My guest today is a SUPER CUTE ADORABLE energetic golden retriever puppy named Sadie, who has recently adopted the Nielsen family, including author Jennifer Nielsen. Jennifer has just launched her debut book, Elliot and the Goblin War, with Sourcebooks publishing. Two more are set to release in that series over the next year. She will release another series with Scholastic beginning in April 2012.
Wow, pretty COOL!
Sadie, how did you come to live with the Nielsen family?
It turns out the kids are really good negotiators. They worked out a spectacular deal where they agreed to give up ever asking for anything again in exchange for my coming. That lasted for about ten minutes before they asked for ice cream on the ride home. I got a chewing bisc
uit.With a brand new book released, things must be really busy at your house.
There’s been a lot going on lately, but it’s all good things: book signings, school visits, and whatever it is she does on her computer. Luckily, I always know how to get attention if anyone gets distracted from me for too long.
What is “Elliot and the Goblin War” about? Based on the title, I’m guessing it’s not dogs.
There’s no dogs, but there are Goblins and Hags and Brownies. It’s the story of 11-year-old Elliot Penster who becomes king of the Brownies and accidentally prompts an interspecies war. But as my owner writes, “Don’t blame him. As anyone who has ever started an interspecies war will tell you, it’s not that difficult to do.”
Which character in the story are you most like?
Probably one of the Brownie kids, a girl named Patches. She and I are both smart, both love humans, but both have our ways of getting into trouble. For example, Patches finds herself at the bottom of a very deep hole with hungry Goblins at the top. In the meantime, I dug a big hole in the corner of the yard. I hope nobody finds it.
Turnip juice, chocolate cake, and pickles figure heavily into these books. What do you think about that?
Well I’m a puppy, so I’ll eat anything. Unfortunately, my people only let me read about those foods, not eat it. The food I eat probably isn’t interesting enough to write about.
Has Jennifer always had pets?
Lots of animals have owned her over the years: hamsters, fish, a cat, dogs, and a leopard-gecko lizard. But I’m her favorite, of course.
Does Jennifer have a website or blog?
Both. You can find out more about her and her books at www.jennielsen.com or at www.jenniferanielsen.blogspot.com. She hopes everyone will check out Elliot and the Goblin War. Here’s the Amazon link if it’s helpful: http://www.amazon.com/Elliot-Goblin-War-Jennifer-Nielsen/dp/1402240198
