About Us

About the Author

Cindy Cook Gant was born in Paducah, KY but reared in Independence, KS. Her family enjoyed the comforts of a small town and all the community offered. The Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) celebration was the "icing on the cake" in Independence.

Cindy realized in kindergarten she wanted to become a teacher. She attended the University of Kansas for her bachelor's degree in elementary education and taught various K-8 grades. Later, she completed a master's degree in K-12 counseling at Emporia State University.

During the last eight years of her counseling career, she met and fell in love with Gus, her black Goldendoodle. Gus was by her side constantly and helped her tremendously with the Character Education Counseling Program as the school's therapy dog. Gus was loved by everyone.

After 32 years of being in education, she and Gus retired from the school system.  After retiring, one of the goals on her bucket list was to create these Gus books, each one celebrating one of her grandchildren.

Cindy and her husband, Kevin, live on their ranch with their cattle, horses and dogs. They have two grown daughters, "two sons" (son-in-laws) and five grandchildren.

About the Illustrator

Beth Arnold DeMont learned at an early age that drawing on the kindergarten building in Ashland, Ks was not acceptable. She enjoyed doodling and serious art in the 7th grade, but the high school she attended did not offer art courses.

Growing up, Beth lived on a big cattle ranch and loved animals. She had an owl, raccoon, cats and horses and considered them her friends. Ranching and rodeo were their lives. 

Beth later enrolled in one art class at Garden City Kansas Community Junior College not knowing what a color wheel was, but then took a huge leap and enrolled at Fort Hays State University in the art education program, She learned quickly the she was behind the other students and was told by professors she needed to go into graphic arts.

Later, she taught high school and middle school art for 33 years in Kansas-she loved teaching! She also learned to be a researcher on art mediums and techniques. She taught with Cindy and Gus was a therapy dog, friend, and light at White City schools. He would often come to the art building and bring joy and giggles. Everyone loved Gus!

Retirement has brought exciting and new challenges for Beth, including this, her first job as an illustrator. She considers it an honor to be a part of the wonderful journey for Gus, Cindy and all of the students and staff he brought joy to throughout the years.