What’s Up Young Authors

08/05/2026

For many families, a dog is far more than a pet. They’re a source of comfort, a trusted companion, and often a child’s very first best friend. 🐾💗🐾

Yet, for many shelter dogs, the love and companionship that countless pets enjoy remains just out of reach. Behind every kennel door is a pup with a powerful story to tell, a personality waiting to shine, and the hope of finding the family they’ve been waiting for. 🐶🏠🐶

And so, one 12-year-old trailblazer is transforming her passion for pups into purpose in the Pacific Northwest—championing shelter dogs across the country and proving what’s possible when compassion is put into action. 🐕💫🐕

Amelie Anastasia joins Steve Denari on KATU News' AM Northwest to share the launch of her new children's book, Shelter Dogs (illustrated by Talks with Dr Shafer | published by Little House of Dreams Publishing), along with a sneak preview of her involvement in Woof Wednesday + Corgi Night at the Portland Pickles Baseball regular season home finale and PR From The Heart's Building A Culture Of Reading In Your Classroom 2026—the landmark children's literacy event coming to Barnes & Noble—presented in partnership with SMART Reading. 🐾📖📺

To our friends and neighbors in Portland: Join us this Saturday to meet Amelie and an extraordinary lineup of voices helping shape the future of children’s literacy—including David Newell (the beloved Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood), Tony Buttino Sr. (Daytime Emmys Award-Winning Co-Creator of Reading Rainbow), Aron Nels Steinke (Eisner Award-Winning Author & Creator of the Mr. Wolf's Class Graphic Novel Series | published by Scholastic), Dr. Julie McDonnell Author, Award-Winning Creator of the Bailey & Buttons Series (published by Miriam Laundry), Dr. E. C. Sherman Author, Award-Winning Creator of the Friesian and Friends Series (published by Miriam Laundry), and Julia Kolouch Books, Award-Winning Educator & Children's Author. 📚

A limited number of seats remain. Secure your spot now for this landmark children's literacy event, receive a free children’s book courtesy of PR From The Heart, and be entered into a drawing to win one of two $100 Barnes & Noble gift cards: https://bit.ly/4vyqTOv. ⏳

If you're a children's author looking for dedicated PR support to share your inspiring story and new book with the media—and reach more parents, families, and educators leading into and throughout the holiday season—contact us to learn how PR From The Heart can support you: https://bit.ly/474Jbur. 💜

Thank you for helping us walk home the children of Portland and our little neighbors around the world. 👦🏿👦🏽👦🏻🙏🏻👧🏻👧🏽👧🏿

07/24/2026

Thank you PR From The Heart for having Amelie Anastasia on the show to talk about her new book, Shelter Dogs, about her author journey, love for philanthropy and more! We can’t wait to see you in Clackamas and the Portland Area August 8 at Barnes and Noble for Building a Culture of Reading in Your Classroom. We hope you can join us!

Children have an incredible way of seeing what adults sometimes overlook. Where others see a shelter dog, they see a loyal friend, a lifelong companion, and a heart simply waiting for someone to believe in them. 👦🏿👦🏽👦🏻🐶👧🏻👧🏽👧🏿

By encouraging even the smallest acts of kindness toward animals, adults help nurture compassion that extends far beyond the shelter—shaping caring hearts that will make a difference for years to come. 💗

And so, one remarkable young changemaker decided that some stories deserved more than a sad ending—they deserved second chances, wagging tails, and a place to finally call home. 🐾✨🏡

12-Year-Old Philanthropist & Children's Author, Amelie Anastasia, joins our John Masiulionis and Little Forrest on Episode #277 of PR From The Heart's Children’s Books Spotlight Series to share her inspiring journey that transformed a young girl with a love for animals into one of the nation's most passionate advocates for shelter dogs, the release of her newest book, Shelter Dogs: Stories of Rescued Furever Friends (published by Little House of Dreams Publishing), the true rescue stories that inspired its pages, the special mother-daughter bond behind Shelter Dogs and her growing vision, how families can make a meaningful difference for shelter animals, her lifelong dream of creating an animal sanctuary called The Happy Place, the driving force behind her podcast, What’s Up Young Authors, where she empowers the next generation of KidLit creators to share their stories, and a sneak preview of her upcoming appearance at PR From The Heart's Building A Culture Of Reading In Your Classroom 2026 in Portland—plus much more. 🐕

