Scholastic News: What is a Love Puppy?
JaNay Brown-Wood: Imagine the cutest puppy ever. Now add magic, friendship, and a love of helping kids. What do you get? A Love Puppy!
SN: What do you want kids to learn from your books?
JBW: Hopefully, the books will help kids deal with tough situations. For example, how to make friends at a new school.
SN: Cool! As a kid, would you have wanted your own Love Puppy?
JBW: It would have been amazing, especially since I was a pretty bossy kid. I would have loved if Rosie, Noodles, Barkley, and Clyde could have helped me learn not to be so bossy with others.
SN: What’s the secret to writing a book?
JBW: Even though I love to write, it’s hard work. So I think the secret is, “Don’t give up! Keep writing and revising!” The masterpiece of your story is waiting for you. You just need to keep working to help it shine!
SN: Did you read and write a lot as a kid?
JBW: I actually hated reading as a kid. Mainly because I couldn’t connect with the books that were available to me. So instead, I’d write my own stories—sometimes with me as the character. But now I really enjoy reading, especially since it helps me to become a better writer.
SN: How do you get ideas for your books?
JBW: I like to keep my eyes, ears, and heart open for inspiration. For example, I saw a puppy that got scared by a bigger dog. And that gave me the idea to write about a runaway puppy in one book. Inspiration can come at any time. So always be ready!