The Little Book of Emmy is a heartwarming story of a tiny blind dog’s journey from danger and hardship to rescue, friendship, and a loving forever home. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

It’s a real story based on reality and our experience with Emmy. We thought she was an extraordinary personality and her story needed to be told.

How did you balance the difficult moments of rescue and loss with the book’s warmth and hope?

The balance really came from Emmy herself. She had every reason to be fearful or defeated, but that simply wasn’t who she was. She was joyful, trusting, curious, and incredibly resilient. I tried to let her spirit guide every creative decision in the book. Even when the story moves through rescue, uncertainty, and loss, Emmy’s personality keeps bringing us back to love, humor, and hope. In that sense, the balance wasn’t something I had to manufacture. It grew naturally out of who Emmy was.

What do you hope children understand about animals with disabilities after meeting Emmy?

I hope children understand that being different doesn’t mean being less. Emmy couldn’t see, but she still found her way through the world with curiosity, courage, and a lot of joy. She loved, played, trusted, and connected with people just like any other dog. I’d love for children to come away from her story feeling more compassion for animals with disabilities—and maybe for anyone who experiences the world a little differently.

How do you hope the book influences the way families think about rescue animals?

I hope the book helps families see rescue animals for who they can become, not just for what they’ve been through. Many of them arrive carrying fear, uncertainty, or physical challenges, but they also bring an incredible capacity for trust, affection, and joy. Emmy taught me that giving an animal a second chance can change both lives—the animal’s and the family’s. If her story encourages even one family to look at a rescue animal with a little more patience, compassion, and possibility, that would mean a great deal to me.

Author Links: Website