We encourage all of you, our friends and neighbors, to subscribe to our official YouTube channel and enjoy John and Amelie's heartfelt conversation—the next trolley stop of PR From The Heart's Summer Reading Season: https://bit.ly/3RUvNGy. 🌞🚋🌞

To our friends and neighbors in Portland: Join us at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, August 8th for this landmark children's literacy event—presented in partnership with SMART Reading—featuring Amelie, along with David Newell (the beloved Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood), Tony Buttino Sr. (the Daytime Emmys Award-Winning Co-Creator of Reading Rainbow), Aron Nels Steinke, Eisner Award-Winning Author & Creator of the Mr. Wolf's Class Graphic Novel Series (published by Graphix/Scholastic), Dr. Julie McDonnell Author, Award-Winning Creator of the Bailey and Buttons Series (published by Miriam Laundry), Dr. E. C. Sherman Author, Award-Winning Creator of the Friesian and Friends Series (published by Miriam Laundry), and Julia Kolouch Books, Award-Winning Educator & Children's Author. 📖

Seats are limited. Secure your spot now for Building A Culture Of Reading In Your Classroom 2026, receive a free children’s book courtesy of PR From The Heart, and be entered into a drawing to win one of two $100 Barnes & Noble gift cards: https://bit.ly/4vyqTOv. ⏳

If you're a children's or middle-grade author interested in joining the PR From The Heart family and being featured on The Children's Books Spotlight Series to share your inspiring story and the release of your new book, contact us for more information: https://bit.ly/3qIsx0B. 📲💻

Thank you for helping us walk home the children of Portland and our little neighbors around the world. 👦🏿👦🏽👦🏻🙏🏻👧🏻👧🏽

07/10/2026

What's Up Young Authors! Host Amelie Anastasia, author of the Fox Tales series and the upcoming Shelter Dogs, a fundraiser for animal shelters, is back with another fun and informative season of WUYA, where young authors learn from fellow young authors and mentor authors all about the process of writing, illustrating, publishing and promoting their books.

Today on the show we have author E.C. Sherman, PhD of the award-winning Zeus and Ziggy series. Zeus and Ziggy: From the Ground Up is the second book by author E.C. Sherman, PhD. Her first book, Zeus and Ziggy: First Friends, was published in January 2025 and has won numerous book awards. Dr Sherman is currently a finalist for Author of the Year with The International Impact Book Award. Dr. E.C. Sherman is originally from Massachusetts and now lives in Southeastern Wisconsin with her husband, two pups, and her horse, Zeus, who with Dr. Sherman's granddaughter inspired the Zeus and Ziggy series. Dr Sherman shares with Amelie and other young authors her experience planning, writing, publishing and promoting her award-winning book series, what she hopes to share with readers and their families, and lets us know about the upcoming third and final installment of the series, Zeus and Ziggy First Ride, coming August 5, 2026.

Catch the full episode here!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DDk3aFQVW54g55FDpRX2G?si=lHxC63HATXW4sI7-JG8OUA&utm_source=copy-link

Love books and want to learn more about becoming an author?

Subscribe to the show for more informative interviews and join authors Amelie Anastasia and Dr E.C. Sherman for PR From The Heart's Building A Culture Of Reading In Your Classroom 2026 at the Barnes and Noble in Clackamas, Oregon August 8, 2026.

To learn more about the event and build a culture of reading in their classrooms, click and get your tickets here!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-a-culture-of-reading-in-your-classroom-2026-tickets-1987027233946

Learn more about Dr E.C. Sherman, her work and get your own copies of her book here:

https://ecshermanauthor.com/

Keep reading and writing, young authors! We can't wait to read your story!

