About | PJ Gardner Switzer

Greetings and salutations!

I am PJ—drinker of Diet Coke, admirer of cheesy love songs, and writer of stories. My weaknesses are a terrible sense of smell and bad balance. My strengths are too numerous to mention, but obviously humility is up at the top. According to DNA specialists I am 37% Obnoxiousness, 29% Procrastination, and 100% Tired.

Welcome to the website!

WARNING!: staying on this website for long periods of time might cause daydreams, fits of laughter, and a craving for pickles.

Fun Facts

My real name is Paula Jo

But I have many nicknames like, PJ, Peaches, Pajamas, and Peej.

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado

But I’ve lived in California, New Jersey, and Arizona.

I studied art history.

My favorite artists are Vincent Van Gogh and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. And my favorite museum is the Musée D’Orsay in Paris.

I have two pets.

I have two Boston Terriers. Sadly, I do not own a pig. My husband says I’m not allowed to. Ever. Because he’s mean.

This is Rosie.

I love anime and manga.

My favorite manga is Usotoki Rhetoric. I really like shoujo anime, especially Kamisama Kiss, but I’m also super into My Hero Academia.

Pet #2

This is Rocky.

Horace & Bunwinkle is the first book I ever wrote.

However it took five years to go from first draft to publication.

I decided to write the book after I saw this door.

I was certain I saw the outline of a dog and a pig in the grain of the wood. I took that as a sign. Can you see them?

My youngest son came up with the names Horace and Bunwinkle.

He wanted to watch Wallace and Gromit, but couldn’t remember the name. Originally, I was going to call Horace and Bunwinkle Quincy and Queen.

The idea for the characters came from a real event.

Many years ago I read about a potbelly pig named Lulu and an American Eskimo dog named Bear that saved the life of their human. Bear stayed by his owner’s side, barking for all he was worth, while Lulu went and blocked the road until someone stopped and she was able to bring the person back to help.

Dave Mottram

The illustrator of Horace & Bunwinkle also illustrated the Great Mouse Detective series.

PJ's Story

PJ Gardner, also known as PJ Switzer, was born and raised in Denver, CO, where she probably would have lived her whole life if it hadn’t been for a fateful trip to California when she was eight years old. Sunshine and no snow sounded like heaven to her. Ten years later she moved to the Golden State to attend Whittier College. Her time in Southern California was filled with adventure and learning. She met her future husband, Neil, there as well.

PJ enjoyed school so much she decided to keep going, which is how she wound up across the country at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Turns out, the East was too cold for her. After earning her Master’s degree in Art History she drove straight back to the Pacific Coast.

In 1999 she and Neil started a family. That’s when the real adventures began.

Now, PJ lives in Southern California with her husband, three sons, and her Boston Terriers, Rosie and Rocky.

​Greetings and salutations!