When I sat down to write my first children's novel, I knew I wanted to write about three things: 1) a spunky elementary-aged girl 2) who lived in Pittsburgh with 3) a mischievous puppy. I was inspired to feature these elements by Ramona Quimby, who was and remains one of my favorite kid-lit characters; by the fact that Pittsburgh is my hometown and a city I love; and, of course, by the fact that I happen to own a very, very naughty dog myself. (She actually stars in the book trailer for Latasha and the Little Red Tornado.) Armed with these three elements, I began to write. From there, the story blossomed into what it is: a warm story about maturity, the desire for respect, and the conflict between what you want and what you really need. I've seen a lot of kids connect with this story as if I'd written it "just for them." I hope you, reader, will feel the same way.