With two kids who are avid readers, our house is always trying to find new books to read. Needless to say, I’m thrilled there are authors out there like Susan Lawrence, putting out fun stories my children enjoy that also teach lessons they can apply to their lives. With the third book in the Hank the Rescue Dog series releasing, Susan is here to talk to us today about her inspiration. I think you’re going to be delighted.
Since I was a child, I have loved all animals, but dogs in particular. Almost all of my novels include a furry character somewhere in the pages.
When I started writing Hank’s story (It’s the Dog’s Fault, Book 1 in Hank the Rescue Dog series) I needed an image of him in my head. And I chose Teddy.
Teddy is my son’s oversized, untrained, bundle of exuberant energy. Many of Hank’s misbehaviors are things that Teddy has modeled for my imagination. But he is also loyal, loving, and pure heart. Most dogs are.
As Hank the Rescue Dog series progresses, we see Hank mature and respond to training. He isn’t perfect but he does attempt to follow the rules. However, what he always does perfectly is love. He knows when someone is hurting, anxious, angry, or sad. And he steps in to comfort.
A few years ago, I had a Labrador rescue who became a certified therapy dog. She would walk into a room full of children and seek out the one who was hurting, the one who needed her most. That would be the one she sat beside.
In It’s Molly’s Fault (Book 3), which releases tomorrow, Hank has a calming effect on a child who has experienced trauma.
Have you had an animal that was your therapy animal? Not necessarily certified, but one who knew when you needed him on your lap? It is scientifically proven that interaction with animals lowers stress levels, blood pressure, and angry outbursts. How has an animal calmed or comforted you?
Our Creator made a marvelous array of animals with countless purposes and gifts! And some of those animals are made specifically for us to love and enjoy.
Let’s celebrate and praise God for our furry companions—whether they are fictional characters or real live pets.
When a noisy five-year-old with too many Barbies takes over his house, Hank the rescue dog is certain of one thing: it’s Molly’s fault … and she has to go.
Hank has always taken his job seriously. Protect the house. Guard the couch. Keep everything exactly the way it should be. But when Molly and her dad move in, nothing makes sense anymore. The noise level is unacceptable. The mess is everywhere. And somehow, Hank is the one getting blamed.
Clearly, this situation requires a plan.
But Molly isn’t just loud—she’s hurting. Her world has been turned upside down, and even Hank can sense that something isn’t right. As the days fill with chaos, questionable snack choices, and more than one Barbie-related disaster, Hank starts to wonder if getting rid of Molly is really the answer.
Meanwhile, his boy, Kaden, is facing struggles of his own, trying to make the right choices at home, at school, and on the basketball court. And as everything begins to unravel, Hank must decide if protecting his family means holding onto what was … or stepping up in a way he never expected.
Because sometimes the hardest part of being a good dog isn’t guarding what you love. It’s learning to share it.
Perfect for middle-grade readers ages 7–12 who enjoy funny animal fiction chapter books, family-centered stories, and Christian fiction with gentle, faith-filled themes, this humorous and heartfelt adventure explores peacemaking, kindness, and the true meaning of belonging.
Susan Lawrence is a speaker, an author, and a storyteller. She grew up on a farm in the heart of Iowa. As a child, she learned to love country life, writing stories, and her Savior, Jesus Christ.
She graduated from Kansas State Teacher’s College and taught special needs children for twenty-six years before putting away the chalkboard to devote more time to writing, speaking, and storytelling.
Susan lives and travels with Gary, her husband and best friend for fifty-six years, and their rescue pup, Maggie. She has three adult children and eight brilliant and beautiful grandchildren who love to hear her stories.
Her series for middle grade children, Hank the Rescue Dog includes: It’s the Dog’s Fault, It’s the Cat’s Fault and It’s Molly’s Fault. She also has written two other chapter books for children: The Blue Marble and The Long Ride Home. Additional works include four family devotion books including Three Dogs’ Tales, based on her rescue dogs; three novels, Atonement for Emily Adams, Restoration at River’s Edge, and Flight of the Red-winged Blackbird; and a picture book, Shepherd of eSwatini. She has also contributed to three anthologies and has written many articles for various Christian publications.
When Susan is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and baking, hiking in the woods, bicycling, kayaking, and traveling. But most of all, she loves to tell the story, the good news of Jesus Christ, in writing, speaking, and living.