Kraig Olson is a health care executive with an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, but his toughest “consulting” gig is helping his three sons master the letter R. Blending his background in English and coaching with the realities of raising three boys, Kraig writes stories designed to turn “wabbit” talk into “rabbit” talk, one R at a time.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: There were two moments that inspired me to write this series. The first moment was shortly after our second son, Rhett, was born, and I observed Ryker, our oldest, playing with him. It was at that moment that it dawned on me that Ryker would never know a moment in his life without Rhett and vice versa. A book seemed to be the best way to pay tribute to this wonderful moment in their lives.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: If you are thinking about writing or getting into writing, it helps to write. It doesn’t matter what you are writing, be it journal entries, notes, outlines of books, professional messages, articles, random ideas. Just start.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: I have a plethora of random ones that I love to reference. For candy (now), I enjoy reading anything by Dan Brown, Andy Weir, and Lee Child (especially the Jack Reacher series), The Terminal List series, The Gray Man series, and the NYPD Red series. For more serious books that I have enjoyed and would put into my favorites category, these include East of Eden, Pillars of the Earth, A World Without End, Ender’s Game, and anything by Jodi Picoult.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: In this case, this series and its main characters are modeled after my two oldest kids.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: Seeing the book come to life with the illustrations produced by Adrienn Greta Schonberg. She is tremendous and did such a great job capturing the feel and the boys themselves.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
A: The easy answer is both. I would say natural writing skills and creativity may present themselves, but by both reading from a variety of authors and practicing writing styles, those skills can be developed.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
A: “If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin.” —Ivan Turgenev
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: Absolutely. In addition to ten other books in this series, I have been thinking about and toying with a sports fiction novel that follows a senior in high school through the seasons of sports (and life). It’s too early to share more details, but I am very excited about the opportunity to complete it.
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
A: Ken Follett for his richness of detail, John Steinbeck, Daniel Pink, and many, many more. At the end of the day, any author who can evoke a response and a feeling inspires me to both read and write more.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
A: This is a very, very interesting question. My answers might cause an interesting reaction, but ultimately, no regrets about these.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
- Origin by Dan Brown
- The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Learn more about Kraig Olson and his new children's book, The Remarkable Wanderings of Ryker and Rhett, here. Coming soon September 1, 2026!