tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76780581858961975812023-11-15T22:59:47.387-08:00Barbara Barth "Writer With Dogs"Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-18384703973778341752016-03-04T00:53:00.003-08:002016-03-04T00:53:16.903-08:00Miss April In Paris Has New Fans <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Lower School Animal Lovers' Club with A Dog Dreams of Paris</em></strong></span></div>
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<strong>I<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> am so excited my little picture book, <em>A Dog Dreams of Paris</em>, has more young readers. I love how books and animals connect people and form friendships! Last spring I gave a copy of April's book to my friend Sofia Dakos (an Elementary School Art Teacher at Nansemond Suffolk Academy in Virginia) for the school library. We had a mutual connection in Atlanta, a friend of mine, and a family member of hers, and finally met in person. I did hound her a bit that I would love a photo of the students with my book. Miss April in Paris likes to see her fans! </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The end of February I received the photos in this post and a lovely note from a new friend I hope to meet one day, too, Ann Woleben, Head, Lower School Becky Godwin Memorial Library.</strong></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Thank you so very much for the gift of your autographed copy of "A Dog
Dreams of Paris". Our students love the story as much as they love dogs. I
have attached an article and photos from our ESaints newsletter that pertain to
your book and our recent meeting of the Animal Lovers' Club.</strong></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Below is a copy of the article and a photo of all the students.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><em>The February meeting of the Lower School
Animal Lovers’ Club had two special events on the agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five therapy dogs and their handlers from the
Suffolk Humane Society Volunteer Therapy Dog Team came for a visit and the
students watched a demonstration and learned about the requirements dogs have
to meet in order to become a therapy dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was plenty of love to go around with the five furry visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><em>The second event was the reading of <u>A Dog
Dreams of Paris – From Rescue to Dog Diva</u> written by Barbara
Barth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Barth lives in Georgia and
has six rescue dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a friend of
Mrs. Dakos (LS art teacher) and sent an autographed copy of her book to our NSA
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Animal Lovers’ Club
members loved hearing the story told from the dog’s perspective, especially
when the dog included French words in the telling of her story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Enchante!”</em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Books and dogs and friends - It doesn't get any better. Remember proceeds from the sale of <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Dreams-Paris-Rescue-Diva/dp/0983171556/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457081525&sr=1-1&keywords=a+dog+dreams+of+paris" target="_blank">A Dog Dreams of Paris</a></em> go to animal rescue.</span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-60842735866127068102015-11-18T19:40:00.002-08:002018-06-29T11:21:27.991-07:00A Very Sick Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><em>On our ride home from the vet.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>Annabelle is a very sick girl.
Recently diagnosed with Lymphoma she will not be with the pack much longer. I
say that and find it hard to believe. Do I sound accepting of this fact? Not
really. I am more in denial that she is so ill. She is a trooper. Now on
prednisone, her symptoms are masked, and she is quite content for her remaining
days. However many there are. I don’t have a clue, no one does. The fact she is
with me now, happy, pain-free, and enjoying her time here is good enough for
me. I chose not to put her through extended treatments. She is old. It would
not buy her enough time to make that time so unpleasant for her. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know how old Annabelle is. She
came to me in late April 2009, when I was on my dog adopting frenzy. She was number
two. The folks with animal rescue pulled her from DeKalb Animal Control. Her owners
turned her in, giving her age as five years old. A quick run by the vet brought
up many guesses as to her real age. Anywhere from 8 to 10, based on her teeth
and overall health and appearance. She had puppies at one time, maybe lots of
them, her belly sagging low as she walked. Her teeth were a mess, and shame on
me, they still are. Annabelle had a few teeth pulled but the rest are still in
her mouth. Her breath could knock you over. Yet, she gives kisses freely, even
now, and her breath? Well love conquers all.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Annabelle had her chapter, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Someone New In My Bed, </i>in my widow
memoir, Her first night in her new house - my house, our house, and the
doghouse, where the numbers were growing - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>told me all I needed to know about her. She
got up on my bed and curled next to me. I rolled on my side, slipped my arm
over her chubby tan frame, and slept the best sleep since my husband had died
the year before. She had come in for a trial run but I knew she was mine
forever.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could put the cartoon character
Maxine to shame. Annabelle can be a curmudgeon, a cantankerous old lady, or a
sweetheart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looks like an old school
marm on days and on other days she smiles her partially-toothless grin that is
infectious. She is a heartbreaker, no doubt about that, and soon will be
breaking my heart.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our time now is fun. I treat Annabelle as
a princess. Of course, all my dogs are spoiled; she is just getting a bit more
attention and a bit of special food. I tuck her meds in hunks of rotisserie
chicken. She inhales the bits so quickly she has no clue what is inside. Her
eyes are bright as she does a happy dance. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trips to the vet include a stop along the
ride home. A bit of Chick-fil-A sandwich, a small cup of low-fat yogurt from
Brusters (free to dog visitors) and plenty of treats tucked in my pocket to
keep her entertained on the short drive.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her arrival back home is that of a
rock-star. Five dogs sniff her butt, saying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Welcome
Home</i>. Rascal licks Annabelle’s face, a caring gesture that happens often
and I have yet to figure out why. I wonder if they know.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not count her days. I count my
blessings. I am lucky to have this time with her and with all my dogs. Each day
is a miracle. For her, for me, for you. None of us, canine or human, know how
many days or years we have left. The gift is to live those days full of love
and compassion. Perhaps a dog enjoying her remaining time teaches a lesson for
all of us. My old gal Annabelle is full of grace and beauty, and yes, rotisserie
chicken. She won’t let me forget the chicken . . .</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><o:p><em>Nurse Rascal</em></o:p></strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-24152353759741318222015-09-17T05:57:00.001-07:002015-09-17T06:00:33.091-07:00Miss April In Paris Has A Fan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Skipper likes April's Diary!</strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Writers like to hear someone has enjoyed their story. I am no exception. So I was thrilled to get the following e-mail (see below) from a stranger who loved my latest book and let me know. Thanks so much, Sharon Gilbert, for my lovely review and the pictures of Skipper. April is smitten with him! Sharon won a copy of my book while I was on a <a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2015/06/barbara-barth-launches-her-tour-for-dog.html" target="_blank">blog tour with <em>WOW! Woman on Writing</em></a>. I treasure this note.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Remember, proceeds from the sale of <em>A Dog Dreams of Paris</em> go to animal rescue. <a href="http://amzn.com/0983171556" target="_blank">Available on Amazon. </a></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Barbara,</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Thank You so much I
received my book today that I won from Oh My Dog (Maggie Marton) contest! I had
to sit right down and read the book before I did anything else. I LOVE LOVE your
book A Dog Dreams Of Paris. The pictures are so magnificent. The story from Miss
April's view was so amazing. I have triplet grand children and next time they
are in town and</strong> <strong>I going to read the story to them. Two of them are girls and
they will love the pictures of the dogs with hats. They love wearing hats. I am
sure the boy is going to laugh his butt off when I read them about the dogs
sniffing butts. They have 2 black lab/great </strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>pyrenees (they are rescued siblings - girl
and boy) and they are always sniffing butt. I have 2 Vizslas and 1 is a rescue.
