Today, I’m delighted to welcome author and poet Dawn Pisturino as she continues the blog tour for her new middle-grade mystery novel, The Mystery of the Pink Poodle. Dawn’s website is dawnpisturino.wordpress.com, so if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her and reading her wonderful writing, please pay her a visit. Her recent popular books are Ancient Voices: Poems about Ancient Egypt and Sun Haiku: 365 Days of Sunshine. The paperback and e-book of Dawn’s book will be available on Monday, September 1st, but the e-book can be pre-ordered now by using the link at the end of this post.
Now you have the floor, Dawn…
Good morning, Lauren! I’m delighted to be here with you today as part of the blog tour for my debut middle-grade children’s mystery novel, The Mystery of the Pink Poodle. Although written for ages 9 to 12, I believe older children and adults would also enjoy reading it.
Amazon Blurb
Alina has a big problem. Her father is a popular mystery writer. Her mother is a glamorous movie star. Left in the care of the housekeeper, Alina feels neglected and unloved. But a summer trip to a living ghost town in Arizona turns a hot, boring summer into an exciting, intriguing mystery.
Who’s the crazy old lady upstairs? Why is she always crying about a missing pink poodle? Why is she a prisoner in her own home? And why won’t anybody help her?
When Hollywood meets the Wild, Wild West, a mystery unfolds that will change Alina’s life forever. With the aid of two wannabe cowgirls, Alina follows the trail of an ancient puzzle to discover the answer to the mystery of the pink poodle.
Author’s Note
Although this was written as a mystery novel, the story involves so much more. The larger themes center around friendship, the meaning of family, and intergenerational relationships. The book, above all else, is about people and our care and concern for them, no matter who they might be.
Chapter Two – Identical Twins
[Conrad, Arizona, June 2008]
Alina removed her pink-rimmed sunglasses and took a quick inventory of pink toenails peeking out from pink leather sandals and her pink denim shorts and halter top. A pink watchband circled her left wrist, pink earrings dangled from her ears, and a strand of matching pink beads hung around her neck.
“So what?” she said with an indifferent shrug. “I like pink. It’s my favorite color.”
“But your hair—it’s pink! And your dog! I’ve never seen a pink poodle before!” The twin, wearing a blue shirt, stared at her in horror.
“As I said, I like pink. It matches my baby blue eyes.” Alina made a pouty face and batted her eyelashes as if posing for an imaginary camera.
“Your mother doesn’t have pink hair,” the blue twin insisted. “And why are you so skinny? Are you sick or something?”
“My mother’s a movie star. She has to be thin. I’m going to be just like her, so I have to be thin, too.”
“Anorexic, more like it,” the blue girl grumbled. “Movie stars and models never eat.”
“Don’t mind her,” said the other girl, putting out her hand. “She’s just jealous. My name’s Shiloh Blair. This is my sister, Billie. We’re going to have fun while you’re here.”
Alina shook the girl’s hand. “Identical twins! How will I ever tell you apart?”
“We don’t dress alike,” Shiloh answered, “except once in a while. You see? I’m wearing red. Billie’s wearing blue. We like to be different.”
“She likes books,” Billie said. “I like horses. But we both like country western music.”
“Yuck,” Alina said. “I hate country western.” Muffy squirmed in her arms.
“Can I hold her?” Shiloh asked.
Alina handed her the curly-haired pink poodle. “Her name is Muffy.”
“Our mother runs this place,” Billie said. “She won’t let us have any pets. She’s afraid the old lady upstairs would make a fuss.”
“The old lady upstairs?” Alina felt uneasy that the face in the window belonged to the old lady.
“Yeah, she lives up on the third floor. She owns this place. She ran out of money and opened up this house as a bed and breakfast inn. People come here to stay all year round. But we’ve never had a movie star’s daughter before.”
“Or a famous mystery writer,” Shiloh chimed in. “You’re so lucky!”
Alina frowned. “I’m not so lucky. My parents are divorced.”
Billie and Shiloh looked at each other and laughed. “Our parents were never married,” Shiloh said.
“And we hardly ever see our father,” Billie added. “At least you live with your father. It must be so exciting traveling around with him.”
“I never go anywhere with my father,” Alina said. “He’s always busy writing. And I never see my mother. She’s too busy making movies. She calls me once in a while on my cell phone. I spend all my time with the housekeeper, Mrs. McPherson. But at least she likes me and worries about me.”
“He brought you here,” Shiloh pointed out.
“Because he had to. Mrs. McPherson is back in Pennsylvania visiting her sick sister. Otherwise, I’d be spending the summer at home in Beverly Hills.”
“Beverly Hills!” the twins squealed.
“90210,” Shiloh said. “How cool! Do you live in a huge mansion like Paris Hilton and drive around in a limo with a chauffeur?”
“Do you have a big swimming pool and your own tennis courts?” Billie asked.
“Give me a break,” Alina said. “I go to school and do homework, just like you.”
Author BIO
Dawn Pisturino is a retired registered nurse in Arizona whose international publishing credits include poems, short stories, and articles. She has published five poetry collections, including her most recent release, Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt, which achieved #1 Amazon New Release status in African Poetry, History of Egypt, History of Africa, and History of North Africa. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Arizona Authors Association.
http://www.dawnpisturino.wordpress.com
Amazon Link to Pre-Order
The Kindle and Paperback will be available on September 1, 2025.
Thank you so much, Lauren, for hosting me today!
It’s my pleasure to help promote your book, Dawn!
I can’t wait to read it,
and I wish you great success! 💖
Thanks to you who popped in today, and I hope you’ll grab your copy too! ❤️
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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
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Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 