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Booktime: Interview with Olivia Wakeford, author of My Dog

In this charming book, Rhys is a dog-lover who has always wanted a dog of his own. So when he finds a lost black Labrador, he's delighted. But when he has to move from Cardiff to London he has to keep his dog secret… We interviewed the author Olivia Wakeford to discover more.


This exclusive feature is from the March-April 2025 issue of Booktime magazine, the essential guide to the most anticipated books of the season. Find a free copy of Booktime in your local independent bookshop.

Interview with Olivia Wakeford, author of My Dog

"I've always loved dogs. I'm one of those annoying people who will always stop and say hello to any dog – so they were always going to end up in my book."

My Dog is about a boy's relationship with a dog. What drew you to write about this subject?
I've always loved dogs. I'm one of those annoying people who will always stop and say hello to any dog – so they were always going to end up in my book! Dogs give so much, they just accept you as you are, and that's what my main character, Rhys, is desperate for. He's going through a lot of big changes and he needs someone who doesn't judge, who is there for him, who makes everything seem a bit less scary… enter Worthington…

In the story, Rhys has to move from Wales to London to live with his dad. Are these two places ones you know well?
To me, settings are characters and they need to be clear in my head because I'm a visual writer. I’m from Wales originally and in Cardiff Rhys lives in the same house I grew up in. He also goes to the same school that I went to. And when he moves to London he moves to where I live now. Because I was writing about grief and the immediacy of that, whilst also dealing with my own grief, it made sense to make it as real as possible because for me, in a lot of ways, it was. There are moments where I've had to use a little bit of creative license to make the story work but, as a reader, I love it when you’re reading a book and there’s little details about the area that you recognise.

Rhys is a big fan of TV show The Dog Rescuers – is this a programme you would like to see?
I'm a sucker for an animal rescue programme especially if it'll make me cry – which they usually do. I'm always watching videos online about these poor dogs who have had horrible things happen to them but have made some sort of miraculous recovery and end up living long, happy lives. I definitely would have been a Junior Dog Rescuer as
a child.

Dr Jimmy’s catchphrase is 'All dogs are good dogs'. What is your favourite breed of dog?
I love all dogs, honestly, it’s a problem! But if I had to pick, it would be a Labrador. My granny had a Lab when I was little, I adored her and always wanted one. Finally at the age of 34, I got my own. He’s called Obi and I drew so much inspiration from him for the character of Worthington. They are very similar aside from the fact that they are different colours and Worthington is more enthusiastic, Obi's a very chilled out little guy. He’s the best.

Rhys keeps secrets and sometimes lies, which has repercussions. Do you think that his lying comes from his grief and his struggles to fit in?
You've hit the nail on the head there. Rhys isn’t deceitful by nature, he’s just in denial about his Mum's death and the fact that his life has changed so suddenly. The lies and secrets come from him trying to protect Worthington and himself, because if he doesn’t, it means accepting the reality of the situation. He’s an emotionally complex character because grief is a complicated emotion, which encompasses so many others.

Kayla has cerebral palsy, and is frustrated by her overprotective mother. Do you think it's important for children to have a degree of independence?
With Kayla's mum, her overprotectiveness comes from a good place but independence and choice helps you learn who you are and what you like and I think it’s really important for children to have that. Children are always desperate to grow up, to have a little more responsibility, but I feel like as an adult you'd do anything to have someone make all your decisions for you, just for a day!

Did you work closely with the illustrator David Litchfield?
So, I've actually never met David! My publisher paired us together and any feedback was been done through them, but honestly, he got the book straight away so very little input was needed from me. It's funny because the Christmas before I found out David was going to illustrate My Dog, I was looking for a present for my nephew and picked up The Bear and The Piano. I stood in a very big bookshop in Central London, with tears in my eyes because it was so moving. I was over the moon to find out he was going to illustrate My Dog. Hopefully we will meet soon and I'll be able to tell him in real life how much I love his work.

