About the Author
Jamal Wallace is the original creator – and proud Doggy Dad – of Nugget. A lifelong storyteller, Jamal has been writing since grade school, exploring poetry, spoken word, and Christian rap. Years of crafting rhythm and rhyme naturally paved the way to his debut picture book, “Naughty Nugget, What Have You Done?”
Jamal earned his degree from Florida A&M University, where he studied business and music. After graduation, he and his college sweetheart, Brittany, built careers in IT, working from home and spending countless hours with their first Dachshund duo, Doogie and Duchess. As the years passed, it was time to say goodbye to Doogie, and everyone missed him dearly, especially Duchess. That’s when a new little spark entered their lives: Nugget!
About Nugget
Nugget is a Miniature Dachshund, born on October 3rd 2019. He was the roughest and toughest of all his puppy brothers and sisters, and he lives every day like it’s his big adventure. His favorite toys include his red and blue ball that he plays fetch with for hours, his squirrel, and anything that squeaks loudly enough to get everyone’s attention. He loves sweet potatoes, peanut butter, organic grass-fed beef, and greek yogurt. He absolutely does not love bath time. After every bath, he zooms around the room like a tiny rocket trying to dry off.
“Loyal to the core, Nugget treats his role as family protector like a full‑time mission, announcing every Amazon delivery and every car that dares to roll past the house. It took him a little time to adjust, but now he absolutely adores Mya, Moriah, and Malaiyah. Even when they try to hog all the attention, he waits patiently for his moment to jump in and share the love.”
About the Illustrator
Jake Rich is a Massachusetts-based illustrator and author represented by MB Artists Agency. With more than a decade of experience in children’s publishing, he has collaborated with publishers including Scholastic and Brave Books, creating expressive, character-driven illustrations that celebrate imagination and whimsy. Jake hopes his stories inspire young readers to explore their own creativity and discover the joy of making art. When he’s not illustrating, he enjoys playing video games and making music.