a new FUN idea
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
This week, I gave myself permission to have a little fun.
After months of writing deep, devotional work filled with prayer, reflection, and emotional vulnerability, I needed to stretch my creative muscles in a different way—and Dirt Road Rascals was born.
Dottie Rose and Grady Greene are two Southern siblings full of personality and a good dose of country clever. Dottie Rose is a softball superstar with grit and a competitive streak. Her little brother Grady is all about fishing, freedom, and following his curiosity (even when it leads them off course).
What makes these characters even more special to me is that they’re inspired by two very real kids I adore—my niece Dollie Rose and my nephew Grady. Their parents (my brother and sister-in-law) also make a fun appearance in the pages. I took the liberty of switching things up a bit—making Dollie Rose the oldest sibling and using the nickname I call her, Dottie Rose.
In the story, the Greene kids accidentally wander away from their family’s broken-down car on a back road in South Georgia and find themselves in a real-life woods-and-wonder adventure. With nothing but a ball glove, a fishing line, and a bag of beef jerky, they have to rely on what their Mama and Daddy taught them—faith, resourcefulness, and sticking together.
This story has been an absolute joy to write. It’s got pine trees, pond water, sweet tea, slingshots, and just enough suspense to keep young readers turning the page. My heart is to create a fun chapter book series for 1st–2nd grade readers that celebrates Southern life, sibling love, and the kind of adventure that only happens when things don’t go quite as planned.
If your little ones love mischief, nature, and family-centered fun, they’re going to fall for Dirt Road Rascals.
More chapters are coming soon, and I can’t wait to share this journey with y’all.
Stay tuned. The Greene kids are just gettin’ started. 🧢🎣🌲
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The Aging English Major 