A few words about me, your author and illustrator. I won’t go on too much about my life history, just suffice it to say, I’ve been knocking around the planet for a good while. I live in a great location near downtown Marietta Georgia, close to a library, a great little square, hiking trails and other good stuff. I’ve spent most of my adult life as a graphic designer and digital illustrator (with quite a few sidetracks) and as an animal mom to a lot of dogs and cats (not all at one time). Currently I have three senior cats.

What I haven’t been until recently is a children’s book writer, though I’ve always enjoyed writing. However, that changed when I rediscovered a story that I wrote so long, I typed it on an IBM Selectric (for those of you who remember typewriters). I showed the book to quite a few people and got good feedback, so decided to go for it.

I have been very fortunate to have had many friendships throughout my life. Most have come and gone as we have changed and grown apart, yet I still maintain some friendships that have endured for decades. I noticed that even though most of us made friends at a very young age, many of us—even into old age—were still grappling with the same issues that arose between friends all those years ago. I realized that making and keeping close friends is truly a life skill that needs to be taught. Wanting to connect with other humans is natural, but due to our own insecurities or family dynamics, we often struggle our entire lives with truly understanding what it means to have and be a good friend.

I wasn’t thinking about that when I wrote my recently discovery story. However, when another children’s book author suggested I create a series based on friendship, the wheels in my brain would not stop turning. I loved the idea of using my original dog, Rodney, and cat, Rainbow, and expand their friendship. Especially because cats and dogs are historically — but not accurately — considered to be mortal enemies. Through their affection for each other, their differences are supportive assets rather than limitations to their friendship.

Because Rodney  and Rainbow learned so much about friendship through their own challenges, it seemed natural for them to help their friends. In each tale, Rodney, Rainbow, and friends, explore different issues which may arise between friends, such as jealousy, poor listening skills, tattle telling, intolerance, etc. My hope is that my readers will not only relate easily to the characters but take the lessons to heart.

—R. Lynn Gabriel