Max and Lil'Bit - The real dogs behind the story

Max and I on a hike in the Arkansas Ozarks in 2022.

Lil'Bit near the pond August 19, 2025

Officially next week I will release the free ebook on Linkedin for the world to see. Will anything become of it? I can't say for sure, but what I do know is I have been wanting to write and illustrate children's books for years! I have been a writer in some capacity or other for many years, but the raw emotion of a children's book scared me to death!

I have a tremendous amount of love for my dogs Max (he's really German Shepherd, but that can be a scary dog) and Lil'Bit who is really a Pitbull/Catahoula mix (also doesn't create a warm and fuzzy feeling) and in my mind they are just like the loveable characters who I will continue to use in the books.

I had the opportunity in the early 2000s to meet Stan and Jan Berenstain at their home in rural Pennsylvania. It was an experience I will never forget. Jan, made us finger sandwiches and was very soft spoken and Stan who was not soft-spoken, but so funny changed me forever. These were the much beloved Berenstain Bears! I knew at that time I would eventually get to a point in life where I could garner up my inner Berenstain. I hope to see you back here soon for my next installment of the Max and Lil'Bit story. It is called "Max and Lil'Bit Follow the Frog Tracks".