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Meet the author

Hi, I’m Gina.

Portrait of author Gina Nielsen

The stories behind the sparkle

Sparkle & Dazzle didn’t begin with a plot outline. It began at home, with animals who kept doing things too funny not to write down.

Sparkle’s grand entrances, Dazzle’s quiet surprises and Rook’s enormous love for everybody became the heart of the stories, with a supporting cast drawn from family and friends.

Gina has built her career connecting people, ideas and communities through education, communications and engagement. She previously served as Head of Communications and Engagement for a national education nonprofit and as Chief Communications Officer for a school district, leading complex initiatives and helping education leaders turn shared goals into action. Today, she leads Strategically Engaged and is the creator of PrincipalGO, a tool designed for school leaders. Sparkle & Dazzle World brings her professional storytelling experience together with a family full of wonderfully unforgettable animals.

Connect with Gina on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Gina hopes these books bring the kind of laughter that has a child begging for one more page, and a grown-up happy to read it.

Meet the real stars

  • The real Sparkle, a cream-and-tan fluffy dog in a pink harness, standing on a mossy rock under oak trees with tail flying
    Sparkle
  • The real Dazzle, a curly white dog in a pink-trimmed harness, standing on a path at sunset and glancing back at the camera
    Dazzle
  • Gina, who is 5 foot 11, smiling as she holds the real Rook, a fluffy black, white and tan puppy, at just 7 months old; his legs hang nearly to her knees
    Rook

Have a little sparkle to share?

Questions about the books, school visits, author events, or bringing Sparkle & Dazzle into your classroom? We’d love to hear from you!

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