Today I welcome Carol A. Foote to Best Dog Books, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a canine story for kids or young adults. Carol is a former freelance science writer and photojournalist with master’s degrees in history and journalism. She taught science writing and photojournalism at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and popular science magazines. Besides writing, photography, and travel, she loves history, science, reading, and taking her own dog, Lily, for long walks in the hills near her home in California. Trouble Dog is her debut picture book, a Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers book, and perfect for fans of dogs, science, second chances, and a feel-good story.

Carol is here to talk about Trouble Dog: From Shelter Dog to Conservation Hero , illustrated by Larry Day and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for kids 5 – 9 years. Trouble Dog is available wherever you can buy books and a Junior Library Guild selection.

Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? 

My dog hero, Tucker, is a composite of two real dogs from Working Dogs for Conservation, Pepin and Wicket. In the illustrations, Tucker is mostly golden retriever, but lots of different breeds can be conservation dogs—labrador retrievers, border collies, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Belgian Malinois, and mixed breeds.

Tell us about your story. 

Trouble Dog is the story of a smart, energetic dog who is abandoned at a shelter for being too much trouble, but he is recognized for his talents by a conservationist and given love, a home, and a new life traveling the world to help save wildlife. It’s based on the real lives and adventures of Pepin and Wicket, who became canine heroes with Working Dogs for Conservation, the world’s largest and oldest conservation dog organization.

What inspired you to write this story?

Like a lot of people, I’d never heard of a conservation dog. I saw my first one, Pepin, at an annual Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) expo in San Francisco. Pepin’s handler, Megan Parker, who later became one of my main sources for the book, had Pepin demonstrate his talented nose by hiding things for him to find. She described how conservation dogs help biologists by sniffing out invasive plants and animals not easily detected by humans, and by finding the scat of rare or endangered species so scientists can study the animals without disturbing them.

Being a lover of dogs and wildlife, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more, but what touched my heart and inspired me to write this story was learning that these remarkable dogs are often abandoned at shelters and marked as trouble because they’re too rambunctious and full of energy to make good pets. Fortunately, organizations like Working Dogs for Conservation have learned to search shelters for such dogs and give them a second chance at life. The same qualities that make them trouble, their nonstop energy and intense focus, help them become great conservation dogs. I knew right away that I wanted to write that story—of a rejected dog being rescued, celebrated for his incredible abilities, and finding his place in the world.

What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge might have been inertia! It was all too easy for me to keep putting off the writing. Fortunately, one morning I woke up with an opening line in my head and told myself I had to start. That beginning did not become the final opening, but it got me going, which was what I needed.

Once I started, the challenge was getting the right balance between the story, information, and emotion. I had an enormous number of revisions ahead of me. In early drafts, I was carried away writing too much about Tucker’s antics and his being taken to the shelter. Eventually I realized that I could leave much of that to the illustrator and have more room to write about his training and adventures in the field.

What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what can you tell us about it?

I have another picture book in the works that also deals with conservation and is based on a true story. It’s about a wild cheetah in Botswana and the young girl whose love for cheetahs helps save its life. A dog does factor into the story but in a much smaller role. I’m also working on a middle grade time travel novel. As much as I love science and nature, I also love the idea of visiting history through time travel.

What else would you like us to know about you or your story?

I hope readers will take away the idea that everyone has value and is capable of doing amazing things, even if their strengths haven’t been recognized yet. I love that this story has that message at its core. As much as it is about the enduring relationship between dogs and humans, and about the positive work being done in the field of conservation, it’s also about everyone having worth and a place in the world.

Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? Why?

The first book I remember being passionate about was MARY POPPINS. I loved reading about real kids who found magic in the everyday world. After that I couldn’t get my hands on enough books that let me imagine magic in my own life.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Start. Don’t wait until you think it will be perfect, or even good. It can be hard to start writing because you know that first draft is not going to be right. Your first draft might even be terrible. You just have to face that and get going so you can make it better.

Also, and this is even harder, don’t be discouraged by rejection. It’s tough trying to succeed in a field where part of the process, almost always, is getting turned down. Accept that’s the path and keep going.

Oh and, join a critique group. It’s invaluable to have other writers you build trust with and can take honest criticism from.

Where can people find/connect with you online? 

My website is www.carolafoote.com

I’m also on Instagram @carolafootewriter and Facebook as Carol A Foote.

As a debut PB author, share with us one thing that surprised you in the publishing process? 

This will probably sound obvious, but I was surprised by how much others contributed to creating this book and making it what it is. I’m so grateful. The book wouldn’t exist if not for all the help I had every step of the way—the people I interviewed at Working Dogs for Conservation, critique partners and friends, my supportive family, my agent for her super helpful editing suggestions, Larry Day for his beautiful illustrations that bring the book to life, everyone at Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, who all did more than I could have imagined, and now bloggers and reviewers who are helping to spread the word. Everyone congratulates me as the author, but really the book is the result of the efforts of a huge number of people who were all incredibly generous with their time. That has really hit me.

