Welcome to the official Sled Dog Publishing Q&A blog! I'm Daniel Bautz—author, storyteller, and the driving force behind our independent press. At Sled Dog Publishing, we believe in crafting immersive, unforgettable adventures that honor the reader's intelligence. Today, we're diving deep into the heart of middle-grade fiction, exploring why high-stakes wilderness adventures matter, and unlocking the inspiration behind the Aristotle James series.
Section 1: Where the Stories Come From
Q: What inspired the Aristotle James series?
Daniel Bautz: AJ did. He was my Siberian Husky. My one and only. He was a hero for me and a very special dog. I miss him every day, and I wish I could spend time with him again. When I write the Aristotle James books, I do; I get to share my time with him again and share him with readers. I spun him into a world that I remember from being a kid, so in a way, I get to experience being a kid with him again.
Q: Do you have a personal connection to wilderness, adventure, or the supernatural?
Daniel Bautz: Aren't we all connected to all of these? I love nature and being in the woods or on the water. If I'm honest, this is where peace lives, away from the madness of the world.
We all go on adventures. We might not call them that, but we do. Every challenge that we need to journey through is an adventure, and those struggles define our character.
The "super" natural is just part of nature, part of life. There is a lot of life that we dismiss because we can't couch it in understanding, but it doesn't make it any less real.
Q: What was the spark behind the first book?
Daniel Bautz: There is a lot of myself in the first book. In many ways, it's directly autobiographical, and in others, not so much. It was a magical experience for me. It was time travel. I miss the small town of my youth and the friendships I was too young to truly appreciate. If I told you which parts were lifted from personal experience, you'd probably not believe me.
Section 2: Writing for Middle-Grade Readers
Q: What makes middle-grade fiction different from YA or adult fiction?
Daniel Bautz: The freedom. Adults don't like friction; they don't appreciate stretching reality on the same scope as younger readers. As a writer, I have more freedom to use a less common lexicon with my middle-grade books. Kids don't need us stooping down and talking down to them; I would never disrespect their minds in that manner.
Q: How do you balance adventure, mystery, and age-appropriate stakes?
Daniel Bautz: Look, in my adult books I use colorful language, violence has some real graphic results at times, and the adult world has situations that I would hope never cross over into a child's. They won't in my work. So, I just pull back or keep out the things that are inappropriate.
Q: What do you want young readers to take away from your books?
Daniel Bautz: To know that life is challenging, and there is no way to escape that. If you face the challenges and hold on to what makes you special, you win. "Be Brave, Be You" is something I inscribe often when I sign books, and it's not just a platitude. I'm being sincere: be brave, do the right thing, and hold onto what it means to be you.
Section 3: Building the World of Aristotle James
Q: Who is Aristotle James, and why do readers connect with him?
Daniel Bautz: Aristotle is a young man who is willing to see things that most people don't want to. He isn't perfect; he doesn't have a superpower. He just tries to do the right thing. Sometimes it works out, and other times it doesn't.
Q: What is the role of the setting—the wilderness, nature, and the unknown?
Daniel Bautz: The setting in the first two books, I tried to make them characters in the story—integral to what happens and almost an extension of or the main adversary that Aristotle and AJ are facing off against.
Q: How does the diary format shape the storytelling?
Daniel Bautz: It keeps you grounded in the fight with Aristotle. You get to see the world as it unfolds for him and experience it with him. In a way, the reader can slide on his sneakers or hiking boots and find themselves in the adventure beside him and AJ.
Section 4: The Writing Process
Q: How do you approach a new book?
Daniel Bautz: I usually know where I want to start and ultimately where I'd like to end up. I don't outline, but I keep a torch handy to light my way. Sometimes I end up where I wanted, and other times the characters take me where they need to go. One thing I am very careful about is not forcing the story into a word count. I want the story to be organic and to be done when it's done—not compressing or expanding it to meet an artificial goalpost.
Q: What are your research, drafting, and editing habits?
Daniel Bautz: I research a lot—I mean a lot. I know more about things than I ever wanted to, like how long it takes to walk five miles, or bike five miles, or what's the best mushing harness for a 95-pound Siberian husky to attach to a bike. I usually research as I write. If I write something that needs intensive research, I interrupt the writing to make sure I know I am as right as I can be. A first draft is typically, for me, a fourth or fifth draft. From start to finish, a novel can take from 4 to 6 months.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Daniel Bautz: All of it. It seems like a flippant answer, but I love, love, love every aspect of writing: the drafting, the researching, dev edits, copy edits, line edits, edit edits. All of it.
Section 5: What's Next
Q: Can you tease any upcoming titles or series directions?
Daniel Bautz: My next middle-grade book will be Book 3 in the Aristotle James Diary series, and I am hoping for late fall or early spring, though I don't have a firm timeline on it currently. The title teased in the back of Aristotle James and the Waking Wild is Aristotle James and the Lycanthrope of Lucas.
Q: How can readers stay updated on future releases?
Daniel Bautz: Of course, if you want to stay up-to-date, you can join the official Sled Dog Publishing mailing list!
Step Into the Adventure
Are you ready to lace up your hiking boots and step into the unknown?
- Explore the Series: Grab your copies from the Aristotle James Diary Collection.
- Collector's Editions: Get your hands on exclusive, Signed Paperback Products direct from the author.
- Join the Community: If you've journeyed alongside Aristotle and AJ, please leave a review! Your reviews help other young adventurers find their next great journey.