Gracie makes a lot of public appearances visiting schools and hospitals and does paw signings at local bookstores. She’s even on TV sometimes. Here are some questions that are often asked. Maryl, Gracie’s owner, answers for Gracie.
Gracie is a girl.
How old is Gracie?
Gracie’s birthday is March 29, 1995. Can you figure out how old she is?
What kind of dog is Gracie?
Gracie is a mix of Labrador and Shar-Pei. Shar-Peis are the wrinkled dogs that came from China.
Where did you get Gracie?
I adopted Gracie from the Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene. They have a website at www.green-hill.org.
Where does Gracie live?
Gracie lives with me near Eugene, Oregon. Can you find Eugene on a map?
Was she already named Gracie when you adopted her?
No. She was found running loose so no one knows where she came from or what her name was.
Why did you name her Gracie?
We actually named her Grace because we thought with all her wrinkles she would grow old “gracefully.” Now we call her Gracie. It’s her nickname.
How much does Gracie weigh?
Gracie weighs about 75 lbs.
What is Gracie’s favorite food?
Gracie likes vanilla ice cream cones. She doesn’t get them very often because they have a lot of calories.
Does Gracie really go to work with you?
Yes. Gracie went to work with me starting the day after I adopted her. We retired in 2003. Now Gracie has more time to spend with her dog friends.
What did Gracie do at work?
Gracie played with her toys, took naps, went out back to chase snakes, and lets everyone pet her. She also greeted visitors.
What are Gracie’s favorite hobbies?
Gracie loves to go swimming in the lake and bring back sticks. And she likes to visit with her friends.
How did you get the idea to do the stories?
I have lots of grandkids and I thought it would be fun to take them on adventures with Gracie. I thought Gracie’s Great Adventures. That sounds like a book. Maybe I should write a book! Then I met Michael Mish. He writes music and does cartoon voices. I thought it would be fun to have a CD to go along with the book. Then I had to find an artist to draw the pictures. His name is Brent Burkett.
Who does Gracie’s voice on the tapes?
A young girl named Amirah does Gracie’s voice. To learn more about Amirah click on the paw:
Who does Arnold’s voice on the tapes?
Michael Mish does Arnold’s voice. He also does the voices for the lion, cheetahs, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, gophers, ants, and squirrels. To learn more about Michael click on the paw:
Who draws the pictures for the Gracie books?
Brent Burkett from Springfield, Oregon, draws the pictures for Gracie’s books. To learn more about Brent click on the paw:
Who writes the stories?
I write the stories. To learn more about me click on the paw:
How long does it take to write a story?
I think about the story for a long time before I start to write it. I keep track of ideas for the story and write them down. It takes about twelve drafts or rewrites of the story before it is ready to record. I have other people read it and let me know what they like or don’t like. Some stories take research, like the wild animal story. Other stories take more thinking and imagination time.
How do you record the CDs?
Michael has a recording studio in Ashland, Oregon. The people that are going to do the voices sit in the sound booth. They read their lines which Michael records. He then takes the best parts and uses his computer to organize them in the right order. He adds sound effects and music. He also writes and sings a new song for each story.
Where do you get ideas for your stories?
Sometimes they are ideas I get from being around Gracie and watching her. Some ideas come from kids in the schools I visit with Gracie.
Yes. We record most of the sound effects like Gracie’s barks and whines, the sound of the winds, the sound on the water when we’re sailing, the thunder, and the crunching sound when you walk through the garden.
