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Dotty's Topsy Tale - Now Available for Kindle! Dotty's Topsy Tale features Dotty, a pink hippo that doesn't quite fit in. With help from her best friend, Chizzy, she finds she can be happy with herself no matter what her color. The book introduces a purple baby hippo, Violet, to gently explore the topics of bullying and discrimination.

Aren't they precious? Cooling off in the water is a favorite thing to do - just like kids in summer.

Aren't they precious? Cooling off in the water is a favorite thing to do - just like kids in summer.

Do you think Dotty's friend, Violet, from Topsy Turvy Land looks happy about being in school again? Why do you think her name is Violet?(You'll know if you've read Dotty's Topsy Tale. ;) After you've colored this picture by Kevin Scott Collier, scan your masterpiece and send it to me. But remember - ask a parent first! *Click on the picture, then print! It will print out full size ready to be

Today on the 4th day of Bounding for Books Blog Tour, my guest is Donna Shepherd, inspirational writer and author of numerous picture books for kids. In this tour, she's promoting her latest, Dotty's Topsy Tale as well as her upcoming, Poodle and Doddle. Donna has started a fan page on Facebook. If you'd like to become her fan, click HERE. Visit her blog at Topsy Tales.

Welcome to my blog, Donna!

Tell us 5 unusual things about yourself.


I grew up next to an Indian mound. Mom took us to the park around the mound all the time when we were little.

When I was in first grade, another girl was named "Donna" so I changed her name for her.

I can write backwards with my left hand.

I can write forward with both hands.

I can write forward and backward at the same time with my left and right hand. (and I've probably exhaused the odd facts about my writing right there!)

If you weren't an author...

If I weren't an author, I'd do my 'other' stuff - sing, teach, and speak. Singing has always been an important part of my life. I wanted to be a professional gospel singer at one time many...many years ago.

You write because...

I write because I either feel called to with my inspirational writing or I'm having so much fun I can stop with my children's writing. I didn't write until a few years ago and now I can't imagine how I lived without writing.

Tell us about your last children's picture book and what inspired you to write it.

My little Angel is a 12 lb. prissy poodle, and Sadie is a 75 lb. Labradoodle. They do NOT get along. I wrote an interview for your Pets and Their Authors blog from Sadie's point of view. Mayra, YOU were the one who said, "Why haven't you written about these two funny dogs?" so I wrote a children's book from Angel's point of view. I figure children would identify with the underDOG - pun intended.

In the story, Sadie has had a sex change and is called Scruffy. With four dogs around here most of the time, I had lots of opportunities for research.

I just heard this week the illustrations for Poodle and Doodle are complete and the book should be out soon. Check out the progress at Oodles of Fun - http://www.poodleanddoodle.blogspot.com

What would you say to those people who think picture books are easy to write?

Hmmm....I guess I'd advise them to try it sometime. I'm always amazed at the amount of time it take me to write a couple hundred words, and then revise said words at least a hundred times.

Leave us with some words of wisdom....

Like every other writer I know, I’d like it said that I made a difference in some way, that my writing encouraged, entertained and brought laughter to grownups and children. So, every day I put one word in front of the other. It's the only way you or I will ever accomplish our goals - whether it's a magazine article, a children's poem, or a novel. Keep writing.