Simon the Scared Rottweiler -Author Interview and Giveaway

6/24/2026

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Nicole S. Kluemper. All opinions are my own.

Book Information

Simon the Scared Rottweiler
Written by Nicole S. Kluemper, Ph.D.
Ages: 4–8 | 34 Pages
Publisher: Nicole S Kluemper (2026) | ISBN: 979-8218884802

Publisher’s Book Summary: Simon is having a hard day. He wakes up to a bad dream, the fire alarm goes off at school, some big bullies bother him, and that’s not all! Just then, Kevin’s big sister Angie steps in and helps Simon by teaching him some skills for dealing with his worry that will last a lifetime.

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Author Interview

Why did you want to write about fear and anxiety?
I’ve been working at a community clinic for about 11 years now, and based on my
experience, anxiety can be one of the most difficult diagnoses to treat, especially in
young children. I’ve seen kids become so isolated in their thoughts and feelings, and the anxiety can be so big and overwhelming, that kids can become kind of lost to the idea of another way of
being. The notion of change is too much to even hope for. This is one reason why anxiety is so persistent, but the nature of the disorder is that it is also very treatment resistant. The brain just keeps feeding those anxious thoughts. Anxiety is just difficult. Having seen the need firsthand and out of a strong desire to help, I wanted to write about this topic specifically.

Where did you get the inspiration for Simon the Scared Rottweiler?
I needed a tool to help communicate with my young patients, and I’ve seen picture
books accomplish this goal when it came to other topics in the past. The exact book I
needed wasn’t available, so I made it happen. The name was inspired by my real-life Rottweiler, Simon Ray. Simon has dealt with behavioral issues all his life, and I firmly believe that these are caused by his underlying anxiety. I thought it would be an ironic twist if a big, tough Rottweiler had anxiety. Mix those two ideas together and there you have it – Simon the Scared Rottweiler.

What was your writing process like for this book?
I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to say this, but it was pretty quick! Considering my
first book took several years to write, I was shocked when this one was ready for review
in a matter of weeks. I had the idea for the title, and even a basic idea for the concept. I sat down and thought up a few scary scenarios for Simon, then I had to come up with a way to introduce the coping skills. That’s where Angie came in. I knew I wanted to use the thought bottles. The belly breathing was kind of a last-minute addition to be honest.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
The creativity! I loved trying to come up with ways to match the pictures up with the text
and make sure the pics were entertaining enough, etc. That was certainly the longest
part of the process (by far). It was stressful, but looking back it was very interesting and
rewarding. I also had the chance to collaborate with some kids during the process (mostly the
children of close friends). This was a lot of fun. Getting honest feedback from kids is
always a hoot. I love how uncensored children are. They really are the best!

What is your favorite book?
I know this might be silly, but I still love Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I
guess it’s true that what you love in childhood stays with you. I love the themes of
unconditional love and belonging. I also love the illustrations – so cool! I remember having this story read to me during circle time in elementary school. It captured my attention in a way no other story did. I think my imagination has always been pretty vivid, and this book gave me plenty to think about.

Giveaway

Five lucky readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win a paperback copy of Simon the Scared Rottweiler.