Sally Mitts Finds A Home: The Story of A Shy Shelter Kitten follows a shy little kitten who is accidentally left behind when her family moves and must find a way to survive. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Since I was a child I have been rescuing cats and kittens from the streets and from shelters. I feel the suffering of abandoned animals acutely. And each one brought me so much happiness in return, with their love and their marvelous, unique personalities. But many had been traumatized. It took time, patience, and genuine commitment to win their trust.

When I wrote Sally Mitts Finds A Home, I wanted to show people that every animal, like every human being, comes with a formative backstory that we don’t know. And it’s important to approach them with compassion and humility.

The animals that people often bypass in shelters -the quiet ones, the seniors, the special needs animals – are so very deserving of love and attention, too. And they are often the most euphorically loving. I hope Sally Mitts’s story encourages people to look beyond the surface when choosing animal companions and consider them.

What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?

That’s really a toss-up between when Sally discovers the wonders of a garden after always living inside a house, and when she is happy in her new home.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

It helps children learn:

~How to cope with unexpected situations

~How to discern and trust good instincts

~To empathize with others’ experiences

~To understand the importance of adoption

~kindness to animals

Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Sally Mitts and the direction of the second book?

The second book, Sally Mitts And The Land Of Imagination will be published on October 26, 2024. In it, Sally follows some shoes who are walking along without any feet in them to a mysterious red door with the word IMAGINATION written over it. Inside the door, she meets fantastical creatures, paints the sky, meets a shirty mole, engages a fog monster, and has many adventures and challenges.

Our imaginations fire the dreams that we long to come true. And Sally discovers that you can do what you really want to if you follow those longings.

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