Which other authors inspire you in your work?
I'm pretty much inspired by everything I read, whether it's a character that I connect with on an emotional level, a beautifully constructed sentence, an evocative setting, there are so many incredible children's authors out there. I love Lesley Parr’s books for their depiction of historical Welsh life, Kiran Millwood Hargrave's writing is beautifully poetic, I adored I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery because it summed up the pureness of a dog/human relationship. I also love Carlos Ruiz Zafon's YA books. His use of gothic imagery has really stayed with me even though I read the books years ago. I would love to write a gothic book one day.

What do independent bookshops mean to you?
There's something magical about independent bookshops and I think that comes from the deep knowledge and passion for books that the indie booksellers have. In a time where it feels like the world is becoming more insular, indie bookshops provide a real community hub and a sense of connection – we need to support that.

About My Dog written by Olivia Wakeford and illustrated by David Litchfield

About My Dog written by Olivia Wakeford and illustrated by David Litchfield

A life-affirming story of the extraordinary friendship between a boy and his dog. Perfect for fans of Hannah Gold, Katya Balen and Patrick Ness

Ten-year-old Rhys really loves dogs. When he finds a lost black Labrador with big conker eyes and ears like soft velvet, he can’t quite believe his luck. Nobody comes forward to claim Worthington, giving Rhys the perfect opportunity to prove he’s a good owner. But when Rhys moves to London to live with his estranged dad who hates dogs, Rhys decides to keep Worthington secret.

Struggling to connect with his dad in a new city, Rhys takes comfort in Worthington. But he soon discovers that looking after a secret dog is anything but easy, and he knows that before long he’ll have to confront his fears and find a way to tell Dad…

Phenomenally moving and beautifully written, My Dog shows us that accepting the present doesn’t mean forgetting the past – in a story that will live with you for ever.

In this extract, Rhys discovers a dog he saw at the hospital in his back garden:

It's already boiling outside, like it has been for most of the summer. Bees buzz in the purple lavender me and Mam planted last year, and laughter floats from the park behind the tall trees at the end of the garden. Somewhere nearby, a siren wails.
The black dog still sits in the doorway of my den. I follow the paving stones across the grass, trying not to run in case I spook him. Dr Jimmy says lost dogs can sometimes be jumpy, so you need to go slowly when you approach them. When I’m two paving stones away, I stop, and my mouth drops open in surprise.
He's got conker eyes.
And ears like triangles of velvet.
'Hi,' I whisper, trying to keep my voice low and calm, even though I'm so excited I feel like I’m about to explode.
'I'm Rhys. What's your name?' I tiptoe to the next stone. 'It is you, isn't it? From the hospital?'
He pokes out his pink tongue, smiling.
A smile spreads across my face too, and I crouch down, placing the sandwich between us. 'Do you like bacon sandwiches? It's got red sauce in it.'
The dog stands and edges forward, sniffing, nose twitching and whiskers quivering. The bread is a bit squashed in the middle from where I grabbed it in a hurry.
'Dad said I should eat, but I don't feel like it. You can have it all if you want? Sorry about the thumbprint.'
I lick a smear of sauce from my palm and nudge the sandwich closer to his front paws.
When he’s finished sniffing, he doesn’t back away. I hold out my hand to him, like Dr Jimmy does. His nose is damp and cold. 'But what are you doing here?'
We live close to the hospital – it’s only a few streets away. Maybe he knows I’m a Junior Dog Rescuer and followed my scent or something because he wanted my help. Assistant dogs are really clever like that. Or… did Dad bring him here?
I glance back at the house, at the kitchen window, just in case Dad is watching. It's empty. The dog meets my eye like he knows what I’m thinking. Of course it's nothing to do with Dad! Dad can't stand dogs and says they smell like old socks. I lean forward and sniff. He's a bit socky, but probably only a day or two, not like a week or anything.
'Do you like my den?'
The dog is still smiling so he must.
His tail is wagging too, sweeping across the doorway.

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