Meet Trish Crouse
Children’s Author & Illustrator • Dog Lover • St. Augustine Storyteller
Trish Crouse is a children’s author and illustrator who turns her love of dogs, adventure, and her hometown of St. Augustine, Florida, into stories created to make young readers smile.
Alongside her husband, Scott, and their real-life pups, Dahlia & Trixie, Trish finds inspiration everywhere—from the historic streets and landmarks of St. Augustine to the wild adventures that can begin with a little imagination.
Dahlia & Trixie are more than beloved family pets—they’re the inspiration and stars behind two very different storybook worlds. In Pirate Pups Treasure Adventures, they set sail for imaginative lands filled with treasure, friendship, and high-seas fun. In Barkside: A St. Augustine Tail, they trade their pirate hats for detective work, sniffing out mysteries inspired by the places Trish and her family know and love.
For Trish, every story begins with the same idea: give children an adventure they’ll want to read again and again.
Where the Stories Begin
Living in historic St. Augustine means inspiration is never far away. A walk with Dahlia & Trixie can lead past centuries-old streets, boats on the Matanzas, the Castillo de San Marcos, or the iconic St. Augustine Lighthouse—and sometimes all it takes is one curious look from the pups to spark the beginning of a new mystery.
Other days, imagination takes over completely, and Dahlia & Trixie become fearless pirate pups sailing toward mysterious islands, underwater kingdoms, legendary treasures, and new friends.
That blend of real-life inspiration and make-believe adventure is at the heart of Trish’s books. Whether young readers are solving a mystery in St. Augustine or sailing into an imaginary world, Trish hopes they finish each story excited about where a book might take them next.
A Special Place in Our Story
Dahlia & Trixie’s story began long before they became pirates, detectives, or the stars of their own books. Both pups came into our lives through Ayla’s Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue, and adopting them changed our family in ways we never could have imagined.
Animal adoption is something very close to my heart. There are so many wonderful animals waiting for a family, a safe place to call home, and the chance to be loved. Dahlia & Trixie are a daily reminder that sometimes giving an animal a second chance gives you something just as extraordinary in return.
For me, they became much more than the inspiration for a story. Through health challenges, difficult days, and some of life’s unexpected turns, Dahlia & Trixie were there—a leash in one hand, hope in the other, and two faithful companions reminding me to simply keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Those experiences have found their way into the heart of my stories. Beneath the mysteries, pirate adventures, laughter, and wagging tails are messages of courage, friendship, second chances, and finding strength in the people—and pups—who walk beside us.
Today, these two rescue pups are cherished members of our family, four-legged detectives, fearless pirates, and the inspiration behind adventures that I hope encourage young readers to embrace what makes them unique, care for others, and discover just how much is possible when they have the courage to keep going.
Because sometimes the greatest adventures really do begin with a second chance. ❤️🐾
Ideal reader
Trish’s books are crafted for the curious, the compassionate, and the dog-obsessed. By blending local history with lessons on empathy and resilience, these stories empower young readers to find their own 'badge of honor' and realize that even the smallest hero can leave a massive paw print on the world.
"Trish Crouse’s stories are a delightful blend of adventure, heart, and tail-wagging fun! Her books are a treasure for any young reader."
A happy parent