Aspen author adds new edition to her ‘Adventures of Fraser the Yellow Dog’ series
Aspen author Jill Sheeley has announced her newest book in the beloved children’s series, “Adventures of Fraser the Yellow Dog.” The book is called “Rescue on Independence Pass.”
“This book is one I started to write a long time ago,” Sheeley said. “I pulled it out of storage a couple of years ago and decided I was going to get this one done.”
“Rescue on Independence Pass” will be her 11th book in her popular Fraser series.
She said in this newest book, the characters are a little older and decide to ride their bikes up Independence Pass.
“There is a fire that takes place in the ghost town of Independence,” she said. “I do not want to give too much away.”
Each book in the series is an adventure featuring her Labrador, Fraser.
“All of the books come from my late dog, Fraser,” she said. “He was a really cool, yellow Labrador Retriever.”
Sheeley said that the real Fraser was more of a free-range type dog.
“This was back in the days when people would not call the dog pound if they saw a dog running around,” she said.
She recalled how Fraser knew all the neighbors and would go through their doggy doors and sit on their couches until the neighbors would come home. She said the neighbors absolutely loved her dog — and Fraser loved them.
“When the neighbors discovered Fraser on their couch, they would give him a biscuit and give me a call to let me know he was outside,” she said.
All of the books in her Fraser series are based on true stories, except for this newest one, and it all started with an icy rescue.
“Fraser saved a little girl in a pond next door to us,” said Sheeley. “This is when I started to put things together (for the series). My daughter was growing up in Aspen and going on all these great adventures in school, so there were never empty moments in our lives to write about.”
Many of her Fraser books take place in familiar places around Colorado.
“There was a story that took place in Vail,” she said. “Then there was one about Star Mountain, above Ashcroft. That is a cross-country ski adventure where the characters get caught in a blizzard and have to build a snow cave.”
The book, which is illustrated by Tanya Richards, will be launched at 4 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Aspen Fire Station, 420 E. Hopkins Ave.
“I will be reading the newest book at the launch,” Sheeley said. “The fire department will host a tour of the station, and we will be providing Paradise Bakery cookies.”
The event is free, and Sheeley said she hopes many people can make it during this offseason.
The book also features fire safety tips provided by Aspen Fire Protection District firefighter Ryan Warren.
“I spent a lot of time with Ryan, who is a firefighter at our fire department,” she said. “He helped me with all of the safety tips at the end of the book. I try to be as educational and didactic as I can, while still having a fun book.”
Her writing journey began with “Christmas in Aspen,” which was a heartfelt tribute to the people of Aspen. She soon blended her love for food and writing into two cookbooks: “Tastes of Aspen” and “Lighter Tastes of Aspen.”
Sheeley also wrote “The Blue Bottle,” a young adult novel for an older audience of Fraser fans.
In 2023, she added “Fraser and Friends,” a coloring book featuring illustrations of Aspen’s year-round activities.
Beyond her writing, she is dedicated to inspiring others. She teaches writing workshops worldwide and sponsors a local writing contest for third and fourth graders, encouraging young talents to find their voice.
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