</strong></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Again Love your
book!</strong></span> </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">You are an amazing
writer.</span> </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Sharon Gilbert</strong></span> </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Thank you Sharon and Skipper!</strong></span>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> You made our day.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <em>Barbara and Miss April In Paris</em></span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-13334969956350795482015-07-14T04:25:00.000-07:002015-07-14T04:25:50.699-07:00Celebrating Bastille Day Doggie Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Miss April in Paris</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Welcome to the <em>Writer With Dogs</em> Bastille Day Blog Party</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">This post is part of <em>A Dog Dreams of Paris</em> blog tour with <em>WOW! Women On Writing</em>. </span><a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2015/06/barbara-barth-launches-her-tour-for-dog.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Click here</span></a><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> for the kick-off interview on <em>The Muffin</em> and the remaining stops on the tour, which ends July 24th.</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Miss April in Paris has enlivened this household of one human and six dogs. The human stays active, but six dogs are pretty much couch potatoes. The excitement of the publication of April's diary has caused a stir with the hounds. They have been following her blog tour and wonder if perhaps sometime down the road they will each have their own book. Time will tell on that one. However, time is important today. . . . <em>Party time</em> that is, as the dogs plan to celebrate Bastille Day!</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"I've never heard of Bastille Day." Chloe, the alpha Chihuahua, exclaimed as soon as the party was brought up. She was slightly preoccupied with her fake mustache. It tickled her nose.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"It's simple," Diva dog Miss April in Paris explained. "</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789, and was the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the power of Louis the 16th's Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king's power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers. The French celebrate Bastille Day each year on July 14th, with parties, parades, food, drinks, dances and fireworks!"</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Do we get dog bones?" Bray, usually reserved and shy, was excited at the thought of more food. He slipped into a pair of cool shades and helped himself to a frosty beverage.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Yes, and special drinks. Now, doesn't that taste yummy?" Diva April snorted, a very unladylike gesture. Perhaps she had already had a few of the special party drinks.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"I love music," Annabelle stretched on the couch, her big belly pointing up at the ceiling. The sound of a favorite pop song <em>Uptown Funk</em> got her up and moving. "I can make a run to the store if we need anything." While she didn't drive, Annabelle loved to ride in the car with the radio blasting tunes into the universe.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rascal's eyes rolled. Her blue eye (for she has two different colored eyes) winked at April. "Are you wearing that old pink hat again?"</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"It's my Diva hat. It's the hat that started my story. And yes, I am wearing it. You can have one of those silly party hats on the table."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Gladly," Rascal yawned, then raced across the room to grab a hat and a party drink. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Count me in, too!" Bertha rambled over to the table to find a pair of party glasses, both to wear and to drink from. "Let the party begin!" Bertha was especially social. She looked at her drink and wondered if perhaps she should have put the lime in the coconut. Then she barked, a loud piercing sound and shook her head, her funny mustache mixing with saliva dripping off her chops. Bertha took a sip out of her coconut and toasted the day. "Viva La France!"</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Before the party gets too rowdy, the dogs posed for their Bastille Day portraits. </span></strong></div>
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<strong>Chloe</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bray</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Annabelle</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rascal</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bertha</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Wishing all a happy Bastille Day. Party On!</span></strong><br />
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-20077753852758228042015-02-05T04:46:00.000-08:002015-02-05T05:05:16.829-08:00Writing Animal Stories for Children By Fiona Ingram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Champ-Story-Survival-Fiona-Ingram-ebook/dp/B00GM9WE6Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Kindle</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Join in as Fiona Ingram's </span><a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2015/01/fiona-ingram-launches-her-blog-tour-for_19.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599; color: purple;">blog tour with WOW!</span></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> continues.</span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>On Writing Animal Stories for Children</em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I was overjoyed to do a post on writing animal stories for children. Animal welfare has become closer to my heart more than ever over the past few years. Authors contemplating writing a book for children featuring animals should consider what the main message is. Is it an entertaining tale? A moral or fable? An educational theme? When writing animal books for children, a clever writer can incorporate all sorts of themes without sounding didactic.</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I began writing animal rescue books after reading stories about animals saved from abuse, and decided to do what I could to raise awareness about the care of animals, their importance in our lives, and the fact that they are sentient beings. They feel all the emotions we do; they need us for shelter, protection, food/water, love, grooming etc. We have a huge responsibility as the guardians of the planet and of all animal life, domestic and exotic. We should be teaching this to our children from an early age.</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Champ’s story came about when I read about an abused little dog left for dead at a California shelter. Vets literally brought him back to life from the brink of death (he was almost suffocated in two plastic bags). From there he began a long and painful road to recovery, until he now is a happy, healthy, wonderful little dog, bringing joy into people’s lives. </strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>When writing his tale, I had to think about who this book would appeal to and why. Adults who are animal lovers would want to know Champ’s journey, but might not want their kids to see too many horrible images. Kids would be interested in learning about caring for animals and how every little act or gesture counts. Younger readers (needing to be read to) would like to hear a story from Champ’s point of view. So I included all these elements. Champ writes his own heroic tale in which he experiences what many kids do: fear, insecurity, wondering if he is brave enough. He foils a plan of two would-be dognappers to kidnap and hold to ransom all the dogs in his area. He enlists the aid of caring and well-meaning animal friends, and becomes the hero of the day. Champ also writes a poem to express his joy at having a new life with lots of love.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>When one sees the number of children with physical or emotional problems being able to overcome these with service dogs and/or other pets, one can easily understand how children relate on a deep emotional level to an animal that does not judge; it only loves. An author can include lots of positive messages in a book for children with or about animals, such as making new friends, giving and receiving help, overcoming difficult situations. </strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Another important lesson authors can include is teaching children responsibility towards a pet, caring for it properly, treating it as they would like to be treated, not as a toy one tosses aside when bored.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I hope readers will take the time to read more about Champ and share his amazing story with friends and family who love animals.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Read more about Champ's Champion Christmas on </em></strong></span><a href="http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/2014/12/champs-champion-christmas.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Fiona Ingram's blog</span>.</em></strong></span></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Visit S.A.F.E. Rescue No-Kill Shelter (who saved Champ) </strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>www.<a href="http://www.safeanimalrescue.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">SAFEanimalrescue</span></a>.com</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>See Champ on </strong></span><a href="https://twitter.com/ChampMyStory" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Twitter</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> </strong></span></em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>@</em><span class="u-linkComplex-target"><u><span style="color: #0f0aa3;">ChampMyStory</span></u></span></strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Author Fiona Ingram is visiting <em>Writer With Dogs</em> today as part of her WOW! (Women on Writing) blog tour for<em> </em></span></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Search-Stone-Excalibur-Book-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00O97QG94/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: purple;"><em>The Search for the Stone of Excalibur</em></span>.</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> Visit </span></strong><a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2015/01/fiona-ingram-launches-her-blog-tour-for_19.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Muffin</em></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> for more information on the author and her tour schedule, which began on January 19th and runs through February 13th.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Search-Stone-Excalibur-Book-Chronicles/dp/1622492188/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About the Book: </strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>A modern day adventure as our protagonists search for Excalibur and the treasures it holds!