Q&A with Jill Rosen

 

 

 

Jill Rosen is the author of the new children's picture book Ode to a Pug: That Cat!. She also has written the book Ode to a Pug. She is also a strategic healthcare consultant and workshop facilitator. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Ode to a Pug: That Cat!?

 

A: When thinking about storylines, I like to start with common situations children encounter that give rise to strong emotions. In the original Ode to a Pug I explored feelings of frustration and being overwhelmed. In Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT! I wanted to tackle jealousy – the kind that kids experience when a new sibling enters the picture.

 

I also thought it would be interesting and fun to add a new addition that was completely different from all our little pug had known. In addition to upping the chaos factor, a new furry friend would challenge Phoebe and force her to make room for, and ultimately appreciate, differences.

 

Living with three dogs and two cats really gives you a great perspective on… well… chaos… but also the idiosyncrasies of each animal – what makes each one special – and how these differences can blend to form unbreakable family bonds. You really can be both a dog person and a cat person!

 

Q: This is your second book about Phoebe the pug--why did you decide to write a second book about her?

 

A: They say you write what you know. Not a second of a day goes by without an inspiring antic from our playful pug Phoebe. To be honest, rarely a second of a day goes by without Phoebe at my side (or on my lap). With pugs you truly are never alone!

 

So writing about her is easy in many ways; there is no shortage of comic material or eyes looking at you saying you can do it!

 

Pugs have a way of getting in to your hearts, even if you’re not a dog person. I see this every day with Phoebe. Whether she’s drawing a crowd at after school pickup, getting pets at baseball games, or getting likes on her Instagram page, Phoebe is most at home being the star of the show.

 

Her personality lures people in, but I’ve also learned that the pug in general as a character always is well received. In my travels doing Ode to a Pug workshops with children from pre-kindergarten to Grade 3, the pug’s unique features and silly behaviors draw repeated laughs. 

 

Children truly appreciate, and most importantly relate to, the small but mighty force of nature that is a “pug.” A character that can create laughs and endear hearts is enduring fuel for children’s books, and I just had to keep running with that success!

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Phoebe and the new cat?

 

A: The relationship between Phoebe and THAT CAT! follows a journey of ups and downs typical of many sibling relationships. In particular, the situations and emotions that arise with siblings that are very different from each other.

 

The two furballs take both pleasure and pain in annoying each other yet would not want to imagine life without each other. Like many siblings, these two have little in common but become best friends and partners in crime throughout their lives.

 

The dynamic also models what children experience entering a classroom for the first time. It is no longer just them at home where they are center stage. They are now sharing space and attention with other children with varying interests and needs and must navigate their way through these complexities.

 

Q: What do you think Stephanie Rohr’s illustrations add to the story?

 

A: When I first came across Steph’s work, I knew I had found my partner (if she’d have me!). Her ability to combine silly, almost comic-like imagery while perfectly capturing the emotion of a moment through absolutely adorable character interactions and brilliant use of color completely floored me.

 

I knew she was the one to bring Ode to a Pug to life for young readers! Luckily, she agreed to take on the challenge and we have worked brilliantly together ever since.

 

The little details she puts in a vignette are priceless. And most importantly, she enjoys making readers laugh as much as I do. We really do push each other and it shows in the quality of our work together.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: We are currently finalizing our next Ode to a Pug book – Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET!, releasing in November 2025.

 

I am also in the middle of writing my first two books coming out in early 2026. One is the fourth Ode to a Pug book (because Phoebe is still looking at me saying more, more, more, although she might be talking about food?) and the other, entitled Where’s The Moose?, is the first of a new series.

 

We also have French versions of the Ode to a Pug books releasing July 29 of this year, which we’re really excited to offer.

 

Also, as mentioned above, Phoebe (and my cats and of course my two boys) inspire me every day, so I am constantly working on new Ode to a Pug story ideas… so stay tuned. Much more to come from our favorite pug (and her family members and friends she picks up along the way… perhaps a Pomeranian or two?)!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I recently had to give up competitive tennis due to a knee injury. I can still run, which I enjoy, but for sports I am now trying to learn the art of golf. Talk about feelings of frustration! I feel a story about perseverance coming on…

 

Another source of inspiration for my writing comes from the adventures I have with my family during our travels around the world. Our trips usually focus on animals (no surprise!), so I look forward to incorporating more cool creature characters into fun books for children for many years to come.

 

For all of my books, there are true experiences by various members of my brood, both human and otherwise, that feed the emotional journeys of the characters, so they are really a reflection of our family. We love to laugh, we can’t stop talking, we thrive (most of the time) on chaos, and we wear our hearts on our sleeves.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Jill Rosen. Enter this giveaway for a chance to win one of twelve signed hardcover copies of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!. In addition, one lucky winner will receive a custom 4″ pug plush and a die-cut pug sticker.