thanks to one human and many animal muses.

My first heavy influence was Ross, the spitfire patient I cared for over 30 years ago that got me hooked on dinosaurs. Next were my first three schipperkes- Max, Tanna and Moffit – visual and character inspirations for the smartest dog in the world-Hiwa. Then came the real and amazing Red-foot tortoise Rosie- demolisher of worms and furniture. There are at least twenty cockatiels and chickens in my recent life that have given me a great appreciation for the gift of flight and fascinating culture of birds living together and demanded there be a Kakapo in the book.

And last, but most important is the island of Maui, where I spent many birthdays and Christmases in the latter part of my life. The first time a beautiful lei was placed over my head I began crying- it was not until I finished this novel that I realized the inspiration for MOT was being formed at that very moment and on some very deep level I knew the islands of Hawaii were my muse for creating this story.