People often ask me if I ever base a character on someone I know in real life. While my characters are seldom exactly like people I actually know, I often use personality traits and quirks I observe to create believable, three-dimensional characters. My mom and dad share many traits with Anna and Felty Helmuth, the tenacious, adorable grandparents in Huckleberry Hill and Huckleberry Summer. And how many of us know a spoiled, bratty girl like Rachel Shetler in Huckleberry Hill?
One of the most lovable characters in Huckleberry Summer is Pilot, the incorrigible goldendoodle who is also featured on the cover. Pilot also exists in real life. He is a playful, long-legged dog who belongs to my neighbor Julie.
Like the fictional Pilot, the real-life Pilot loves to collect socks. He gathers them like squirrels gather acorns and leaves them in little piles all over his house. Julie has younger children so her Pilot manages to find a lot of abandoned socks to add to his collection.
Both Pilots love to be scratched behind the ears, and although big and clumsy, they are very gentle around children. In Huckleberry Summer, Pilot frolics in the yard with an itty-bitty toddler and doesn’t knock her down once. In spite of his playful spirit, Pilot senses when there is an emergency. He uses his teeth and his sense of smell to do something truly heroic for a little girl in trouble.
The real Pilot is much more obedient than the fictional Pilot. Fictional Pilot likes to jump on people and knock them over. This is especially frustrating to Lily Eicher, who doesn’t like dogs in the least. Lily carries a bottle of hand sanitizer everywhere she goes just in case Pilot’s floppy wet tongue comes in contact with her face.
Lily is equally wary of Pilot’s master, Aden Helmuth. To a girl as obedient and cautious as Lily, Aden and Pilot spell nothing but trouble.
Aden’s mammi is set on getting Aden and Lily together. Will Pilot and Aden be able to win Lily over?
Thanks so much for stopping by Jennifer. Pilot is adorable and looks so soft! I am excited to announce that Jennifer is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of Huckleberry Summer which is due out on June 3rd.
To enter leave a comment below. If you would like an Extra chance share this link on Facebook or Twitter. Remember to leave another comment if you did.
**Contest starts today Monday, May 12th and ends on Monday, May 19th.**
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