The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Marie Prins and Review of Who's Walking Dawg?

Marie Prins lives in an historic (1853), octagonal house in eastern Ontario, surrounded by perennial and vegetable gardens with a small pond tucked in the corner of her property.

Drawing of Marie Prin's octogonal house, in eastern Ontario,.

Over the years, she has written memoirs, poetry, and children’s stories often inspired by nature, gardening, and lives of those who once lived there in the past century and a half.

For 30 years, Marie has maintained a private practice in remedial reading at The Reading Room now located in her home in Colborne, Ontario.

Book cover - a girl walking down dark staircase toward a lit room.

Marie’s the author of the middle grade novel The Girl From the Attic, illustrated by husband Edward Hagedorn (2020), as well as a children’s short stories in Hill Spirits V & VI Anthologies.

Her debut picture book, Who’s Walking Dawg? released on October 31st.

Welcome Marie,

Tell us a little about yourself.. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate?

Most of the time I write at my kitchen table close to a picture window that overlooks a garden with bird feeders. Sometimes the avian activity is quite distracting, but it’s also comforting to feel close to the creatures that visit our yard. If I really need to concentrate, I retreat upstairs to a desk in my bedroom.

I began writing memoir and nature pieces around 2008 and shortly afterwards started writing children’s stories when I took a course from a local children’s writer who, in his last assignment, challenged us to write the first chapter of a fantasy novel. That was the beginning of a ten-year journey writing my mid-grade novel The Girl From the Attic published in 2020. During that time, I also began to write picture book stories.

Oh, hello there Dawg, as the star of book, do you want to introduce yourself, too?

Woof! Woof! Luv, luv, luv treats! LUV bacon treats! Luv to sniff doggie texts!

It is nice to get to know a little about you both. Marie, what is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written or illustrated a manuscript?

Sometimes, weather-permitting, I write inside my little vintage Trillium trailer that’s parked next to our driveway. Its windows overlook the other side of our property and our little pond. I feel like I’ve left home when I work in that space and can work for long stretches at a time.

Oh, that sounds like a fun "staycation." Yes, yes. I’ll ask you questions, too. Dawg, what is the strangest place you’ve ever left or received “pee mail”?

In roadside rest stops! Very stressed doggie texts! Leave my own.

Marie, what was your inspiration or spark of interest for Who’s Walking Dawg?

Book cover - Dawg standing at the door holding his leash.

When one of my critique partners said my stories were written more like short stories, I was challenged to cut my word count and leave room for the illustrator. My real-life dog Chester loved walks and sometimes took one on his own when I wasn’t paying attention to him outdoors. In my head, my sometimes frantic “Where’s Chester?” cry morphed into “Who’s walking the dog?” and the story spooled out from there.

Know what... she named me Dawg ‘cause she can’t say “dog.”

Too funny! Thanks for the scoop, Dawg. Marie, what is the hardest or most challenging thing for you about writing Who’s Walking Dawg?

Truly, I did not find anything really difficult or challenging about writing Dawg’s story because I lived with a real dog and could imagine his busy family either not having the time or the desire to once again walk the dog. Initially I did struggle a bit with the ending, but when a very talented picture book writer suggested a mentor text with a wordless last spread, the ending fell into place as I wanted it to be a bit ambiguous, not spelled out with text.

Thank goodness for writing friends. How many revisions did Who’s Walking Dawg? take from first draft to publication?

My computer lists fourteen revisions of Dawg, but I know there were many smaller ones within them. I think I sent some of these revisions to my critique groups three times. There was also the feedback from the writer mentioned above and then one small paid critique.

I luv the park! Going again!

Thanks Dawg. Marie, how did the experience of writing Who’s Walking Dawg? differ from writing The Girl From the Attic?

Writing in both genres always requires solid feedback from critique partners and lots of studying the craft. When writing Girl, one of my CPs was an editor so her help was invaluable as I had never written a novel before, let alone a time travel one with two intertwining stories. I also studied Mary Kole’s Writing Irresistible Kidlit, which was like taking an MFA course. When Girl was accepted for publication, an editor helped me rewrite many parts of the book. It was a ten-year journey!

By the time I started Dawg in 2020, I had joined a SCBWI picture book group who knew more than me about writing in that genre. Lots of good feedback! I also had joined the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge and had access to great webinars. I used the CP feedback and my years of writing in different genres to craft the word choice and rhythms of the story. From start to finish, Dawg took almost two years, but I was also writing other stories during that time.

For both books, I chose stories close to home. Girl’s setting is a historic house (mine) and Dawg’s story was inspired by my dog Chester.

I luv begging! Treats! Walks! Tummy rubs! A now place on your bookshelf, woof! woof!

Ten years, wow! Thank you for sharing these book journeys with us. Oh Dawg, you are one lucky puppy! Maria, when you first saw Leanne Franson’s illustrations in Who’s Walking Dawg?, did anything surprise, amaze, or delight you? Which is your favorite spread?

I love Leanne’s illustrations! From the moment I saw them, Dawg came to life in a very large way. Now I can only think of Dawg as he’s illustrated in the story. Happy! Bouncy! Huggable! Rascally! I also really love that Leanne illustrated Dawg’s family as a mixed racial Indigenous family.

Internal spread - on the left, girl and boy peek down stairs. In the center Mom peeks out of office and Dad looks up from making pizza. On the right, the toddler points out the door.

Text © Marie Prins, 2024. Image © Leanne Franson, 2024.

