First Place for Festus and Finn

A Quiet Story with a Big Heart–The Sequel to A Friend for Festus

by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

Some stories don’t shout.
They don’t chase wild plots or twist through loud drama.
Some stories come soft—through muddy paw prints, quiet loyalty, and the scratchy mewl of a kitten locked in the coop.

First Place for Festus and Finn is one of those stories.

It’s the gentle sequel to Friend for Festus, a picture book I wrote back in 2022. I had just started writing again, and Festus—a real-life Jack Russell terrier from our farm—showed up on the page with all the love, confusion, and empathy I saw in him every day. He was imperfect. He was real. And he had heart.

And to this day, Friend for Festus remains my most popular book.

There’s something about that little dog—his quiet presence, his honest emotions—that has stuck with readers of all ages. Maybe it’s because we all need a Festus in our lives: a friend who doesn’t need to say much, who just shows up and stays close.

The sequel had been sitting unfinished for a while. Life moved on, and I wasn’t sure where the story should go. But this past week, I returned to it. With fresh eyes and a softened heart, I reread what I had written… and realized I didn’t need to push for a dramatic plot twist. I just needed to follow Festus and Finn as they were: real animals with real instincts and the quiet ability to bring joy, comfort, and a little mischief into the everyday.

The story begins with Finn—our fluffy, fat-legged white kitten with one blue eye and one green—getting accidentally locked in the chicken coop. Festus notices. He tries, barks, digs, and eventually gets the girls’ attention. It’s not flashy. It’s not magical. It’s real.

And in the end?
There’s no trophy. No medals.
Just a warm backyard, two girls who love their animals, and a pretend game where Festus and Finn both take home First Place in their hearts.

Sometimes, that’s all the reward we need.

This book is a love letter to gentle friendships, animal loyalty, and the slow, sacred pace of life on the farm. It’s a story I hope will feel like home to anyone who’s ever loved a four-legged companion.

And yes—we’ve got a mock cover now, and it makes me smile every time I see it.

Thank you for reading, for cheering me on, and for allowing room in your hearts (and bookshelves) for stories like these.

📚 First Place for Festus and Finn—coming soon.
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