How to Host a Unicorn: A Tale of Hospitality and Manners follows a unicorn that enjoys structure and quiet, who visits his bear friend that has a drastically different idea of fun and has to learn how to be a good host. What was the inspiration for your story?

There’s a funny and quirky backstory. I was working on a scene for one of my nonfiction projects. In the late 1950s, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev invited UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld to his villa at Sochi. Khrushchev behaved rather boorishly, and I thought to myself, “In a different context, this could actually be a good teaching moment. How not to behave with a guest. How not to host a unicorn.” And so, Nick the Bear and Dag the Unicorn have an experience with manners and hospitality that neither will soon forget.

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

I think in Western society, extroversion is still seen as the “norm,” as the “desirable way of being.” Introverts and HSPs, particularly children, can feel left out or ostracized if they don’t wish to yell, stomp, get loud, perform sociability, etc. So one thing I wanted to do with Dag the Unicorn is to show that it’s perfectly fine to enjoy solitude, tidiness, a quiet afternoon with a book, and so forth.

From the hospitality perspective, I also wanted to show that when you host a guest, you must consider their feelings, too. Hosting doesn’t mean bringing someone into your space and forcing them to do all the things you want to do. You must be conscientious of the other person. For instance, Nick thinks a boisterous, wild surprise party is a lot of fun. Dag doesn’t. As a host, you can ask the guest, “Do you enjoy parties? Would you like a large group of people to talk to, or would you prefer a quieter night to watch a movie?” As an introvert myself, the quiet night of movie-watching would always be my top pick!

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

The scene where Dag is in the bathtub. He discovers all of the water is cold, the soap is basically unusable, and the towel is the size of a handkerchief. I had a similar experience once when I stayed with a friend who told me I needed to buy my own towels and washcloths (and a bathmat, too). Then we have Nick jiggling the knob impatiently and lurking in the hallway. It’s a reminder that even though someone is a guest in your home, they still need a modicum of privacy—and basic necessity items.

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

Yes, it’s the beginning of the How to… with a Unicorn series. The next book, How to Christmas with a Unicorn, will release in November 2026, in time for the gift-giving season. Dag goes home to visit his parents for Christmas. His brother and sister-in-law arrive with their three wild children, who proceed to go nuts in the house: pulling the cat’s tail, trying to tear down the Christmas tree, yelling, and banging the piano keys while Dag tries to play. It’s highly relatable for any introvert or HSP who’s gone home for the holidays and found the experience chaotic and entirely too noisy.
 
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon