"Stanley's Discovery" is a novella-sized book.  It's ideal reading for anyone, especially if you love dogs, but one of the questions we have been asked is 'why are some of the chapters so short'?

Well, there's more than one reason for this...

Has there ever been a bedtime when, as a parent, you've been asked for "one more chapter" and when you've looked at reading another ten pages you just know it's going to be too long and too late, possibly leading to upset?  Well, most of the chapters in our book are three pages so, that "one more chapter" can be achieved, leading to a happy ending to the day.

Similarly, a child reading a first novel type book at 9 or 10 will be able to follow the same process, reading an extra chapter or two themselves and being proud of their achievements and being able to process information better as the action moves through the adventures that make up the book.

We will keep the books like this as we move forward into the rest of the series as we have had a lot of good feedback about this.

However, don't make the mistake of Karen's nephew Freddie who asked for one more chapter at what his mum clearly knew was the precipice of a big story.  He pleaded, he got the extra chapter but then found himself having to go to sleep at the beginning of a big story.  Still, he was back at 5.30am for the rest of it!

Last weekend, the internet went into fury when four-times Olympic Champion Laura Kenny was referred to as the "pregnant wife" of her fellow Gold Medallist husband Jason Kenny.

Rightly so.

Authors Karen and Gill pride themselves on having created characters, many on real dogs of their acquaintance, that will be role models for boys and girls.

This is best demonstrated through the King and Queen of Tzu Kingdom, Bailey and Coffee.

See how in the party image Bailey is pushing Coffee to the front to make a major speech.  You can see from his face that he's proud as punch of his wife and queen!

In the second image, the front cover of Santa Bailey it's the reverse.  Coffee is so proud of Bailey as he prepares to deliver gifts for all the dogs in the world last Christmas Eve, that she's the one bursting with pride!

You see, this is a place that is, was and always will be equal, no matter what.  From Paddy's drama to Phoebe's organised rescues and from Colin's disability to Kiki and Lola's dancing prowess, they all bring something different to the table and celebrate it well.

So, boys and girls will all find a character to relate to in the books and as we go in to book two, there's another wonderful role model who holds a big secret...