The Odd Dog follows a dog in a shelter who is adopted and becomes nervous, worried that his new family will not accept his odd behaviors. What was the inspiration for your story?

My dog Layla was definitely the inspiration, but I didn’t want this to be ‘her’ story. There are so many rescue dogs looking for homes, and many have difficult pasts. In the ‘adoption’ scene we wanted Odd to look scruffy and scared, cowering in the corner because it’s so different from Odd’s real personality. So many dogs struggle to show their ‘true’ self when meeting strangers for the first time, and dogs like Odd often have trouble getting adopted. I hope this story will inspire people to give more introverted dogs a second look.

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

The Odd Dog is definitely about acceptance at its core. In the early drafts we initially had Odd getting in trouble and wondering if they’d found the right home. We realized quickly, however, that it was up to the parents to make a home where Odd felt welcomed. I think it’s important to teach children that building rapport and making others welcome is a two-way street. Finding common ground with others is a soft skill that you can use any time, anywhere. It doesn’t require anything but empathy and a desire to serve others, and it makes your life, and the lives around you, better.

I loved the artwork in this book; it is an excellent blend of humor and whimsy. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Shannon McKeon?

Shannon is such a versatile artist; it was truly a pleasure to work with her. While she mainly worked with my art editor/publishing consultant Melinda Martin, I loved everything Shannon submitted because she has such a knack for capturing the silliness in doggies. Every dog in the book is based on a real dog; friends, family, and fans had the opportunity to put their dogs in the book as extras. Shannon not only made them recognizable, but added so much ‘dogginess’ to each one. We originally had a more lifelike dog as the mockup for Odd, but giving Shannon free reign allowed her to create a truly odd dog. I think my favorite part about working with Shannon is her ability to bring the background characters to life. I’ve re-read this book many times, and each time I’ll find another background character who makes me laugh.

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

Right now we’re working on a follow-up book for Odd called “The Odd Dog’s Guide to Making Friends”. In it, Odd’s parents adopt another dog (a Great Dane named Tiny who has an ‘adopt me’ bandana on in The Odd Dog) and we watch Odd navigating the transition Tiny takes in their new home. The book teaches kids and parents about the ‘3/3/3 rule’. As I familiarized myself with adoption practices for The Odd Dog, the 3/3/3 rule was referenced again and again. Basically, nearly every dog goes through behavior transitions that roughly occur in the three days, three weeks, and three months after they’ve been adopted. While not every dog exhibits every behavior, dogs who have been living in a shelter often do, and these behaviors can be concerning for first time adopters. The 3/3/3 rule was created to assure adopters that, with time and effort, these behaviors are short lived. My hope is that The Odd Dog Guide to Making Friends is not only an entertaining story, but also helps start discussions around empathy, patience, and understanding with families considering adoption. We’re actively working on it now; we’re aiming for completion in September 2025.

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