Poetry for Pups is a collection of poetry centered around the bond between humans and their loving canine companions. What inspired you to write this collection of poetry?

First of all, I adore my dog, Koa (and Mariah, my first pup whom I had the absolute joy of being her human for 14 years), and have always been charmed and fascinated by their antics, unique personalities, and expressions of love and loyalty. They bring me so much joy, just by being who are they in their own way. Koa, for example, is the boss of our household – she has me well-trained to her whims, and I fully admit that I am a sucker for all her demands when she looks at me with her big brown hound eyes that melt any resolve I may have to resist her demands. Mariah, on the other hand, was the sweetest dog I have ever met – she instinctively knew when I needed comfort and extra love, and she would always make sure I was okay, almost like she was mothering me. My dogs are certainly the inspiration for this collection of poetry.

I love the illustrations in your book; they capture the personality of dogs dramatically well. What was the collaborative process like with Morgan to put together the poetry and illustrations into this beautiful collection?

Morgan is my husband who shares the joys and experiences of being a dog parent to both Mariah and Koa, so he deeply appreciates and understands the poems I wrote about our two pups. He has always been so talented with the visual arts, and I knew he would be the one who could produce the most meaningful and charming illustrations for the book. We had a lot of laughs over this project – a truly fun endeavor as a family, with our pups as our muse.

What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?

In the reviews I’ve gotten so far on this book, the readers have mentioned that reading the poetry made them immediately hug their dogs and tell their dogs how much they love and appreciate them, or if their dogs weren’t around, made them long to be with their dogs. That is one of the major goals I had in writing this book. I wanted the readers to remember the joy of having their four-legged friends and to appreciate how lucky they are to have those pups in their lives. Another goal in writing this book is to provide a resource for people to build a deeper bond with their pups. We encourage people to read Poetry for Pups to their dogs, a shared activity that can enhance the emotional connection between people and their pups. Other benefits of reading to their dogs are giving a sense of comfort for the pups as part of their routine with their owners and even helping to calm anxious or stressed dogs by listening to a soothing voice, ultimately contributing to their pups’ overall well-being. Another goal is to entertain the readers with the funny and heartwarming stories conveyed through poetry, and to portray a sense of innocence, loyalty, and simplicity transporting readers to moments in their lives that are just shared between them and their canine companions.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Poetry for Pups?

The one thing I hope readers gain from reading Poetry for Pups is a deeper appreciation for the extraordinary and profound bond between humans and their beloved dogs. I hope my readers can find joy, inspiration, and connection in the shared emotions and experiences conveyed within the poetry.

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