Amanda M. Quick has always understood the power of a story shared between a child and someone they love. Some of her earliest memories are of sitting in her momma’s lap as she read aloud. Before long, Quick was reading to babydolls from her own little rocking chair and later to her younger sisters during games of school.
“In a way, I think I’m still that little girl sitting in my momma’s rocking chair,” Quick said. “Only now, instead of sitting in her lap and listening to her read a story, I’m creating stories that I hope another child will someday sit in someone’s lap and enjoy.”
Those childhood experiences, a lifelong love of children, and six mini Australian shepherds eventually inspired Quick’s children’s series, “Slappy Tail Adventures.” What initially began as a personal keepsake has grown into a collection designed to help other families laugh, learn, and make memories together.
Photography was Quick’s first way of preserving meaningful moments. Through Memories by Amanda, she creates photographs and keepsakes, but she wanted something special that her family could hold after their beloved dogs crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She began transforming photographs of the dogs into a picture storybook that could remind her children of their childhood pets and the love surrounding them.
Then her passion for education took over. Quick added vocabulary, discussion questions, and extension activities so children could do more than enjoy a funny tale. Each book encourages young readers to think, ask questions, and continue learning after the final page.
The stories come naturally because Quick’s “herd” supplies an abundance of material. Hyzer, the loyal and competitive leader, treasures his ball and tries to win every race. Tiny Birdie is the household’s self-appointed boss, famous for her proud strut, sassy side-eye, and spinning nub of a tail. Eugene, affectionately called “Jellybean Gene” or “Gentle Gene,” is sensitive, calm, and difficult to resist.
Sophia serves as both neighborhood watch and evening news, loudly reporting every bird, car, or other interesting development. Little Herman Richard is compact but feisty, mischievous, and determined to command attention. Baby-Baby, with one brown eye and one blue eye, is Hyzer’s playful shadow and makes certain everyone joins the game.
“I didn’t have to invent very much,” Quick said. “I mostly just had to pay attention and occasionally write down what they were already doing.”
She first noticed their storybook potential when she began narrating Hyzer’s thoughts to her children. His expressive eyes made his imagined voice easy to hear. As the family grew from one mini Aussie to six, each dog’s quirks and relationships began to resemble a cast of characters. Encouraged by her husband, Ben, who often tells her, “Don’t let dreams be just dreams,” Quick sat at her computer one winter night and began.
The fictional dogs remain true to their real counterparts, although Quick occasionally allows herself some creative freedom. In one story, Hyzer offers to share his blanket, something she says would never happen at home.
The series name also came directly from daily life. Two of the dogs have docked tails, while four have long tails that slap walls, doors, and cabinets whenever the family returns home. With all four wagging at once, the sound is almost musical. Quick began calling them her “slappy tails,” and their constant antics supplied the adventures.
Quick has self-published three books: “The Great Ball Rescue,” featuring Hyzer; “Bossy Birdie Learns to Help,” featuring Birdie; and “The Great Slawburger Scare,” featuring Eugene. The latter closely follows a real-life family outing to the Slawburger Festival. Books starring Sophia, Herman, and Baby-Baby are in development, with more ideas in the pipeline.
Beneath the humor is a desire to nurture kindness, empathy, friendship, and thoughtful decision-making. Quick hopes children will consider not only what characters do, but why they make choices and how those choices affect others.
Her dogs reinforce those same lessons at home. Despite the endless “Aussie glitter” on clothing, nose prints on windows, and the challenge of bathing six dogs, their steady companionship has taught Quick that love can be simple.
“Sometimes it is simply being there, being present, and making someone feel a little less alone,” she said. “They don’t care if the house is messy, if I’m tired, or if I’m not perfect. They just care that we’re here.”
As long as her six companions keep creating adventures, Quick plans to keep preserving them one photograph, lesson, laugh, and lovingly written page at a time for her family and young readers everywhere to treasure. GN
