I thought, wow, two totally different animals getting along, and enjoying one another. I thought, this would be a great lesson for children, that we don’t all look alike, we’re not all the same color, or the same size, but we can get along and celebrate our differences.
Janet Zappala – 13 November 2026
The Back Flap
Look closely, young readers, the greatest clues are in the kindness we show.
In this heartwarming third adventure of Guapo, the gentle giant, a mystery unfolds.
Follow along with Guapo and his friends as every act of goodness brings them closer to discovering the heart of the mystery.
A portion of the proceeds from Guapo’s Stories go to the Coachella Valley Horse Rescue in Indio, California, and Come Back Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Eagar, Arizona.
About the book
What is the book about?
Guapo And The Mystery Of Goodness Grove is a children’s book that centers around Guapo, our Goodwill Ambassador who is one of the world‘s largest rescued steers, with one of the world‘s kindest hearts. He spreads love wherever he goes, and teaches children important life lessons about how to be good, kind, caring humans. And that no act of kindness is too small.
His name is also an acronym for goodness, unity, acceptance, patience, and open mindedness.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing the third book in my Guapo series late last year, and the manuscript was completed in about 10 months. It is the perfect job for me because I’m a big kid at heart. My mantra is, never lose the kid in you!
Where did you get the idea from?
I got the idea to start writing about Guapo when I saw a photo of him with our potbellied pig Mabel, at a rescue where I volunteer in Southern California. They were cuddling together, and I thought, wow, two totally different animals getting along, and enjoying one another. I thought, this would be a great lesson for children, that we don’t all look alike, we’re not all the same color, or the same size, but we can get along and celebrate our differences.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The process is certainly a creative one, and challenging of course to get it just right. Even though my books are loosely based on true stories, there is a lot of imagination that goes into it. Writing for young children ages 3 to 8 means that the author must understand the imagination of a child, which I find challenging, and at the same time rewarding to be able to accomplish that. It’s all about teaching children life lessons, and also enlightening them about the joy of reading. My books offer adventures for children to become a part of. The uplifting messages I have found bring a lot of joy and enjoyment to our young readers.
What came easily?
I would say that it is relatively easy on the one hand to write my books, because my main characters all exist. Not just Guapo, but his close friends, Mabel, Bambi the goat, and Barney the donkey. And they all have really cute, quirky characteristics that make writing about them a lot of fun!
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The main characters featured in my books, Guapo, Mabel the potbellied pig, Bambi the goat, and Barney the donkey are all real life animals. Other characters in my books are created from my imagination and from people that I know.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I’ve always enjoyed Jane Austin, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, to name just a few. But the children’s books that have really stayed with me throughout the years are the classics that we read as children. Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables, and of course everything that Dr. Seuss has ever written!
Do you have a target reader?
My target reader is 3 to 8 years old. Keeping that in mind, I make sure that my books are eye-catching and filled with good storylines. My books also feature farm animals, which I know young children adore.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Since my books are loosely based on real life events, I start with that germ of an idea and then I take it from there. The imagination takes over, the creative process begins, and once those creative juices begin to flow we’re on our way. There are lots of rewrites. Lots of changes, lots of modifications throughout the process, but that’s what makes it exceptional when it’s all done. One of my favorite parts of the process is working with the illustrator. Bringing our characters to life is exciting, getting each and every expression just right, along with the colors that we choose are what make a children’s book great, and worth reading.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I edit it as much as I can as I go. I also have a publisher who assigns me an editor once the manuscript is complete. And then the real editing begins! I am a stickler for spelling and punctuation, so we always go over every single word, with a fine tooth comb. Every paragraph, and every page to make sure that all is perfect..
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I love music! So when I’m writing, I usually put on something soft in the background. And when I’m thinking and daydreaming about what I’m going to write, the music soothes me, and sometimes even inspires me.
About Publishing
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Mascot Books is a hybrid publisher. We work together from start to finish once the manuscript is complete. We go over everything, including how many pages the book will be, and what the cover and the back of the book will look like. That usually is a collaboration between my illustrator, me and my editor. The illustrator will usually give us a couple of options, and then we take it from there. Having Mascot at the helm is extremely helpful because once they accept your manuscript, they work with the author from start to finish to produce a beautiful end result.
Guapo And The Mystery Of Goodness Grove is now my third book with Mascot. I’ve been extremely pleased with the final product.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
When you have a new offering, you must market it properly. You could have the greatest book that was ever written, but if no one knows about it, it’s not going to sell. We want to be able to get my Guapo books into the hands of as many children as possible, because they’re important, and they’re fun for kids to read. Children have fallen in love with Guapo because he’s so cute and so kind. He’s been an inspiration to many. So yes, I do have a marketing team working with me to achieve as much exposure for my books as humanly possible. We’re looking at podcasts, print, broadcast, and interviews just like this.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
My humble advice to anyone who has a book in them, and wants to make sure that it becomes a reality is do it! Don’t just fantasize about it, don’t just treat it as a pipe dream. Instead, put your thoughts on paper, and before you know it a book emerges. If you want it badly enough, it will happen.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I’m an LA girl, born and raised in Los Angeles. I live in South Florida now because my family is here. I enjoy life to the fullest, and try to make every day count doing something that I love and that will help me to give back. I think giving back is very important. I’ve always tried to do that over the years. Now with my books, I enjoy promoting children’s literacy, which I think is extremely important, and animal rescue. Part of the proceeds from my books go to support two animal rescues, one in California, and one in Arizona.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I would love readers to know that I hope I can be an inspiration. I worked in television news as a journalist for many years, and then switched careers. Always a bit scary, but what the heck, we only live once!
I’ve also written a cookbook dedicated to my beloved mother, who was an amazing cook and an incredible human being.
I’m also a certified nutritional consultant. There are many people who do a lot of different things in life. Why waste a moment? Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, as the saying goes.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working to get an animation project up and running based on my Guapo series. Several of the proposed episodes are already written.
I’m keeping everything crossed, and saying lots of prayers that it happens, because I know a show like this could be great for kids. A wonderful learning tool, and a joy to watch. I think parents would be very happy to have their kids watching a show that not only entertains, but teaches.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Guapo and the Mystery of Goodness Grove from Amazon US.