Slinky Dinky Doo and the Razzle Dazzle Sprinkles is the story of a little dachshund and his human companions who set out to save the day when a cupcakery discovers its magical sprinkles are missing. Where did the idea for this story come from?

Slinky Dinky Doo was our real-life pet for 12 years! Slinky was very special to us, as he was our “only child” for 10 years. He was lovable, playful, adventurous, adorable, and sweet. We unfortunately had to say goodbye to him when our twins were only 8 months old, but I wanted him to live on in sweet stories with our children as they grew. I had the idea for this children’s book series several years ago and finally decided to pull the trigger on it. And, cupcakes may or may not be my favorite dessert.

Do you have a favorite scene in this story? One that was especially fun to craft?

I actually have two! The first is when Slinky is sniffing the bag of empty sprinkles and sneezes. In real-life, Slinky had the most adorable sounding sneeze. It’s a humorous and sweet scene, where I feel like every child can vividly imagine the cuteness of his sneeze and the colorful sprinkles flying into the air. I also adore the last scene in the book, where Slinky Dinky Doo curls up in his cozy bed with his favorite green blanket. He is adorably dreaming about tomorrow’s adventures, and of Razzle Dazzle Creamy Zazzle cupcakes, too, of course. My illustrator did such a fabulous job bringing his sweet little dream to life. He is running under a cupcake rainbow, surrounded by bones, treats, and toys. It is super adorable!

The artwork in your book is wonderful. What was it like to collaborate with illustrator Mariana Ostanik?

She was absolutely amazing, from beginning to end! We were actually only halfway through this book when I hired her to do several future books. She is kind, sweet, very patient, and so, so great at what she does. She did an amazing job bringing my sweet book to life. It is more than I ever imagined it could be. As soon as I saw her mock-up, I knew I wanted to hire her! It actually brought me to tears. It was exactly what I was looking for. The illustration process was by far my favorite part of the process. Every morning the kids and I would sprint to the laptop (sometimes even before brushing our teeth!) to see the newest sketch or colored spread. It was like Christmas every day! I am very much looking forward to our future projects together. I think we make a great team.

Can young readers and their families look forward to more adventures with Slinky Dinky Doo?

Absolutely! This is the first book in the series. Slinky goes on many more adventures with his family, friends, and townsfolk! In 2026, the second Slinky book will be released. It involves pumpkins and fall fun!

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