</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Continuing the adventure that began in Egypt a few months prior in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Sacred-Scarab-Chronicles-Stone-ebook/dp/B005CRRU5E/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">TheSecret of the Sacred Scarab</span></a></i>, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of a newly discovered sword that archaeologists believe belonged to King Arthur: Excalibur.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>However, their long-standing enemy, Dr. Khalid, is following them as they travel to Scotland to investigate an old castle. Little do they know there is another deadly force, the Eaters of Poison, who have their own mission to complete. Time is running out as the confluence of the planets draws closer. Can Justin and Adam find the second Stone of Power and survive? And why did Aunt Isabel send a girl with them?</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Join Justin and Adam as they search not only for the second Stone of Power, but also for the Scroll of the Ancients, a mysterious document that holds important clues to the Seven Stones of Power. As their adventure unfolds, they learn many things and face dangers that make even their perils in Egypt look tame. And how annoying for them that their tag-along companion, Kim, seems to have such good ideas when they are stumped.</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpDEdFyDjCUTT6REXEXGCnAT-1ijOFe2bQJCozaRHdcmYupDfSMqaoYpnomXU9_mJ2i7opFHW9NKW7wOsLIvBqwR2SPGIrrjuv0Fy630t5YxMqLQDeR7P0_jIiEIYIUWcM6Dq4BOgqs62/s1600/FionaIngram-794310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpDEdFyDjCUTT6REXEXGCnAT-1ijOFe2bQJCozaRHdcmYupDfSMqaoYpnomXU9_mJ2i7opFHW9NKW7wOsLIvBqwR2SPGIrrjuv0Fy630t5YxMqLQDeR7P0_jIiEIYIUWcM6Dq4BOgqs62/s1600/FionaIngram-794310.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About Fiona Ingram:</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Fiona Ingram was born and educated in South Africa, and has worked as a full-time journalist and editor. Her interest in ancient history, mystery, and legends, and her enjoyment of travel resulted in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Secret of the Sacred Scarab</i>, the first in her exciting children’s adventure series—<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Chronicles of the Stone</i>. This was inspired by a family trip the author took with her mom and two young nephews aged ten and twelve at the time. The book began as a short story for her nephews and grew from there. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Search for the Stone of Excalibur</i> is a treat for young King Arthur fans. Fiona is busy with Book 3 entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper</i>, set in Mexico.</strong></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #2b0c03; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>While writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Secret of the Sacred Scarab</i>, Fiona fostered (and later adopted) a young African child from a disadvantaged background. Her daughter became the inspiration for the little heroine, Kim, in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Search for the Stone of Excalibur</i>. Interestingly, the fictional character’s background and social problems are reflected in the book as Kim learns to deal with life. Fiona’s experiences in teaching her daughter to read and to enjoy books also inspired many of her articles on child literacy and getting kids to love reading.</strong></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links: </strong><a href="http://www.fionaingram.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Author Web</span></strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Author Blog</span></strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/FionaRobyn" target="_blank"><strong> <span style="color: purple;">Twitter</span></strong></a><strong> @</strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="u-linkComplex-target"><u><span style="color: #0f0aa3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>FionaRobyn</strong></span></u></span> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fiona.robyn.ingram" target="_blank"> <span style="color: purple;">Facebook</span></a></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fiona-Ingram/e/B00300AUWK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Author's Amazon Page</span></a></span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-77028984354653333762015-01-08T06:54:00.000-08:002015-01-08T06:54:03.934-08:00A Three-Dog Night and More<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Rascal likes to snuggle by my pillow. Not only does it keep me warm, I get dog kisses periodically until she falls asleep.</strong></span></div>
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<strong>With frigid temperatures falling all over the country, the south no exception, and my little spot in Decatur, with the wind chill, in the single digits. According to the weather channel, we are facing forty hours of below freezing (OMG)temperatures. Yikes!</strong></div>
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<strong>I jokingly posted on Facebook yesterday evening that it was a six-dog night at my house, thinking of the phrase, a three-d0g night. Then I began to wonder, just where did that phrase come from? We all say it and know it means how many dogs to ward off the chill.</strong></div>
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<strong>I did a bit of research.</strong></div>
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<strong>The geographic source of the phrase has been debated many times. Is it the Australian outback or the northern reaches of North America with the Eskimos. The meaning is clear, no matter the location. The phrase is a rudimentary nightly temperature gauge. Dogs huddled with humans at night for their warmth. On really cold nights, three dogs were brought to bed to keep the owner from freezing to death.</strong></div>
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<strong>In American Literature:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThuNClW1-qhrVCfCqNb86RbP8OJ4b7toMBenPYW5gd7PNLtGSMYMAU9okNgXdjsJJ_EkWoGIfyVKA8tfs6tIVo3bA0Vd4dQRh-XFkaewukNMn9wfs1gHAaHvqG9nFayhkTOWJDYRw9EkQ/s1600/3dognight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThuNClW1-qhrVCfCqNb86RbP8OJ4b7toMBenPYW5gd7PNLtGSMYMAU9okNgXdjsJJ_EkWoGIfyVKA8tfs6tIVo3bA0Vd4dQRh-XFkaewukNMn9wfs1gHAaHvqG9nFayhkTOWJDYRw9EkQ/s1600/3dognight.png" height="400" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Courage-Indian-Deep-Jane-Thomas/dp/0395556996/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420723866&sr=1-1&keywords=courage+at+indian+deep" target="_blank">Amazon</a></em></strong></span></div>
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<strong>Whatever its origins it does turn up in American literature, and most of those included a definition as well as the phrase. A passage from a juvenile novel, <i>Courage at Indian Deep</i> by Jane Resh Thomas, provides a good example. Jane Resh Thomas is the author of more than a dozen fiction and non-fiction books for young readers. This book was published in 1990.</strong></div>
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<strong>A ship sinks during an autumn blizzard on Lake Superior, and Cass and his dog are the only ones who can help the survivors.</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em> “Here, Tongue.” Cass dried the dog and coaxed him under the open sleeping bag. “This is a three-dog night, for sure, but one dog will have to do.”</em></strong></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Answering the puzzled look on Torberg’s face, Cass said, “I read that frontiersmen slept with dog because their body temperature is higher than a human’s. A three-dog night was a night so cold it took three dogs to keep a man warm.”</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">“Tongue’s a living electric blanket,” said Torberg smiling.</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<strong>Another children's book:</strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Five-Dog-Night-Eileen-Christelow/dp/0395623995/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420727096&sr=1-1&keywords=a+five+dog+night" target="_blank">Amazon</a></em></strong></span></div>
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<strong>Another children's book piles on more dogs for warmth. <em>The Five-Dog Night</em>, written and illustrated by Eileen Christelow. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When Old Betty tries to advise Ezra on how to survive the cold winter nights, Ezra rebuffs her concerns because he has his own private source of warmth. Published in 1993.</span></strong></div>
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<strong>You might say I am living the dream. Covered in dogs. At my house we have a six-dog night most every night!</strong></div>
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<strong>Bertha Barth, Miss April in Paris, Bray-boy, Annabelle, Rascal, </strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>and Chloe in her pink sweater.</strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-38691685140021352442014-12-16T10:49:00.001-08:002014-12-16T10:58:48.147-08:00Miss Sophie Writes - Reposted from Tara Joyner Haussler's blog "I Might Need A Nap"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuxbIrXYhi94X4YqBkp6QiRs8zShQUer5NnIfA0ZUY23567YycCUlQw6IglRnzh8ENLXbD4-DogWhLjcOxAWy8zv_YvCqjxpUFW6_h_aOMYdE1jhD42QlL7vu_7gwQjRm3Ug6HIBZUYVL/s1600/miss+sophie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuxbIrXYhi94X4YqBkp6QiRs8zShQUer5NnIfA0ZUY23567YycCUlQw6IglRnzh8ENLXbD4-DogWhLjcOxAWy8zv_YvCqjxpUFW6_h_aOMYdE1jhD42QlL7vu_7gwQjRm3Ug6HIBZUYVL/s1600/miss+sophie.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Miss Sophie Ru</em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Note: Miss Sophie lives with Tara Joyner Haussler. This post was previously published on Tara's blog<a href="http://imightneedanap.com/" target="_blank"> </a><em><a href="http://imightneedanap.com/" target="_blank">I Might Need A Nap</a>. </em>Tara was one of the authors in the anthology<em> <a href="http://amzn.com/B00QB6F35E" target="_blank">A Cup of Christmas</a>, </em>available on Kindle for $1.99. All proceeds go to <a href="http://www.firstbook.org/first-book-story" target="_blank">First Book</a>, a charity that places books in the hands of children in need.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A note from the paws of Miss Sophie:</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em></strong> </div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> These people, I sure have a hard time figuring them out sometimes. They
know my name, and yet, they call me “No” and “Stop it” almost more than they
call me Sophie.</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </span></div>
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</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like I picked out that
name for myself or anything–they chose it. If I’d had my druthers, I would be
called Geraldine. Yeah. I like that name.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, yesterday they said,
