Arty follows a young Betta fish who dislikes fighting and wants to find a friend but is unsure how to find one or what to do with one. What was the inspiration for your story?

Arty is a betta fish, a warrior fish; they see a fish, and they fight.  Arty knows how he is supposed to be, but inside he feels different.  

I am a high school teacher.  I often see the struggles of students who put on a tough exterior, they act in ways that they feel they “should” when inside they can feel completely different.  Letting their true selves show through can often be very scary and a struggle.  Afraid of acceptance and afraid of letting others down by revealing who they really are inside. Arty struggled with this too, until……..  

Arty is not the typical Betta fish that is aggressive and prefers to be alone. What was the inspiration for the main character’s traits and dialogue?

Arty is named after my Dad, Arthur.  He was tough on the outside, a 9th-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.  He was smart, very wise (also a high school science teacher), and always loved learning new things.  Once you got to know him, you would realize that he had a heart of gold, would help anyone in need, and had a great sense of humor.  Arty the Betta is tough on the outside with a tender heart, a very curious nature, and a great sense of humor. 

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

Some ideas that I felt were important to share through this book:

• Friendship – the importance of friendship, how to be a friend, and how to have one
• Being true to yourself, who you really are inside, not just what you think others want you to be. 
• Creativity – through the artist and writer pages – When I was a kid, I used to draw characters in my books, so I added those pages with prompts for readers to do so.
• Fun and Laughs! 

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

I am currently working on the next ARTY! It is so much fun to keep playing with Arty and Slug and…. sneak peek…. There is an addition to their friendship, and she is amazing! 

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