The Spark in the Woods
The idea for this book happened unexpectedly on a simple walk in the forest with my daughter and our dog in the spring of 2025. While passing by some old oak trees, I noticed a scattering of broken acorn shells on the ground.
For some unknown reason, that tiny woodland mystery brought back a vivid memory of my childhood dog: a lovable Basset Hound named Dudley. One of my fondest memories was watching him run alongside the neighbor's fence for hours with the dog next door, a Beagle named Dukey.
Saying the names out loud—Dukey and Dudley—hit a creative nerve. I smiled and thought: If they were allowed to roam free in these woods, what kind of adventures would they have? I couldn't wait to get home to write my ideas down.