“Bed,” and I went and they gave me my treat on command. I’ve got them trained
well. When I sit in my bed, I wait, and they give me a treat. It’s a pretty
sweet deal actually. They left for a few hours and when they came home, I could
hardly believe my eyes.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I have pretty good vision.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The people brought a tree
in the house. You know, one of those things that lives outside that I like to sniff
around and eat things out from under. In. the. house. Well! I mean, these are
the same folks who take their shoes off in the house and flip out if I go
anywhere near the mud puddles way back in the yard behind our house.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t get it.</strong></span></span><br />
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</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It immediately started shedding,
something I can proudly say I do not do. It was pretty disgusting. The Fella
promptly vacuumed it up. I actually chose not to bark while he was vacuuming
this time, and the people didn’t notice or anything. Really? Fine. Next time
then…</strong></span></span><br />
<strong></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> After all of the hullabaloo about getting this tree in the house, I watched
as the Fella brought in a big box of things on the ends of green wire. (I like
green wire. I like wire. Twist ties are my favorite, but they never let me play
with one for long.) They spent much time discussing these things and untangling
them. It was torture. They did all of this beside the tree which they put in
the room I’m not allowed in. Honestly, you mistake a rug for a piddle pad once
or three times too many…
</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> After things were untwisted, the people talked some more. The one
they all call Mama, the one who sits up with me late at night, kept saying the
letters, “LED” over and over and wrinkling up her nose like she does when she
tells me my toy is “nasty.” (It’s not, it’s delicious.) I don’t think she cares
for whatever that LED thing is. The Fella took several of those strand thingies
outside and the littles went with him. Then the one they call Mama twisted the
rest of the wire thingies all around that tree.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine what that’s even
about?</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she was done, she stood back
and then flipped a switch.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>They’ve been doing some pretty
crazy things around here, like putting some lights in different places and
putting these red and green things all over the place, but this was amazing.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all lit up, that tree,
only there was no fire like what the one they call Mama turns on in the living
room at night. These were all sparkly and warm and I wanted to crawl right
under that tree, drink from that big water bowl, and gaze up at the twinkly
lights. And look for treats…</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight they went through a box,
each one of them, and they hung things on the tree. It’s the strangest thing
I’ve ever seen.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">And
they won’t let me anywhere near it. I can’t imagine why.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>They keep me away from everything fun–the trash can, the mud puddles, and
now this–this tree.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I just don’t get it.</strong></span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But tonight I’m thankful my
people are back home and that it looks like we’re going to bed a little earlier
tonight. I’m thankful for the food in my bowl and the water in my dish,
but I still think that tree offers a lovely new eating venue.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> Most of all, I’m thankful for the happy faces and the singing of songs that
keeps happening around here. It seems like they are more relaxed these days. And
happy, relaxed people make for a happy Sophie.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love and barks to all. <em>Sophie</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>That tree - INSIDE the house with lights all over it! Have you ever heard of such?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><i><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A note from Tara: As I was stringing the lights on
the tree this morning, I saw Miss Sophie watching intently from the other side
of the gate. I wondered what she thought of all of the goings on, and she was
more than happy to share. Tonight I’m thankful for that. And for a word my
Daddy taught me long, long ago. Anthropomorphism. I love that word. Love to
all. </span></i></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Tara Joyner Haussler</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Visit Tara's : <a href="http://imightneedanap.com/" target="_blank">I Might Need A Nap</a><em> Mama Said They Made Me Nicer</em></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Throughout the adventures of my life, when I would get stressed or yes, let’s be honest, whiney, Mama would call me out. “You need a nap. Get some sleep. Things will look different after you get some rest.”</strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-44279683650426164522014-11-22T05:29:00.002-08:002014-11-22T05:39:26.125-08:00Squeak by Jane-Ann Heitmueller<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Squeak</em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Perhaps Methuselah would have been a more appropriate
name for her, but at the time, we didn’t know she would live so long! Instead,
we decided to call her Squeak, since that was the only sound she could utter
around ten days of age when we found her.</span></strong></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even above the roar of the lawn mower, I
thought I detected a strange, high-pitched noise. Probably just a bird, I
rationalized to myself, but it certainly does sound like a tiny kitten in
distress. Oh well, just my imagination I suppose. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when I finished mowing and turned
off the engine, I knew, without a doubt,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>what I heard was a frantic little kitten calling for help. This was not
the usual meowing sound, rather an eeekkk, eeekkk, eeekkk, much like that of a
squeaking rusty wheel. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no way I was going inside that hot
August afternoon without locating the little critter. After all, she
desperately needed me. I tried to call out and listened intently for her
answer, in order to track the origin of those pathetic urgings. Quite soon, I
discovered the sound came from under the barn floor. Stretching out flat, I
peered under the boards into the darkness, and reached carefully inside
calling, “Here, kitty, kitty. Here, kitty, kitty.” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much to my delight, about ten feet away, I
could faintly detect a tiny form wobbling straight toward me. There was none of
the usual feline hissing, screeching, and scratching or hair-raising fear from
this eager little character, who instinctively sensed I was not the enemy. She
was absolutely correct. The two of us have been best buddies for almost twenty
years now and “Squeak” has earned the well-deserved title of ‘Matriarch’ of our
large menagerie of pets, with whom she has cohabitated or, in a few cases,
simply endured over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clutching
the fluffy little mite to my chest, I ran hastily into the house. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ray,
Ray,” I excitedly yelled. “Look what I just found under the barn floor!” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t seem the least bit surprised by my
joyous announcement. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
know. I heard it a couple of days ago but didn’t tell you. I knew you’d find it
sooner or later. That’s just what we need around here, another animal to look
after,” he said with a sly grin. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But it‘s so tiny and it’s all alone. I
couldn’t just leave it there by itself. The poor little thing is hungry and
scared.” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
so, as my sweet husband had done for me in so many similar instances over the
years, he gave in and agreed to keep this squeaky little orphaned kitten. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as Granny Johnson use to say, “There was
a fly in the ointment.” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Ray puts up with my pets, I have
always been their primary caregiver. He prefers to be simply an observer. It
suddenly struck me that a slight problem might be in the works the next couple
of days. You see, I had made plans to be out of town with a friend the coming weekend,
but now I had this sightless, helpless little kitten to feed with an eyedropper
every four hours. What to do, what to do? <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dear,
do you think you might be able to take care of Squeak while I’m gone? We’ll be
back late Sunday afternoon. It’ll be easy. I’m sure you’ll do a good job.” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the two of us negotiated the subject
for a bit, he begrudgingly agreed to take care of the tiny black and white
kitten while I was away. I knew he wasn’t keen on the prospect of this
responsibility, but would do the best he could, thinking surely he could keep
it alive for just two days. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday evening I hardly said hello as I dashed
in and abruptly dropped my suitcase with a thud by the back door. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How’s the kitten? Is she alright? Where is
she?” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ray comfortably encased in his recliner
reading the Sunday paper, nonchalantly glanced my way. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh sure, she’s fine. She’s sound asleep over
there in her basket, snug as a bug in a rug.” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Did
you get her to eat something while I was gone?” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, she did just great. You can see for
yourself. Her food bowl is empty.” <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Food bowl! What do you mean? Didn’t you
feed her with the eyedropper? She doesn’t even know how to lap yet!” </span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh,
yes she does. After the two of us went round and round with that stupid eyedropper,
I said… ‘To heck with this’. I put her milk in the saucer, stuck her face in it,
and told her to eat or die. She’s been eating ever since. Squeak and I made it
without any problem. Did you and Joyce have fun?” and with that he calmly
resumed his reading. Stunned by his response all I could do was stand there in
silence, not believing his words. </span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> Yes indeed, Miss Squeak has been
eating quite well ever since and has developed a personality definitely her own.
I’m forever amazed at our ability to communicate with each other, not as simply
cat to person, but friend to friend. I realize some folks might think this is
weird thinking on my part, but just ask any animal person…they understand what
I mean. This is her place and we are her people. After all, the choice was hers in the </strong></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">beginning. I sometimes wonder if her soul
was here years before any of us occupied this old farm and it wouldn’t surprise
me if it remains long after we are gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> An
array of poems and short stories published by writer, Jane-Ann Heitmueller, can
be read both on and off line. A few examples of the former teacher's work have
appeared in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dew on the Kudzu</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nostalgia Magazine</i>, </strong></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good Life Magazine</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stepping
Stone Magazine</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yesterday's Memories</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ordinary and Sacred as Blood</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oxford So and So</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bodock Post</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nana's Corner</i>
and others. Heitmueller writes a monthly article for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Old Tennessee Valley Magazine </i>and is presently putting the
finishing touches on her soon to be released Kindle e-book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Barnwood and Lace</i>. She is part of the upcoming holiday anthology <em>A Cup Of Christmas</em> to be released December 2, 2014.</strong></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Read more about <em>Barnwood and Lace</em> on <a href="http://genealogical.biz/barnwood-and-lace/" target="_blank">Genealogical e-Books web</a>.</strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-32443725887200139272014-10-14T22:46:00.002-07:002014-10-15T05:34:51.488-07:00Author R. Leonia Shea, Legendary Magic, and The Dog Days Of Writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It was a subtle transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first, I dismissed it for a variety of
reasons:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it's too hot, the ground is too
damp, the humidity is too high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never
thought it was just old age or the cataracts that clouded her big, brown
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of wanting to spend the
days in the garden with her furry hip pressed against mine and her black nose
twitching excitedly, she napped in her bed, sleeping contentedly while I read a
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every once in a while, she'd chase
dream-rabbits with her small paws twitching, her ears pricked forward, and a
doggy grin of joy flashing across her white muzzle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>After a few weeks, I felt the need
to do something and tried to coax her back outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn't interested, so I had to find another
way to amuse myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon, we replaced
the chattering squirrels in the trees with air conditioned comfort and the
clicking of computer keys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began
writing to keep my dog company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between
chapters, I would reach over and rub her belly while I thought up plot twists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would regard me with an interested
expression, and I'd read snippets of my stories to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listening to the words in my own voice gave
me a sense of the cadence of my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>My dog was the one who listened to
my first manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She watched as I
stared into space trying to come up with the next line, ever my patient
companion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she grew older, we spent
more days writing (okay, I wrote and she slept) and when we went out for walks
she was my excuse to get some distance from a scene which just wasn't
working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we returned home, I was
refreshed and able to concentrate again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was ready for another nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It is because of my dog that I
finished several outlines and developed a few stories that I have since
published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The garden we once tended
together has long since filled in with weeds, but I have found a new fertile
ground to cultivate - my imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>When the inevitable happened, my
manuscripts went untouched for months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Writing had become something that we did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">together</i> and I found my grief paralyzing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What had been routine became impossible, but
eventually the impossible became therapeutic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Writing soothed my lonely hands and I published the novel I had written
on the living room floor years earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It became <em>Elementary Magic</em>.<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Naturally, there is a dog in that
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mythical trickster spirit
Coyote is my tribute to my writing partner because she was indeed, my partner
in everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She inspired me to be a
better person than I ever thought possible, taught me compassion, patience, and
fortitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She planted the garden in my
imagination.<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Although she was blind (almost
overnight, as sometimes happens to diabetic dogs) she seemed unaffected by her
condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, she would sit in
front of the window as if she were looking out it, and I would open the door so
she could look outside on sunny days and feel the warmth of the sun on her fur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She taught me just because you can't see
something, doesn't mean it isn't there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
made concessions to her blindness, her medical conditions, and her needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made me a better person and a writer.<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Many years have passed since then,
and I have a new writing companion now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She loves spending the day stretched out on the couch listening to
clacking of the keys on my keyboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
rises before dawn with me and takes up her post on the couch in my office while
I work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has taught me to approach
everything as an adventure, to slow down and take the time to chase the moths
that flutter around the patio lights, to explore the overgrown garden, and to
take breaks to throw a ball or a stuffed toy instead of getting frustrated when
a scene simply won't come together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
is also the inspiration for the character of Coyote because to her, everything
is fun and needs to be done immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The speed and cadence of my writing
has changed as a result of the switch in writing companions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My new co-author has a short attention span
and a persistent nature, so I must get my thoughts down quickly because I never
know when she'll present me with a toy and an invitation to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have formed a partnership of our very own, one different from that of my first
co-author, but one which reflects our relationship and our personalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>She listens when I read things
aloud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paws at me when I've become too
absorbed or when I seem frustrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
distracts me or lets me work for long stretches of time, and she is always
there to lend a supportive ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also
keeps the area beneath my desk free from random goldfish crackers and pretzels.<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I always write with a dog
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They keep me centered, provide
me with just enough distraction, and give me a non-judgmental ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also keep me from becoming too
serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing should be fun, and
there should always be short breaks to rub bellies, throw balls, or just plan
the next plot twist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a garden of a
different sort, and I have a partner to help me tend it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">About the author:</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihESzFiSeamZwUU0wzLILP9IXyEiQilMhbeWV7r9ZRLdKg_e50mlrFuHZ-fXdKH7hiHxH-hUiV41iVM0Zti2SnBepc1N4pqeoqsl40K4tyPeH4Us6jftjjen0sRjLK71VI5a0uVKdB2xGC/s1600/Author+Photo+B&W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihESzFiSeamZwUU0wzLILP9IXyEiQilMhbeWV7r9ZRLdKg_e50mlrFuHZ-fXdKH7hiHxH-hUiV41iVM0Zti2SnBepc1N4pqeoqsl40K4tyPeH4Us6jftjjen0sRjLK71VI5a0uVKdB2xGC/s1600/Author+Photo+B&W.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">R. Leonia Shea</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></strong></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>R. Leonia Shea is a writer with the heart of an artist - or maybe it's the other way around. Either way, she can usually be found at her computer or in her studio creating something while worrying that there's something else she should be doing.<br /><br />Come to think of it, she's one of those people who seems to always be torn between two things like art and writing or the mountains and the sea. Maybe she simply believes you can do it all - as long as you have supportive people around you. <br /><br />Her latest release is <em>Legendary Magic: Relic Hunter Book 3</em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em></strong></span></span> </div>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Books:</span></strong><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Find all R. Leonia Shea's books on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/R.-Leonia-Shea/e/B007JYOF5G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</strong></span></div>
<strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Published October 2014</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Buy On <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N8A9K3C" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
</em></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Dr. Arienne Cerasola might have a suspicious mind, but that doesn’t mean something nasty isn’t being planned by two of her former acquaintances. They have banded together on an archaeological expedition in the United Kingdom, and that could spell trouble for the magical community. The magical apocalypse kind of trouble. <br /><br />As a witch and disgraced archaeologist, Arienne shouldn’t be surprised when Kingston Pon asks her help to find a lost relic. After all, Kingston is one of the senior members of the United Coven and Alliance and Arienne is one of the few people who knows about his secret resistance activities with the Crux Crucio Orbis. When she learns her own Grandfather is involved in the C.C.O., Arienne’s more than a little angry that her family has been keeping secrets. Secrets about their involvement in the magical world. Secrets about Arienne’s legacy. Keeping secrets means creating lies and Arienne is determined to unravel the deception even if it means collapsing the foundation of her new life. <br /><br />Caught between the clandestine world of the C.C.O., the dangers of the Alliance, and the treachery of a new magical organization Arienne must trace the grain of truth in the legends passed down from the ancient Celts, through the Roman Empire, and right into King Arthur’s court. Legends that were created to protect the truth and keep the relic from passing into the wrong hands. <br /><br />The confines of loyalty and duty make it an even more complicated quest. She might be the only one who can balance the power without collapsing the foundations that hold magic in check but to accomplish that, she’ll have to face the truth about herself, her family, and her place a world she was never really part of.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N8A9K3C" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/R.-Leonia-Shea/e/B007JYOF5G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a> <a href="http://therapywriting.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Author Web</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/R-Leonia-Shea/1433930603491999" target="_blank">FaceBook</a></span></strong><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/RLeonia1" target="_blank"><strong>Twitter</strong></a><strong> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target"><u><span style="color: #0f0aa3;">RLeonia1</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong> </strong> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/RLeoniaShea" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5834710.R_Leonia_Shea" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></strong></span></div>
Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-70142847909183066252014-10-14T05:00:00.000-07:002014-10-14T05:50:14.771-07:00Martha Conway, Author of Thieving Forest, and Her Dog Nico<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP5C3oAzrn-qBP1poCdwv4shVpCebCKXrYCqsN7MKq-wQptSj6-_jfhbkY0NX7OSCmE9MIgJ8SLPlMMJBKer_xDW1K-YqogUdjhVCpQA-g7TNED6xDTapwt56lhurPsFzFHGlQgyFNVgW/s1600/Nico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP5C3oAzrn-qBP1poCdwv4shVpCebCKXrYCqsN7MKq-wQptSj6-_jfhbkY0NX7OSCmE9MIgJ8SLPlMMJBKer_xDW1K-YqogUdjhVCpQA-g7TNED6xDTapwt56lhurPsFzFHGlQgyFNVgW/s1600/Nico.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Nico, Martha's golden doodle</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Meet author Martha Conway and Nico today on Writer With Dogs. This post is part of the author's book blog tour for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thieving-Forest-Martha-Conway/dp/0991618505/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1413127963&sr=1-1-spell" target="_blank">Thieving Forest</a> with WOW! Women On Writing. Link back to Martha's original interview on <a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2014/10/martha-conway-launches-her-blog-tour.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wow-womenonwriting+%28WOW%21+Women+on+Writing+Blog%29" target="_blank">The Muffin</a> and follow the tour, dates and stops listed below.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Nico and Mini Me</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I still have dreams about Willie, my childhood dog, who went
with me to deliver papers on my paper route and often got tips (usually bones) from
my customers at Christmastime when I did. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Willie was a mutt; my current wonderful dog is a golden
doodle named Nico, whom I think of as a mutt, too. Sometimes she looks more
like a teddy bear with her overgrown curly fur (technically hair, I guess),
which nearly covers her eyes. As a city dog, Nico isn’t allowed to run down the
sidewalks without a leash, which is fine because I don’t deliver papers
anymore. But like Willie, Nico is as kind and loyal a dog as you could want. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About three years ago when I broke my leg skiing, I had to lie
on a couch for two full months, and then for two months after that I still used
crutches and couldn’t drive. I was basically housebound for four months. Having
Nico lying on the carpet next to my couch every day for sure saved my sanity. I
rigged up my laptop and bought a lot of music and worked non-stop on my novel,
feeling a little like Margaret Mitchell when she wrote Gone with the Wind.
(Apparently she grew up with a collie dog named “Colonel” after Teddy Roosevelt.)<o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>There’s no better way to write lots of pages than to be
forced to stay sitting for hours on end. However, during that time I couldn’t
get up and do research, like go for walks in the swamps and woods of northern
California (my novel takes place mostly in the wilderness). But in a way Nico
was my research. My novel has lots of animals in it —wild animals, for the most
part, and very unlike my lovably cowardly dog— but animals that I needed to
think about and describe. I spent a lot of time watching Nico: how her nose
quivered when she was trying to work something out by smell (her first line of
questioning); how her ears lay back when she was looking at a bird out the
window; the way her muzzle dripped after drinking water.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I think I may have even added a few more animals to my
narrative because of her!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Both Nico and I were overjoyed when I was able to take her out
for walks again. Nowadays she will wait pointedly at the front door if I let
too much time go by before I take her on her morning walk. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>However, broken leg or no, during the day Nico
is still my “mostly companion,” as Eloise at the Plaza Hotel said of her nanny.
I truly feel that my dogs, both Willie and Nico, have always taken care of me.
Nico barks too much and she jumps up on people coming into the house, but I can
live with that. She knows when to lie by my side and give me that needed sense of companionship, and she
wags her tail whenever I enter the room, even if her back is to the door. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I wish I could do that.</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">About The Book:</span></strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>FIVE SISTERS. FOUR ARE KIDNAPPED. ONE GOES AFTER THEM. </strong></em></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>ALL THEIR LIVES ARE CHANGED FOREVER.</strong></em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Buy On </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thieving-Forest-Martha-Conway/dp/0991618505/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1413127963&sr=1-1-spell" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon and Kindle</strong></a></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>On a humid day in June 1806, on the edge of Ohio's Great Black Swamp, seventeen-year-old Susanna Quiner watches from behind a maple tree as a band of Potawatomi Indians kidnaps her four older sisters from their cabin. With both her parents dead from Swamp Fever and all the other settlers out in their fields, Susanna makes the rash decision to pursue them herself. What follows is a young woman's quest to find her sisters, and the parallel story of her sisters' new lives.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The frontier wilderness that Susanna must cross in order to find her sisters is filled with dangers, but Susanna, armed with superstition and belief in her own good luck, sets out with a naive optimism. Over the next five months, she tans hides in a Moravian missionary village; escapes down a river with a young native girl; discovers an eccentric white woman raising chickens in the middle of the Great Black Swamp; suffers from snakebite and near starvation; steals elk meat from wolves; and becomes a servant in a Native American village. The vast Great Black Swamp near Toledo, Ohio, which was once nearly the size of Connecticut, proves a formidable enemy. But help comes from unlikely characters, both Native American and white.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><em>Thieving Forest</em> explores the transformation of all five sisters as they contend with starvation, slavery, betrayal, and love. Fast-paced, richly detailed, with a panoramic view of cultures and people, this is a story of a bygone place sure to enthrall and delight.</span></strong></span></span> </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Meet The Author:</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYYey4mGYn5G-VD_ekYPCsidFhQb234EuIuAJLm5pBb699nBHiAcItPSHSyLIXR_Jz8SiQA3l4NOIGnNx0IGZAQd7jZNMu_o0R6mifbUb53WThKZshjIFBDzUvyEkrB9pvFurAcJ7t7on/s1600/martha-200-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYYey4mGYn5G-VD_ekYPCsidFhQb234EuIuAJLm5pBb699nBHiAcItPSHSyLIXR_Jz8SiQA3l4NOIGnNx0IGZAQd7jZNMu_o0R6mifbUb53WThKZshjIFBDzUvyEkrB9pvFurAcJ7t7on/s1600/martha-200-2.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Martha Conway has taught fiction at UC Berkeley Extension and at Stanford University’s Online Writer’s Studio. She tweets ten-minute prompts and exercises every day on twitter (#10minprompt, #WritingExercise) via @marthamconway.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Martha’s first novel <em>12 Bliss Street</em> was nominated for an Edgar Award, and her short fiction has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, The Quarterly, Folio, Puerto del Sol, Carolina Quarterly, and other publications. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>She graduated from Vassar College and received her master’s degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. She has reviewed fiction for the San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Review of Books, and The Iowa Review, and is a recipient of a California Arts Council fellowship in Creative Writing. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she now lives with her family in San Francisco.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>See Martha's Blog Tour schedule below and links to her website, Amazon site, and social media.</strong></span></span><br />
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Conway Blog Tour Schedule (as of 9/4)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>October 13 at The Muffin <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span><a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></u>interview
and giveaway<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Oct. 14
at Writer with Dogs </strong></span><a href="http://writerwithdogs.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://writerwithdogs.blogspot.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at All Things Audry </strong></span><a href="http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Oct. 16
at Book Talk </strong></span><a href="http://www.barbarabarthbookblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>www.barbarabarthbookblog.blogspot.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>author showcase<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Deal Sharing Aunt </strong></span><a href="http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post and giveaway<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Writer Unboxed </strong></span><a href="http://www.writerunboxed.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>www.writerunboxed.com</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;">
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at Katherine Hajer </strong></span><a href="http://www.katherine-hajer.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://www.katherine-hajer.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Caroline Clemmons </strong></span><a href="http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Renee’s Pages </strong></span><a href="http://www.reneespages.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>www.reneespages.blogspot.com</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at A Writer’s Devotion </strong></span><a href="http://www.awritersdevotion.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://www.awritersdevotion.blogspot.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>interview<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Katherine Hajer </strong></span><a href="http://www.katherine-hajer.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://www.katherine-hajer.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>review<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Words by Webb </strong></span><a href="http://jodiwebb.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://jodiwebb.com</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>interview and review<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Nov. 3
at Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews </strong></span><a href="http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
interview<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Escaping Reality Within Pages </strong></span><a href="http://escapingrealitywithinpages.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://escapingrealitywithinpages.blogspot.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post, review and giveaway<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at The Lit Ladies </strong></span><a href="http://www.thelitladies.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://www.thelitladies.com/</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>interview<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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at Kathleen Pooler </strong></span><a href="http://krpooler.com/blog"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>http://krpooler.com/blog</strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>guest post, review and giveaway</strong></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Links: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thieving-Forest-Martha-Conway/dp/0991618505/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1413127963&sr=1-1-spell" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> Amazon</span></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Conway/e/B001H6UXNU/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Amazon Author Page</span></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> </span><a href="http://marthaconway.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Author's Web</span></a></strong></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/marthamconway" target="_blank"><strong><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> Twitter</span></strong></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><strong> @<span class="u-linkComplex-target"><u><span style="color: #0f0aa3;">marthamconway</span></u></span></strong> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/marthamconway/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Pinterest</span></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/martha.conway.52" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Facebook</span></a></strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-6416626099551963552014-09-24T11:38:00.000-07:002014-09-24T11:38:10.825-07:00Lisa Begin-Kruysman, Author "Dog's Best Friend" - Will Judy, Founder of National Dog Week and Dog World Publisher<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Paperback <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Best-Friend-National-Publisher/dp/0786471204/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1411423095&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Available on Amazon</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Publisher:</strong> <strong>McFarland (September 10, 2014)</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Best-Friend-National-Publisher-ebook/dp/B00NEZXYYW/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-2&qid=1411423095" target="_blank">Pre-order Kindle</a> </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Publisher: McFarland (October 31, 2014)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>For many, Rockefeller Center
evokes the images of happy ice-skaters and the lighting of America’s most famous
Christmas tree. But for me, the Lower Plaza of this iconic New York City
location conjures nostalgic scenes of dogs jumping through hoops, herding sheep,
showing off their obedience skills, and prancing and parading in elaborate
parades! </strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The last week of September,
from the period of the 1930s through the 1950s, canines took over Rockefeller
Plaza in celebration of each year’s greatly anticipated observances of National
Dog Week, established by Captain William Lewis Judy, a man clearly ahead of
times. Judy published <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dog World</i>
magazine for four decades and in 1928 launched NDW to officially honor man’s
best friends for all the ways they served
humans.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Judy, a minister, teacher,
lawyer, decorated WWI soldier and ultimate dog-professional was also among the
first to write about the spiritual connection between dog and human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With humor, honesty, and intelligence, Judy’s
writings positively influenced a new generation of dog ownership. He even helped
to establish the DWAA (Dog Writers Association of America), giving the dog-writing profession the respect it
deserves.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I recall the day I first read
about Judy and his volumes of magazines, books and dog-training materials.
Reading about Judy’s life inspired me to be an author. It hasn’t been easy. As
someone with no connections in the dog world or publishing scene, I was truly an
underdog writing about an obscure topic. I had to get my bark on and remain
positive in my goals even in the face of rejection. But I prevailed and this
week, I am happy to report that my book about this man and his contributions to
Dogdom has been released. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dog’s Best
Friend: Will Judy, Founder of National Dog Week and Dog World</i> Publisher
(McFarland & Co.) is now available. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I began writing this book with
my beautiful Portuguese water dog, Hooper curled up at my feet. But in 2012,
during a six month period, my husband battled a major health problem, Hooper
passed suddenly, and Hurricane Sandy devastated our community. My husband is
well now, and we are still picking up the pieces in the aftermath of that
catastrophic storm, but Hooper is now a just happy memory, and I find strength in our sweet dog, Teddy, who came to us while I tried my hand at fostering.
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>In weathering all kinds of
storms, I always seek refuge in my writing. With a pen and a pad, I can get my
thoughts down anyplace, anytime and find an emotional safe haven. Reading the
words of Judy has always put me in a good state of mind, and when I see those
old photos of dogs living it up in mid-town Manhattan, it gives me hope that
perhaps someday, all dogs can have their week celebrating under a golden
September sun as thousands of adoring dog-lovers cheer them on under the
watchful gaze of Prometheus.</strong></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About The Author:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGDRqgUXHQoGI_8x4xPrw6SCbtVOukVuY0jbvUZDAncj_6nclV9eL_8fU6F1WmvuNmg1_V5B8iyneji5wqda1-xIEeEZwf9MRXuicraKozSBpufw295emHCe8ZFVYz9ce_JgiuFUpQXnw/s1600/!cid_tie_8D1A48AAE19E12A_E74_15E1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGDRqgUXHQoGI_8x4xPrw6SCbtVOukVuY0jbvUZDAncj_6nclV9eL_8fU6F1WmvuNmg1_V5B8iyneji5wqda1-xIEeEZwf9MRXuicraKozSBpufw295emHCe8ZFVYz9ce_JgiuFUpQXnw/s1600/!cid_tie_8D1A48AAE19E12A_E74_15E1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><o:p>
</o:p></span><div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span class="color34"><span style="font-family: Enriqueta; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lisa Begin-Kruysman is an award-winning author and blogger. A
graduate of the University of Connecticut, she has studied writing with the
Institute of Children's Literature, The Society of Children's Writers and Book
Illustrators and the Highlights Foundation. A former Human Resources Associate
in the entertainment industry, she currently resides in Ocean County with her
husband Rich, and foster-to-forever dog Teddy. Through her artwork and writing,
she aspires to educate and enlighten the world about the unique bond that
exists between humans and their dogs and to ultimately improve the welfare of
dogs across the nation.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in;">
<span class="color34"><span style="font-family: Enriqueta; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Please
be sure to check out her<a href="http://nationaldogweekbook.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> blog</a> dedicated to the National Dog Week Movement with
over 200 posts related to all things dog!</strong></span> </span></span></div>
<div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in;">
<span class="color34"><span style="font-family: Enriqueta; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Also by the Author:</strong></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yvef2cyQKsECbyRhjy5N248OVwM1ilzA1ioyofrV9GUUpdqM9ARzN5IQknkw3j6Mere2KKse6jt4mMFGpvEG9NxYGyDS6QE4pq4X7ZpkFd3PuhOOjBeOOPFwNfexNVlScR2PyNHS8mg-/s1600/something+lost.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yvef2cyQKsECbyRhjy5N248OVwM1ilzA1ioyofrV9GUUpdqM9ARzN5IQknkw3j6Mere2KKse6jt4mMFGpvEG9NxYGyDS6QE4pq4X7ZpkFd3PuhOOjBeOOPFwNfexNVlScR2PyNHS8mg-/s1600/something+lost.png" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="color34"><span style="font-family: Enriqueta; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Buy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Somethings-Lost-Must-Found-Inspiration/dp/146374045X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1411423095&sr=1-1" target="_blank">On Amazon</a></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span class="color34"><div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Something's Lost and Must be Found: Seven Short Tails of
Inspiration on a Long Leash </em>Published 2011</strong></span></div>
<div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in;">
<span class="color34"><span style="font-family: Enriqueta; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>An engaging Short Story Collection (aprox. 25,400 words) for dog-lovers and fans of Inspirational fiction; inspired by the search and rescue dogs of the soul. Based on the first one-hundred posts of a devoted Dog-blogger. Now with a seventh story! A pawsitively dog-friendly read. A portion of all downloads will go to help some animals in need.</strong></span></span></span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Enriqueta; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links: <a href="http://www.lisabegin-kruysmanauthor.com/" target="_blank">Author's Web</a> <a href="http://nationaldogweekbook.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Nationaldogweekbook's Blog</a> </strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LisaBeginKruysmanAuthorAndArtist/timeline" target="_blank"><strong>Author Facebook Page</strong></a><strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/dogweek" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target">dogweek</span></span></span></strong> </div>
<div class="font8" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Best-Friend-National-Publisher/dp/0786471204/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410720155&sr=1-1&keywords=Dog%27s+Best+Friend%3A+Will+Judy" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Lisa+Begin-Kruysman&search-alias=books&text=Lisa+Begin-Kruysman&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank"> Amazon Author Page</a></strong></span></div>
</span></span></span>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-41144959863704684882014-09-10T10:32:00.001-07:002014-09-10T10:32:21.669-07:00Solitary Schmolitary by Kimberly Brock, Georgia Author of the Year 2013, with Fergus and Reba B<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP-oEWh8lKwFWzBD9fyY7s6Th_yyqJUAKVsxcUvkF3tqY6JSSmRWN9Ft2F6eLVHS0OkWQCjPgSV3PaFwcqmGpL7tWPCKkQGRL0tmsIDfCzgcqJ-V0o32XPBjCWBfiMuME3dDd3w4b_tTt/s1600/Chief+Starers+at+Me+-+Fergus+&+Reba+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP-oEWh8lKwFWzBD9fyY7s6Th_yyqJUAKVsxcUvkF3tqY6JSSmRWN9Ft2F6eLVHS0OkWQCjPgSV3PaFwcqmGpL7tWPCKkQGRL0tmsIDfCzgcqJ-V0o32XPBjCWBfiMuME3dDd3w4b_tTt/s1600/Chief+Starers+at+Me+-+Fergus+&+Reba+B.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: black;"> <strong>Fergus and Reba B, otherwise known as the current Chief Starers at Me
</strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Writing is supposed to be solitary. That’s what everybody
keeps saying but I am here to tell you that solitary doesn’t do it for me. And
I have a theory that all writers secretly share this same fear of solitude.
