It’s been a while since I last posted, and I owe you all an apology. Life has been more than a little hectic, and part of that has been dealing with some heartbreaking news. Sadly, our beloved Rufus, who was such a big character in our lives, had to be put to sleep. He was truly one in a million, and his absence has left the house feeling so empty. It was even more difficult because the book I wrote about him, Argonaut – His First Mission, was released just weeks before we had to say goodbye.

Rufus was more than a pet; he was an inspiration. The second book in the Argonaut series was nearly finished when we lost him, and it took me some time to get back to it. The drawings, all based on Rufus, felt especially poignant to complete. But I’m happy to share that Argonaut – His Second Mission is now available on Amazon. This book is for early readers to enjoy, following Argonaut as he embarks on a new mission, this time visiting an old people’s home. There, he meets new friends and finds a surprising connection between one of them and his old pal, Jake.

Toby, our other dog, has been missing Rufus too, however, this has inspired me to write a new children’s book about the loss of a pet, starring both Toby and Rufus. In this story, a frog in the garden helps Toby come to terms with the loss, bringing comfort and companionship. This new book will be released soon, and I hope it brings solace to young readers dealing with similar emotions.

Rufus had undergone biopsies before his passing, and the results revealed an incredibly rare condition called Langerhans cell histiocytosis. It’s so rare that there is very little published on it in dogs. Just like his unique character, Rufus was one in a million, even in this.

In between working on the Argonaut books, I also released a new project—Fred’s First Comic Book— now available on Amazon too. It follows a day in the life of a Red Setter who is bonkers and is written in a Dr Seuss style for toddlers and parents to enjoy!

On a different note, I’m excited to share that I’ve finished my MA in Creative Writing and will graduate with distinction on 4th November! It’s been a journey, and while one chapter closes, another begins as I’ve just started a PhD. My research is focused on how Large Language Models can be used to create personalised stories for children on the autistic spectrum. It’s both exciting and a little bit daunting, but it’s a topic I’m deeply passionate about. Having read so many cherished stories with my own children on the spectrum, this project holds a special place in my heart. When Rufus passed away, they reminded me of a favourite quote attributed to Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Lastly, for those of you following my ongoing story Abysmal Octogenarians on WattPad, weekly chapters are still being released every Friday at 7pm. Be sure to check in for the latest twists and the fact that it is now has over 34 chapters!