About the Book
Book: Zuggy the Rescue Pug – Happy Howl-idays
Author: Jean Marie Alfieri
Genre: Kid-lit Activity Book
Release Date: June 17, 2023
Three fun Zuggy the Rescue Pug stories in one action-packed activity book! First, Zuggy goes ‘Costume Crazy.’ How many does he model before finding the perfect Halloween outfit? Color them all. Then, Zuggy must save dinner from racing out the door, in ‘The Great Turkey Chase.’ Finally, Zuggy can’t stand the thought of the family having no presents this holiday. Can he work some Christmas magic? Only if the cat keeps his secret.
Packed with book club questions, puzzles, and games, this activity book makes a paws-itivly perfect gift for parents, teachers, and kiddos!
Click here to get your copy!
Author Interview
I go wherever an idea takes me… which is usually into a corner. I try to
make that corner my ‘plot twist.’ It’s a fun (if not frustrating!) approach.
just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write?
Just about anywhere works for me. A few years ago (pre-Covid), I
regularly traveled for business. Airports and planes were my most
common writing spaces. Now, my writing time is limited to weekends and
I’m usually on the couch with my pug, Princess Zoey, by my side, or
(more often) on my lap.
I loved writing as a kid. I had a diary and would sometimes embellish
events or situations to make them more exciting. I never thought of it as
a way to earn a living but fell into a career that was heavy on technical
writing and communications. That background allowed me to lean into
both the children's and non-fiction genres I write now.
Writing the content of a Zuggy book may take a couple months, but the
process also includes illustrations, print-design and lay-out before it can
be published. I’m fortunate to have a power-house team that helps me
put it all together.
I try to consistently have a story-project in one of those stages so I can
publish at least one book a year.
I journaled for three years (grieving the loss of my first pug, Wyatt) before
I realized the stories were a great foundation for a book collection. I
named that often mischievous and always adorable rescue pup ‘Zuggy,’ so
any future pugs I may be blessed with caring for could be my muses.
About the Author
When Jean’s eyes locked with those of a smooshy-faced little dog who sat inside a kennel at the Humane Society, it was love! He captured her heart. She captured their many adventures in short story poems starring Zuggy the Rescue Pug. An author, speaker, and advocate for the adoption of senior dogs, Jean and her husband currently live with their three fur-kids in Colorado. They joke that although the humans pay the mortgage, it’s really the dogs’ house! Jean finds much of her writing inspiration from her “vintage puppies” and work at the Pikes Peak Humane Society.
More from Jean
Pug-Lovers Magazine recently sat down with America’s favorite rescue pug to interview him on the new trio of Howl-iday stories and activity books that were released last month. Here’s what Zuggy had to say.
Q: This is book #11 in an award-winning collection. How do you continue to be your Mom / Jean’s most influential writing inspiration?
Zuggy: Oh, that’s easy. I just jump on her lap and wiggle around until I almost fall off and she tells me to settle down. Then I sit and stare deeply into her eyes and subliminally ask for a snack. She thinks I’m giving her story ideas, but it works for her, so I don’t ruin it.
Q: What is the best activity in these special edition books?
Zuggy: The puzzles and games and coloring pages where you can decorate me! The book club questions are also a great feature. (Mom said she got the idea from her own reading club – thanks, Auntie Karen!)
Q: What is your favorite holiday?
Zuggy: This pug is all about love and hugs, so Valentine’s Day is my fave. (I should have been named Very-Valentino, or Vee-vee for short! It’s so Ooo-la-la.)
Q: Do you ever get writer’s block?
Zuggy: Every day around breakfast and dinner time I simply can not focus. I scour the kitchen for lost and forgotten kibbles and wait impatiently for my chef (I mean, Momma Jean) to prepare my next meal. Who could write in such conditions?
Q: Which story from this collection is your favorite?
Zuggy: That’s ruff. ‘Costume Crazy’ is based on a true story and I really enjoyed all the belly-rubs between wardrobe changes. ‘The Great Turkey Chase’ starts out sad but is so exciting, and I score a drumstick in the end, so that’s a super story. And ‘Santa Paws’ is full of surprises. I love them all!
Q: Where can friends and fans get this new book?
Zuggy: The whole collection is available on Amazon and Jean will be signing copies on September 16, 2023, at the Humane Society’s Pawtoberfest, in Colorado Springs. Grab a beer and a book! And remember, she loves visiting schools (in person or remotely) so drop us an email to schedule a class visit: ZuggythePug@gmail.com
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 18
lakesidelivingsite, September 19
Texas Book-aholic, September 20
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 22
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 23
Blossoms and Blessings, September 24 (Author Interview)
The Book Club Network, September 24
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 25
Blogging With Carol, September 26
For Him and My Family, September 27
Artistic Nobody, September 28
Cover Lover Book Review, September 29
Guild Master, September 30
Vicky Sluiter, October 1 (Author Interview)
A Reader’s Brain, October 1
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jean is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a print-copy of the newest special-edition activity book, “Zuggy the Rescue Pug – Happy Howl-idays”!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/27fb2/zuggy-the-rescue-pug-happy-howl-idays-celebration-tour-giveaway
So cute
ReplyDeleteWhat would be most fans be most surprised to learn about you?
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great book. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book!
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