Thank you, Carol, for giving us your time today and for sharing your journey with us!

Today I welcome Brent Suter to Best Dog Books, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a canine story for kids or young adults. Brent is not only a Harvard graduate, but also a left-handed relief pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is now adding author to his credentials with the debut of his first picture book. In other words, he’s won the genetic lottery.

Brent is here to talk about The Binky Bandit which is illustrated by Jayden Ellsworth and published by Orange Hat Publishing for kids up to 8 and will launch on June 6, 2022. The Binky Bandit is available wherever you can buy books. If you’d like to purchase a signed copy, you can do so by ordering online from the publisher.

Best Dog Books: Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? 

My dog, Wally, is the main character in the book. He is a mini golden doodle.

L-R: Wally, Brent, Erin and Liam

Best Dog Books: Tell us about your story. 

Wally has the perfect life until a human baby brother comes home and takes lots of attention. As his jealousy rages on, he begins destroying his brother’s plastic binkies, and lots of them. Eventually, guilt for the family and environmental damage he’s causing sets in and he then does something he couldn’t before!

Best Dog Books: What inspired you to write this story?

My dog destroying Liam’s binkies was so funny to me that I decided to write Liam a poem about it so we could remember this hilarious phase in our lives.

Brent with newborn second son, Layton

Best Dog Books: What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge I had was matching the rhyme and rhythm scheme with what I wanted the story to say.

Best Dog Books: What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what can you tell us about it?

My guess is the next book would be a sequel when baby brother number 2 comes home. He’s due any day now!

Brent in the locker room with THE BINKY BANDIT

Best Dog Books: What else would you like us to know about you or your story?

The whole writing and publishing process has been so much fun!

Best Dog Books: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? Why?

Dr. Suess books, specifically The Lorax, were always some of my favorites because they were funny and had great messages!

Best Dog Books: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I would say let your heart write the story. Doing that helps words fall onto the page and makes the whole process so much more enjoyable.

Brent in action!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brent Suter led Major League Baseball with twelve relief wins in the 2021 season. Outside of baseball, Brent is a graduate of Harvard University, with a degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy, and is an outspoken advocate for conservation efforts with Players for the Planet, an organization of professional athletes who aim to make positive environmental change. He resides in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife Erin, his sons Liam and Layton, and of course, Wally, the inspiration for this book.

If you’d like to learn more about Brent Suter, you can follow the author on Twitter {@bruter24} or Instagram {@brentsuter35}. To get a true picture of just who Brent Suter is, check out his ultimate highlight reel done with some humor. Or if you’d like some entertainment, be sure to search for Brent on YouTube. My favorite is one of his many impersonation videos. Brent is the kind of role model the world needs more of. Shout out to his mom and dad for raising an amazing son!

Shirley and Mike Suter with grandson, Liam

Thank you Brent for joining us at Best Dog Books. Congratulations on the launch of your first book. We look forward to reading it and watching what you do next!

For more best dog book titles, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

Best Dog Books for Kids welcomes Rob Sayegh Jr.! Our blog features interviews with authors who’ve written a canine story for kids or young adults. Rob Sayegh Jr. is here to talk about LOVE TAILS which is a picture book published by Cameron Kids for kids aged 3-5.

About your Best Dog Book

Who is your key dog character(s) and what kind of dog is he/she?

LOVE TAILS celebrates all dogs, so there is not one individual protagonist but a variety of dogs shown throughout the book.

What is your dog book about?

LOVE TAILS takes the silliness of how dogs introduce themselves to one another by sniffing each other’s behind to show that every dog or human has their own take when you see them. Everyone’s tale may be different, but every “tail” is capable and full of love, no matter the tale.

About the Writing Process

What was the biggest challenge you had writing your dog book? How did you overcome it?

While writing the manuscript, the biggest challenge was bringing the words and pictures to be as simple as possible. LOVE TAILS is a book for a very young reader, and with any manuscript, I think simplifying your text is one of the most important jobs of an author for children’s picture books.

What kind of story can readers expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what can you tell us about it?

The next book that I worked on is ARLO DRAWS AN OCTOPUS, written by Lori Mortensen and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers. It debuts on May 4, 2021

Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? Why?

BUNNICULA by Deborah and James Howe. I just thought it was the funniest story, but I also loved the Harold the dog and Chester the cat really made the book special due to their animal point of view.

What is your favorite dog book? Why?

HARRY THE DIRTY DOG by Gene Zion. I always find it to be so charming whenever I read it. I personally think that when authors take something that everyone knows about (i.e., dogs hating bath time) and turn that concept around to a humorous one-of-a-kind story, it makes that story not only immediately relatable but also that much more memorable to the reader.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Simplifying manuscripts is crucial, but it does not mean dumbing down your story. Simplifying is taking the complex and making it as straightforward as possible.  Children understand complex things, but it is how we as authors explain and write about concepts that leave a lasting impression.

About the Author

If you’d like to learn more about Rob Sayegh Jr., you can check out the author’s website or follow the author on Facebook  or twitter  or instagram . You can also find book reviews from KIRKUS.

Thank you Rob Sayegh Jr. for joining us at Best Dog Books. We look forward to reading your dog book!

Dog Book Resources

For other great books about dogs, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

For traditionally published authors, check out our Best Dog Book Medal writing contest.

From the publisher:

“Fairy tale and history merge seamlessly” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in this enchanting and lyrical novel about love and resilience from the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, Katherine Rundell.

Feo’s life is extraordinary. Her mother trains domesticated wolves to be able to fend for themselves in the snowy wilderness of Russia, and Feo is following in her footsteps to become a wolf wilder. She loves taking care of the wolves, especially the three who stay at the house because they refuse to leave Feo, even though they’ve already been wilded. But not everyone is enamored with the wolves, or with the fact that Feo and her mother are turning them wild. And when her mother is taken captive, Feo must travel through the cold, harsh woods to save her—and learn from her wolves how to survive.

For other great books about dogs, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

For authors who’ve published a dog book for kids, check out our Best Dog Book Medal.

Leanin’ Dog is a chocolate labrador, half-starved and unable to hunt for herself because of an injured paw, and so, she is forced to seek out humans to survive. Deep, deep in the winter, far back in the mountains of western Colorado she stumbles onto the porch of a tiny cabin.  One chunk of stew meat, one bite of potato at a time, the lonely little girl inside fills Leanin’ Dog’s stomach and heals the dog’s heart and herself learns to trust again.

We had a wonderful chocolate lab/St. Bernard mix named Moot, who always accompanied me on road trips.  She would sit next to me in the minivan, between the front seats. Over the course of the first hour of driving, slowly, slowly, she would start to lean into me, mile by mile, pound by pound, until her full weight rested against my right arm and thigh, eventually rendering them numb. That’s where I got the dog for the story.

The story itself came as I sat, one snowy day, gazing out the window at the huge flakes falling to the ground. Slow and soft at first, then fast and thick they came on.  I looked down at big, brown Mooty, lying on the floor next to me, and a question formed in my mind: What if…there were a big, brown dog out in a storm like that? I grabbed my notebook and pen and started to write.

What came to me was not a novel, but a short story.  After that, months later, I wrote a second short story called The Leanin’ Dog and the Christmas Moon.  The biggest challenge I faced was to discover and excavate the back story that connected the two, and what I found was that the first story was the natural beginning of the novel, and the second fell into place at the end of the novel.

There are no dogs in my first novel, A Small White Scar, only a fine horse, a renegade coyote, and an aggressive, dead rattlesnake. It is a young adult Western, the coming of age story of fifteen-year-old twin brothers, one of whom has Down Syndrome.  The novel traces the boys’ journey through a treacherous external landscape and an equally treacherous internal one in search of their independence from each other.

The novel I am at work on now is a horse story.  It has been the most difficult book I have attempted so far; I think because it is based on the real life story of my best horse, Dan.  I had to try several different POVs and several different voices before I found a combination that didn’t eventually hit a wall.  What I finally settled on, what made the story flow, was third person omniscient/storyteller’s voice. After that, it was still a struggle for a long time to narrow the focus to the very heart of the story and away from the real life facts. In the end what mattered the most was: this horse has a guardian angel.

  I don’t remember the books that didn’t have an impact on me when I was a kid. When I was really young, before I could read to myself, it was a Disney book of Cinderella read to me by my mom as a bedtime story.  I’m not sure this was well thought out on her part because it seemed like every time she read it to me, I would have nightmares about the Bad Fairy chasing me, trying to get me in her clutches, and I would have to wake my mom up.

It was in fourth grade that I discovered Edward Eager’s magic books. They became the favorites of my childhood and remain the favorites of my adulthood. Half Magic, Magic by the Lake, Seven Day Magic, Magic or Not, The Well Wishers, The Time Garden, Knight’s Castle; they are all wonderful, and they kindled my imagination, my love of reading, my belief in possibilities.  I only recently discovered that in addition to these classics, Mr. Eager was also a playwright and lyricist.

Thanks for joining us at Best Dog Books!

For other great books about dogs, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

For authors who’ve published a dog book for kids, check out our Best Dog Book Medal.