It’s hard to pick a favourite spread, but the one in the middle of the book where Dawg’s whole family realizes he’s missing was very well crafted. And of course, I love the last wordless spread as it subtly suggests that even though things work out in the end, they may not always change. Often in family like, grace plays a big role.

Oh right. Sorry Dawg. Do you have a favorite part of the book?

Sniffing smells on the sidewalk!

😊- I think we should let the readers find that image themselves! What's something both of you want your readers to know about Who’s Walking Dawg?

Promoting Dawg has been lots of fun because he’s so cute and loveable. I’ve enjoyed making Instagram posts on Canva! And bookmarks! And stickers! Dog lovers will enjoy Dawg’s personality and his antics because Leanne Franson brought them so delightfully to life.

Sadly, my dog Chester who inspired this story passed away while I was writing Dawg. He was over eighteen years old! But now he lives on in Dawg.

Sniffing! Running! Supper! And treats! The best!

I am sorry about Chester. It's awesome that you captured his energy and enthusiasm for life in Dawg. Marie, are there any upcoming books or new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

I’m working on a narrative, non-fiction picture book about turtles who are also close to my heart. Again, it’s a story inspired by personal experience.

Sniffing a puppy dog. Not happy! No DAWG.

Sorry Dawg. Maybe you'll be in the next book. Marie, Good luck with this project. Last question Marie, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?

Photo of Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada..

Just before Covid, my husband and I pulled our Trillium trailer to Newfoundland. We absolutely fell in love with Gros Morne National Park - https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/nl/grosmorne. Here’s a description from the website – “Soaring fjords and moody mountains tower above a diverse panorama of beaches and bogs, forests and barren cliffs. Shaped by colliding continents and grinding glaciers, Gros Morne’s ancient landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.” I’d visit this place again in a heartbeat. The Tablelands there are a “rare outcrop of the Earth’s mantle pushed skyward half a billion years ago.” Totally amazing!

Thank sounds like an amazing park! Thank you Marie, and Dawg, for sharing with us a bit about yourselves and your debut picture book.

To find out more about Marie Prins. or to contact her:

Website: https://marieprins.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marie.prins/ or https://www.instagram.com/pbbuds24/

Review of Who’s Walking Dawg

There are so many great things about living sharing your life with an animal - snuggles, an understanding ear, a playmate, and the development of empathy. But sometimes you are just out of sync. This is an adorable picture book which captures the frustration in having to wait for others to have time for you and an adventurous, sweet dog who takes his walk into his own paws.

Who’s Walking Dawg

Author: Marie Prins

Illustrator: Leanne Franson

Publisher: Red Deer Press (2024)

Ages: 5-8

Fiction

Themes:

Family, dog, busy lives, and humor.

Synopsis:

When Dawg's busy family ignores his pleas for a walk, he takes matters into his own paws and follows his nose on an adventure through the neighborhood. He decides to visit his favourite spots -- his telephone pole, behind the mailbox and even meeting a new dog and playing in the wading pool!

Eventually Dawg's rumbly tummy reminds him where his food bowl dwells, as well as his frantic family, who have been searching for him in all the wrong places.

Opening Lines:

Life was good for Dawg

krunchy kibble

cushy bed

tasty treats.

Until...one day,

when Dawg waited

by the door,

tail waving, wagging...

What I Loved about this book:

Marie is right, Dawg is adorable. In this colorful and fun opening spread, it's clear Dawg does have a good life and a burgeoning issue. Unfortunately for him, Dad's cooking. Marie Prins creates a wonderful refrain, which is slightly tweaked by each successive family member. "Dad kneaded on, fingers pinching, poking. “Prepping pizza, Dawg! Ask Mom.”

Internal spread - on the left, Dad in the kitchen cooking. On the right Dawg barking at the door while holding his leash.

Poor Dawg. He is passed to Mom, who's typing. Then to Bro who's busy playing guitar and Sis who's preoccupied chatting on her phone. With each plea, Dawg's face and his requests get more urgent. Finally, circling past the toddler, Dawg slips out the back door. "Dawg gone!" says Little One.

Internal spread - on the left, toddler playing with a train set watches as dog heads outside through an open door on the right.

I love Marie Prins subtle humor and fun lyrical text. "In a wink and a whiz, Dawg trotted around the yard, visiting his favourite spots." She and Leanne Franson perfectly capture Dawg's joy, curiosity, and adventure as he wanders out of the yard and through the neighborhood. Where he checks his "pee mail," investigates some animals, and plays with friends around the park.

Internal spread - dog playing frisbee with a new dog, splashing in a wading pool, and collapsing in a tree's shadow on the grass.

Leanne Franson's colorful, lively illustrations are packed with lots of textures and so many great details. Just as Dawg is running out of energy and realizing he's hungry, the family suddenly notices he is missing (look back at Marie's interview for this image), kicking off a wonderful dual narrative of the family's frantic search and Dawg's reverse wander back. The ending is touching and humorous, with a fun ending wordless spread. Dawg's predicament of waiting for others will be one kids will likely be familiar with. While it's unclear if this incident causes the family to be less busy in the future, or perhaps more attentive to Dawg, it sets up a perfect re-read when Dawg is once again left waiting and holding his leash. It's a beautifully illustrated, humorous, and touching story of an adventurous dog and his loving family.

Resources:

make your own dog to take for a walk, using paper and a straw, a paper slinky dog (add a yarn leash), a cardboard box dog, or a paper tube marionette.
do you have a pet? What do you like least about your pet? What is the best thing about your pet? If you don't have a pet, write a description or draw a picture of the pet you'd most love to have (real or imaginary).