In Sir Dee-O-Gee, readers follow an elderly widow as her life is transformed by the introduction of a pit bull into her otherwise mundane life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

To put it simply, I, myself, am a disabled senior. (Though I’ve always been disabled, my disability is not in my hands.)

How do you capture the thoughts and emotions of a character like Anna Saint Anne?

To make her truly understood, I had to “learn hands.” I would attempt to notice every day whenever I used my hands and then turn whatever I was doing backwards. In as much as asking, “What if my hands didn’t work? How would I achieve this small goal?” After a few weeks of this mental exercise, she just flowed from the pen.

I wrote the mourning parts quite raw. I was in mourning when I wrote this book. I was literally mourning our pit bull, Sir. He lived to be eighteen years old. It seems such a long life, until they’re gone.

My best advice to anyone who knows someone who is mourning a pet, it’s never JUST a dog. Any pet is cherished like one’s own flesh. To speak it fairly, nothing transforms a broken heart like a dog.

If I am to be remembered fondly, I pray let it be by a dog.

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

I tried to show support for the Seniors for Seniors program at the pounds. It allows seniors to adopt senior dogs with no fee. I also wanted to show how important this “unconditional love”, the company, and meaningful expansion of everyday life is. In truth, even if the only change to one’s life is walking the dog, it still serves to create a new experience and a new freedom. It is also an excellent chance to speak to neighbors and to literally, “Get out of your own head.”

What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?

I’m working on a comedy series for tweens and up. I’ve nearly finished the second book in the series. However, these are still in edits, so there is no way to release a publication date. The first in the series is titled, The Knight, The Pig- wizard And The Dragon. If you like clean comedy, look for it in 2024.

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