About Me

As an avid dog lover and someone who is partial to the Doberman Pinscher breed, I recognized the importance of teaching our daughter to love and respect the four-legged member of our family. Our first Doberman was six years old when our daughter was born, and it was a learning experience for everyone!

Our daughter grew up with a dog in her life. We've owned four Dobermans over the years, each with its own personality and behavior. One of them, Ivan, left us too soon (May 2020). He was just a few months shy of turning seven. However, I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. Without his passing, we would never have been able to have Pineapple in our lives.

I never imagined I would write a children’s book, but when Pineapple entered our lives, and I learned the story behind her sweet, clever name, I realized it would make a delightful book for parents to share with their children. Pineapple was a mix of Bull Mastiff, German Shepherd, and Chow. We felt incredibly blessed to have known her.

My goal in writing about Kevin and Pineapple’s story is to share a positive message and encourage children fortunate enough to grow up with a dog in their lives to express more gratitude for that companionship.

About Pineapple & Kevin

Pineapple, a mix of Bull Mastiff, German Shepherd, and Chow, was Kevin's best friend for more than ten years. He adopted her as a puppy, and Are You A Pineapple? is inspired by the true story of how Pineapple chose her own name. She was an incredibly smart dog who understood various commands in different languages, could count the number of fingers shown to her, and could close any door on command. Additionally, she was an escape artist. Pineapple experienced separation anxiety and disliked being left alone. Kevin shared numerous stories of her escaping enclosures, getting out of houses, and even jumping out of a two-story window at one point. Pineapple passed away in October 2022 of natural causes, just a week after her tenth birthday and five months following the book release of her story with Kevin.

Kevin was a young man whom my daughter met and dated from 2020 to 2021. That was how we came to know and love Pineapple. We stayed close to both Kevin and Pineapple, sharing in his grief after losing Pineapple. Sadly, Kevin's life was tragically cut short in May 2023 due to a motorcycle accident. I'm very grateful to have written Are You A Pineapple?, which allows their story to live on forever.

Are You A Pineapple?

Based on a true story!

Kevin has a beautiful new puppy! But what should he name her? He wants to find a name that is unique, just like her. Kevin knows the puppy is special, but he’s about to find out just how smart she is when she helps Kevin choose her own name!

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Illustrated by Walter Policelli

Frequently Asked Questions

What inspired you to write a children's book?

When I heard the story from Kevin, Pineapple’s owner, about how he came up with her name, I fell in love with it! I loved everything about it! I could visualize the tale in my mind and thought it would be such a fun book for parents to read to their kids. The fact that it’s based on a true story makes it even more special!

Have you always wanted to write a children's book?

When my daughter was young and I used to read to her every night, I thought it would be fun to write a children's book. However, coming up with a unique topic that I believed kids and parents would enjoy was difficult. As my daughter grew, I forgot about the idea until I met and fell in love with Pineapple!

How did you find an illustrator for your book?

Mascot Books works with some very talented artists! I reviewed the work of several of them and narrowed it down to three that we sent photos of Pineapple to for a rendering. I absolutely loved the way Walter Policelli depicted Pineapple! I feel like he was able to capture her personality perfectly and the way she holds her ears out away from her head. He did a phenomenal job with all the illustrations!

How long did it take you to write the story?

It took about two months to write, edit, and format it in a manuscript style that I felt comfortable submitting to publishers. Since the book is based on a true story, most of the content wrote itself. I made an effort to include positive words and phrases in my writing. I wanted the book to be enjoyable to read while also conveying positivity.

Since the book was released, have you had the opportunity to read it in a classroom?

I have —a couple of times, and it was so much fun! Most recently, I visited my elementary school alma mater and read to the kindergarten through third grades. It was a rewarding experience!

Did you surprise your family and friends by writing a book?

Being surprised is an understatement! I didn’t share my idea with anyone, just in case a publisher wasn’t interested. I wanted to avoid getting too emotionally invested if it didn’t lead anywhere. Once Mascot Books contacted me, I told my husband and daughter, and they were both shocked and so proud of me! My family and friends have been incredibly supportive—they’re my cheerleaders!

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