If you’ve ever heard a joke so wonderfully bad that you couldn’t help but laugh—and groan—then you already understand the charm behind Grandpa’s Groaners and More Grandpa’s Groaners. Today, we’re sitting down with the man behind the mischief, R.G. Elliott, to chat about where these books came from, who they’re for, and what might be coming next.

Interviewer: For readers who may be new to your work, what exactly are Grandpa’s Groaners books?

R.G. Elliott: They’re clean, family-friendly joke collections built around classic dad-joke humor. Think puns, quick one-liners, and the sort of jokes that make kids roll their eyes before they burst out laughing anyway. Each book is designed to entertain grandparents, parents, teachers, and anyone who appreciates a simple laugh.

Interviewer: Who’s the ideal reader?

Elliott: Honestly, anyone who likes humor that isn’t sarcastic or mean-spirited. But these books were written with families in mind—especially those looking for something wholesome to share. I get a lot of feedback from grandparents who use them during family gatherings, teachers who use them to warm up a classroom, and even pastors who slip them into Sunday bulletins or children’s messages. The jokes are easy to remember and easy to repeat, which seems to make them pretty popular with kids.

Interviewer: Where did the idea come from? Why write a series of groaners?

Elliott: I grew up in a family where humor was part of the daily routine. My dad and granddad were both world-class pun-slingers. No hall pass, no homework check, no dinner conversation was safe. After years of collecting jokes, scribbling them in notebooks, posting them online, and sharing them with friends, I finally reached the point of thinking, “Why not turn this into something real?” That’s what kicked off Grandpa’s Groaners.

Interviewer: How has the reaction been so far?

Elliott: Honestly, humbling. You never know how books like this will land. Humor can be hit-or-miss because everyone’s taste is different. But readers have been surprisingly enthusiastic. The reviews tend to say things like, “Finally, jokes I can share with my grandkids!” or “This is exactly what my classroom needed.” It’s fun watching people discover that simple, old-school humor still hits the spot. And the repeat buyers tell me they’re using the books for holiday gatherings, road trips, school events, and church camps.

Interviewer: Tell us a little about your background. How did you come to humor writing?

Elliott: I’ve always been a storyteller. Over the years I’ve worked in publishing, marketing, and graphic design, and humor naturally wove itself into everything I did. At some point, I realized I enjoyed collecting and arranging jokes almost as much as writing original content. Dad jokes are universal—they cross generations and cultures—and they make people connect. That’s what I enjoy most about writing them.

Interviewer: Any new books in the pipeline?

Elliott: Oh yes. I’m working on Grandpa’s Groaners: Holiday Edition, which pulls together jokes for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and even the oddball holidays like National Donut Day. I’m also tinkering with Grandpa’s Groaners: The Classroom Collection. Teachers are huge supporters of the series, so I want to give them something tailored to their world. And of course, there’s talk of adding a daily email subscription—one groaner delivered every morning to kick off the day.

Interviewer: Anything else you want readers to know?

Elliott: Just that laughter matters. These books aren’t meant to be complicated. They’re meant to sit on a coffee table or in a backpack or in a teacher’s top drawer—ready to be opened when someone needs a quick smile. If a joke gets a groan and a grin, then it’s done its job.

If you’re looking for something fun, lighthearted, and just plain silly to brighten your day—or someone else’s—Grandpa’s Groaners and More Grandpa’s Groaners are a great place to start. Grab a copy, share a laugh, and keep those eye-rolls coming.