This interview originally appeared in the January/February 2026 Horn Book Magazine as part of the Publishers’ Previews: New Year, New Books, an advertising supplement that allows participating publishers a chance to each highlight a book from its current list. They choose the books; we ask the questions.

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In Squirrel Lock Holmes: The Pet Rock Mystery, the first book in a new graphic-novel series for beginning readers, the titular detective and her trusty sidekick Mole Watson have their first case to solve.

1. Why do we groan rather than laugh at puns?

In a nutshell (squirrel pun totally intended), I think our first reaction is to roll our eyes at the pure absurdity of what we just heard. But then it sinks in, and we appreciate how clever wordplay can be, so we laugh.

2. What is the most difficult-if-fun aspect of creating an easy-reader comic?

Thinking ahead! I need a rock-solid plan for the artwork in the early stages so I can outline what needs to be shown in each panel. I often keep artwork ideas in my head rather than writing them into the script, so it’s been fun to incorporate more detailed descriptions of my illustrations throughout the writing process.

3. Who is your sidekick and/or partner in crime?

I’m fortunate to have several partners in crime, one of the best being my husband, Scott. He’s always willing to go along with my schemes. Once, we waded out onto a sandbar to film promotional videos for a book. He spent so much time perfecting the shots that we didn’t notice the tide coming in, or the number of jellyfish in the water around us…But no husbands (or jellyfish) were harmed in the making of our video.

4. Favorite fictional detective?

My mom introduced me to the Nancy Drew series. She kept all of her childhood ­copies, so they were extra special to me. We always thought it was neat that a girl solved the mysteries. That’s one reason I wanted Squirrel Lock to be a girl in my series.

5. What’s the most important aspect of pet rock care (besides not losing them)?

Pet rocks require a lot of attention; otherwise, they can become stone-cold and moody. Most important is keeping them entertained. They like rock-and-roll music, long rolls on the beach, being skipped across the water (at your own risk), and playing dress-up (feel free to use paint). Above all, storytime is their favorite, because reading ROCKS!

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