Do you have a story you want to discuss on What's Up Young Authors? Let us know! Contact us here: [email protected]

Learn more about Amelie Anastasia, her books and her philanthropic work here: https://amelieanastasia.com/

Thank you PR from the Heart!

Little House of Dreams Entertainment, LLC 2026

All Rights Reserved

Music Credit: Shafer Stedron, Amelie Anastasia What's Up Young Authors! Theme Song

Photo Credit:

Guest- E.C. Sherman, PhD

Host- Amelie Anastasia, Shafer Stedron for Little House of Dreams Entertainment, LLC

https://youtu.be/mrwlZcG729s?is=vgMmerQ6EWaThb6K

What's Up Young Authors! Host Amelie Anastasia, author of the Fox T...

07/06/2026

What happens when award-winning authors mentor young authors on their author journey? What’s Up Young Authors! features young author Amelie Anastasia, who interviews insightful authors on their journeys to writing, publishing and promoting their books.

This week, Amelie sits down for a discussion on writing and publishing children’s books with Award-Winning Author of the Bailey and Buttons Series, Dr Julie McDonnell. The Bailey and Buttons series captures the child’s perspective of the story, while also teaching important lessons.

We can’t wait to see Amelie and Julie McDonnell Author in Portland at the PR From The Heart Building a Culture of Reading in Your Classroom event 8/8/2026 ❤️📚 Thank you, for making this event possible!

Watch the full episode here!
https://youtu.be/CHDOAYK87Xg?is=nwmZR9G645eHGi22

Little House of Dreams Entertainment, LLC

All Rights Reserved

PR From The Heart

07/03/2026

Coming tomorrow on a much awaited all-new episode of What’s Up Young Authors! Join host, Young Author Amelie Anastasia and guest, Dr Julie McDonnell for an inspiring and informative discussion on Dr McDonnell’s author journey writing and publishing her award-winning Bailey and Buttons series! Available July 3, 2026 8 am EST where you enjoy podcasts ❤️🧸📚🎧

04/19/2026

Author Amelie Anastasia has been working for the past two years on sharing the stories of Shelter Dogs from across the country. Shelter Dogs is finally almost here! Out July 2026, help us get Shelter Dogs to a shelter near you! Books will be available July 2026 for purchase at printing cost by shelters. Shelter Dogs serves as a great way to share the inspiring stories of adopted animals and raise money to take care of the amazing animals still looking for their forever homes.

An enormous thank you to FOX 5 Washington DC and Steve Chenevey for having Amelie on to discuss her books, animal advocacy and the upcoming Shelter Dogs!

Contact [email protected] to connect us with your local shelter to ensure they can take part in this amazing fundraiser!

Video Credit: FOX 5 Washington DC

Thank you PR from the Heart!

04/02/2026

We had a fun and inspiring day at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys! Jonathan taught us so much about dolphins and even shared his favorite writing podcasts! 🎧🎉📚✍️📝🐬🌴 what is your favorite Florida Keys themed children’s book?

11/28/2025

This Holiday Season, Give The Gift of Wonder to Your Young Readers!

Young Author Amelie Anastasia would love to share with you the wild world of Fox kits Hazel and Nya (and lots of other furry friends and forest foes) in her books Fox Tales, Fox Tales 2 and Wolf Tales. Not only are these books sure to become a favorite in your home or classroom, Amelie is sure to inspire your young one to pursue their dreams no matter how big!

Part of the proceeds of the Fox Tales series goes toward Amelie’s dream of starting a wildlife preserve in Northern Michigan!

Want to help Amelie reach her goal or connect her with sponsors? Email at [email protected]

Get your copies of the Fox Tales series at

www.amelieanastasia.com

Follow Amelie’s podcast, What’s Up Young Authors! where you enjoy podcast. New episodes coming soon 🎉

Little House of Dreams Entertainment, LLC 2025

All Rights Reserved