Chrysa Smith

As a long-time feature magazine writer, I spent countless hours on my computer and phone conducting interviews, doing research, pitching story ideas. It was only when I encountered a bit of downtime that I realized that my poodles were living a secret life; a life I had paid little attention to because of job and home demands, a life that was doggone funny. So, I did what any good wordsmith would do. I took out my pen and began to capture the adventures.

It took a few years of stop-and-go writing and editing, some children's writing classes and chats with teachers, librarians, book people and friends, but the perseverance and learning curve were well worth it. I can honestly say, I love what I do.

In 2009, The Adventures of the Poodle Posse won a silver Mom's Choice Award in juvenile fiction, for excellence in family-friendly media. Shortly after, the series began to grow, winning a spot on Amazon's Children's Bookshelf, an endorsement from The Dove Foundation and most recently, another Mom's Choice Award for the latest picture book, Once upon a Poodle.

Currently, out of my wheelhouse, I penned another book based on some misadventures with a gardening experiment. The Upside-Down Gardener grew out of a love for the funny, quirky, sentimental and personal. In it, you'll find it all, as well as a determined little girl whose world turns upside down as she discovers herself and that nothing is impossible.

When not on tour with the books, I'm marketing the books, writing future manuscripts and of course, watching those adventurous poodles!