Dog Park by Kathryn Kazoleas

Gibson the Labradoodle is about to begin her first day of training to become a dog park ambassador, something she has been dreaming about her entire life. Dog park ambassadors hold a very high honor within the community and have many important roles in ensuring the dog park is a fun and safe place to be. She has so many great ideas and cannot wait to start.

While Gibson is training alongside lead ambassador and trainer, Meistro, the bulldog, things don’t go as planned. Gibson meets challenge after challenge and isn’t allowed to introduce any of her new ideas. Being a dog park ambassador isn’t what she thought it would be, so she starts questioning whether the role is really for her. At the end of her very first training shift, and just as she’s about to give up and tell Meistro she isn’t cut out to be a dog park ambassador after all, there’s an emergency at the river. One of the dog park’s new puppies, Clover, has swum too far out and cannot get back to shore.

Gibson’s best friend and greatest supporter, Stretch the dachshund, convinces her she must help. Gibson springs into action, with Stretch at her side and encouraging her the entire time. Gibson saves the day…almost! Having been swept downstream and far away from the dog park, Gibson is forced to lead the trio back to safety. There’s only one way back through a dark forest with strange sounds and smells. The sun is starting to go down, and everybody is tired and scared. But Gibson knows she has to get her friends back home, despite what or who gets in her way. Ages 6+

Kathryn Kazoleas Interview

Q. Can you tell us what went into deciding to write about a dog park ambassador?

A. Dog parks are like their own little world. There are always the leaders, the followers, and those who are just there having a good time. After many adventurous trips to the dog park with my dogs, the idea for Dog Park came to be.

Q. What was your favorite/least favorite part of writing Dog Park?

A. My favorite part was finishing it and loving it! It is a very rewarding feeling. Sometimes as a writer, you find what you want to write doesn’t come out on the page the way you had imagined on the first go. Those are frustrating times!

Q. How long did it take you to write Dog Park?

A. I would say it probably took 6-8 months.

Q. Did you run into writer’s block at any point?

A. Oh yes!

Q. How did you celebrate when you finished writing Dog Park?

A. With a trip to the dog park, of course!

Q. What do you plan on writing about for your next book? Can you share?

A. I am currently writing a book called Bird Feeder. Mitchell, the purple fluff bird, loves to cook and has always dreamed of opening a seaside café when he goes on his first-ever migration. When he is accidentally left behind, he’s forced to stay at the bird feeder with the winter birds and annoying squirrels.

Q. How long have you been writing?

A. I have written my entire life though Dog Park is my first chapter book and the first book I have self-published.

Q. What advice would you give an author just starting their career?

A. Just keep writing! Set goals, celebrate successes, and have fun.