Welcome, Beth Goddard and Dekker! So glad to have you both here.

Hi, Elizabeth! Thanks for dropping by today! This is my first author interview! So I guess you could say you’re my guinea pig. But I do appreciate you playing along! I hope readers will enjoy seeing a different side of their favorite authors! So, Elizabeth, what is your favorite kind of a pet? Dog, cat, guinea pig? And why?

I love animals—but I’m severely allergic to them. Hence, I must take five different allergy medications in order to exist with our pets. Not my choice, mind you—my husband is an animal fanatic. I’ve often wondered—why did God put me, a person allergic to animals, with this man? But, allergies don’t change the fact that I love pets and I think my favorite pets are dogs. The reason? I think of the movie “UP” where Doug (the main dog character) says, “I just met you and I love you.” Is there anything better than that?

I’m allergic to cats, and I have a cat, so I totally understand! How many pets do you have today?

Five! A female hamster named Oliver, a dwarf hamster named Lulu, a cockatiel that was first named Balthier but then HE laid an egg so my son renamed her Fran, a quaker/parrot named Pickles and then our new puppy named Dekker (yes after Ted). We recently lost our Jack Russell named Captain Jack Sparrow because of his patched eye.

Oh, so sorry about losing Capt. Jack Sparrow. Love the names of your pets! And Dekker is adorable! Have you ever rescued an animal?

Turtles off the street.

Do you ever incorporate animals into your novels?

Sometimes. My mystery romance—THE CAMERA NEVER LIES—releases in December and Murphy is a Jack Russell who actually plays a role in solving the mystery. The character, Polly, named him Murphy after Murphy’s law—you can figure out why. ☺

What was your favorite character animal? I love Murphy, though he’s really in the background—not even physically present in the story—my character thinks about him a lot because she misses him.

Has one of your own pets been the inspiration for a pet/character in a novel?

Jack, the JRT who recently died, was the inspiration for Murphy. Years ago I watched “Wishbone” with the kids and fell in love with him. Finally we got our own Jack Russell but he turned out to be much more cantankerous than Wishbone.

What is the funniest thing you’ve seen one of your animals do?

My daughter used to sing “opera”—just playing around of course—and our cockatiel would literally open her beak at the right moments, making it appear like she was singing the opera. Also, my daughter was able to get Jack to say I love you. Uh huh, it’s true.

Wow! Those are great stories! Is there a secret that only our pet knows?

Perhaps. But let’s keep it that way. LOL

I completely understand! What is your pet’s pet peeve about you?

Pickles the parrot is jealous of me because he loves Dan. I can’t sit near Dan or talk to him, if Pickles is out or he will bite me. Yikes! But let’s talk about Dekker too. He’s a fairly new puppy and has only been with us a few weeks now. I think his pet peeve is that while I’m eating my bacon for breakfast, I won’t let him on the sofa next to me.

Poor Dekker! So deprived. I bet my Hilo Monster could teach him a few nifty tricks to get that bacon. What is your pet peeve about your pet?

My pet peeve is the reverse of the above—I hate that he has to be next to me while I’m eating breakfast, or any meal for that matter. I don’t particular like having him stare at me while I’m eating.

It’s the old guilt-trip at work. Thank you so much for taking the time to be with us, Elizabeth! Now, I’d love to ask Dekker a few questions. Hi, Dekker! Down! Really come on, get DOWN! Now, what would be the title of your autobiography?

WHERE’D THAT MESS COME FROM?

I bet that’s a common one that my pets could relate to. You should write it! Now, if you were to write a novel, would your friend, Elizabeth, inspire one of the characters?

I don’t know about friends, but Pickles the parrot would end up my favorite chew-toy.

LOL! What’s your favorite movie?

UP. . .

Oh, that’s a good one! What musical instrument would you like to play?

Juice harp

I would definitely like to see that, Dekker! What do you think about cats? Dogs?

Cats–I haven’t met one that I didn’t like—translate, I haven’t met one yet. I’ve only met two dogs—the one next door named Chloe and she doesn’t like me, and the one behind the mirror—he’s really something and I like him a lot.

Dekker, you are so cute! Where do you sleep at night?

In the bedroom with the boys, inside my comfy crate with all my blankets and pillows.

That sounds nice and cozy. What do you do when your friend is writing?

I keep jumping on the funny black box that she has in her lap instead of me.

Good going! The Hilo Monster would be proud of you! What is your idea of bliss?

Laying on my back and having my belly scratched.

Nothing better than that! What is your friend’s idea of bliss?

She loves to eat chocolate and it’s so rare and special, that she won’t share it with me.

I think she’s trying to protect you. Thank you, Dekker and Elizabeth, for being with us today! You take care of your friend now, ya hear?

Elizabeth has a new book out called Disarming Andi! Here’s a little info about it:

Disarming Andi

Vance Young inherits a missile launch site—a relic from the cold war buried beneath the plains of North Dakota—from his great-uncle, a man he never knew. An astronomy fanatic, Vance needs free access to the night skies, so he doesn’t consider staying in the underground dwelling until he meets the woman responsible for remodeling it into a lavish home.
Upon meeting the late Vance Erickson’s namesake, Andi Nielsen may have just gotten her second chance to discover what her grandfather hid inside the old missile base decades before when he served as a missileer. Is she prepared to detonate her growing feelings for the new owner in order to find the hidden treasure? When Vance remotely discovers a cybercrime involving his classified software, can he solve the crime and keep the woman he loves safe?

You can learn more about Elizabeth at bethgoddard.com.

Come back next Wednesday for another author/pet interview!