Andra Gillum is a the author of the Doggy Drama series of books featuring Doggy Drama, Puppy Drama, Old Doggy Drama, Lost Doggy Drama and Doghouse Drama. Andra is a dog lover! All of her books are about her real westies, Riley, Lucy and Rosy. Andra believes that books are reading should be fun, and book should make you laugh. Her stories reflect the silly “sibling rivalry” drama between her dogs. They also feature her real children, Max and Mia.
As a little girl, Andra’s first dog was a westie named Buttons who was nicknamed Bugie (for some strange reason). Since then, Andra has had 5 more westies: Maxie, Riley, Lucy and Rosy. They have each touched her heart in a different way.
All the books in the Doggy Drama series are based on true (well, true-ish) stories of the dogs real adventures. A little extra mischief and humor are added in!
Hello Andra, welcome to Brand Education! What inspires your stories?
I find inspiration in my regular life. My three dogs are always doing funny things that I love to share!
What themes or messages do you hope readers will take away from your work?
My books are all about sibling rivalry. I want kids to know it is very normal and natural to fight sometimes with a sister or brother!
Are there any specific authors or books that have influenced your writing style or storytelling?
When my kids were young, we would let them choose three picture books to read before bed. Of course, they always tried to find the longest books they could! My favorite authors were Dr. Seuss and Mo Willems. One of my favorite books has always been: Are You My Mother?
How do you develop your characters? Do you draw inspiration from real people or experiences?
Most if not all of my characters are based on other people or animals in my life. I often exaggerate the characteristics to make the story sillier and fun!
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I enjoy exercise and walking my dogs. I also love to read.
Are there any particular genres or topics you enjoy writing about the most?
I like to write books for kids that are silly and fun. In school, kids are often forced to read boring or uninteresting texts which I think turns them away from reading.
Do you have a favorite character from your own books? If so, who is it and why?
No! That would be like having a favorite child!
Do you have any upcoming projects or future writing plans?
Yes, I plan to do another chapter books featuring the dogs. I’m thinking of a story where the dogs get lost in the forest.
What role do you believe literature plays in shaping society and culture?
Book and literature make us all smarter! They increase our vocabulary, enhance our writing skills and teach us so many new things.
Find out more at https://www.doggydrama.com/