That’s why we write when we’re alone, so we won’t notice we’re alone and nobody
else will notice we’re alone in all our aloneness. Oh, the humanity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Years ago, when I started on this writing journey, I worked alone.
On a big clunky computer with a beret and a candy cigarette, the way you do. I
don’t think I’d ever even seen a laptop at that point. I sat in a very
uncomfortable chair (where did that chair come from?) at a desk in the corner
of my master bedroom. The babies would nap and in the two or three hour blocks
of absolute silence, entirely alone with my thoughts and a Diet Coke, I would
accomplish…nothing. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I mean it. I can’t write in an optimum environment. No way.
But I tried, Lord, I gave it my best shot for about two years. Until one day I
decided if I was ever going to really get rolling and crank out a bestseller
and put a pool in my back yard (did not happen), I needed to get down to the
nitty gritty of my writerly needs. I made a list. Probably it was for
groceries, but it’s been a long time now and I like to think it was me, being
productive, trying to be scientific about reaching my potential. Or something.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Here’s how The List of
Making Kim Write looks in my made-up memory. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Turn on a fan. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>(I figured I slept better with a fan, so
maybe I would write better, too. No dice. I slept. Drooled.)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Turn on the T.V. for white noise.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>(Ya’ll. You know I watched Guiding Light. I
did not write.)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Nurse the baby.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>(This was not actually on the list, but I
did actually do it. I also wrote one-handed and published my first short story,
so there was maybe something to that. However, I refuse to nurse a fourteen-year-old
and so this was not sustainable.)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Get a laptop so you can stand in the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>(This sounds ridiculous but I DO think better
and more actual thoughts while standing in the kitchen. I also eat. Or clean. I
notice everything is just filthy beyond belief and that I would fail health
inspector tests and then, no writing happens. I end up cleaning the disposal,
which is not really all that inspiring.)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>But the move to the laptop and the first floor were truly
the plot points that led to a real turning point in this fabulous,
transformative, transcending writer’s journey. Why? Because, a dog.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Write with A DOG.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Here’s what happened. We had a cairn terrier that had been
with us since our first year of marriage and he was an old man in a dog suit.
He was quiet. He was dependable. He had a routine. And his best dog trick was
the ability to be PRESENT. He was always there. He was with us. Near us.
Existing as a part of our household in a way that felt like he was an extension
of our very selves. And the minute I sat down on the sofa with my laptop and
outline and intentions to create, he curled up on the other end. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>And stared at me. For the duration.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>We did not converse, the dog and I. There was no exchange of
anything but air going on in that living room. I didn’t even scratch his ears.
I just went to work. Two years later I had bigger kids, a blown-out spring on
my end of the sofa, and a completed manuscript. I learned the Ancient Chinese Secret
of writing success.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Write with a dog. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>When you write with a dog, your stories will flow unceasing.
Your best ideas will be genius, your prose lyrical and your humor dry and fine.
You will swat away writer’s block as easily as a housefly. Your work will be a
resplendent example of craft with solid arcs and plots, compelling themes, fully
realized characters and original voice. You’ll be content with your pace.
You’ll take risks and break rules and then clean up after yourself with
brilliance. And when you strike the final punctuation, you won’t even hesitate
before you scroll on over to the next page to whip up your acknowledgments. And
here is what you’ll say.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“For the dog who reminded me. I’m not alone.”</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About Kimberly Brock:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Kimberly Brock</strong></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Kimberly Brock was named <em>Georgia Author of the Year 2013</em> for her debut novel, Kindle bestseller, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-River-Witch/dp/B009OPAX3G/ref=la_B0055I9AXA_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410367658&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The River Witch</a></em> (Bell Bridge Books/April 2012). A southern mystical tale set against the backdrop of the Appalachian foothills and the Georgia Sea Islands, <em>The River Witch</em> has been chosen by national and international book clubs.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Founder of <a href="http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event;jsessionid=44092823A2F5F911865E7D18FA6782D9.worker_registrant?llr=i6byw7bab&oeidk=a07e9qar6da50f1fea7" target="_blank">Tinderbox Writer’s Workshop</a>, Kimberly speaks on creative writing, the power of story to create community, and her favorite topic – getting past fear to live from our Creative Core. Kimberly also consults and speaks on Social Media Strategies for Writers. </strong></span><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>A former actor and educator, Kimberly Brock's work has appeared in </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>magazines and anthologies. Contributor to <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NorthsideWoman" target="_blank">Northside Woman Magazine</a></em>.</span></strong> <strong>She serves as Blog Network Coordinator for national online book club, <em>She Reads</em>, and works as a certified Pilates instructor. Kimberly spends her non-writing time enjoying her husband and three children, north of Atlanta where she makes her home.</strong></span><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Kimberly's next workshop is this Saturday, September 13, at KSU, Kennesaw, Georgia. </span><a href="http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event;jsessionid=44092823A2F5F911865E7D18FA6782D9.worker_registrant?llr=i6byw7bab&oeidk=a07e9qar6da50f1fea7" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Link here</span></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> for workshop information or call the Georgia Writers Association at 770-420-4736. Space is still available.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About <em>The River Witch</em>:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-River-Witch-Kimberly-Brock/dp/1611941237/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1410367658&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or wherever books are sold.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Broken in body and spirit, she
secludes herself in the mystical wilderness of a Georgia island. Can she find
herself in the sweetness of old songs, old ways, and the gentle magic of the
river people?<br />
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"Kimberly Brock has an amazing voice and a huge heart; <em>The River Witch</em>
welcomes the reader to a haunted landscape, authentically Southern, where the
tragedies of the past and the most fragile, gorgeous kind of love-soaked hope
are equally alive. This is one debut that you absolutely should not
miss."-Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author of <em>Gods in
Alabama</em><br />
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"Kimberly Brock's <em>The River Witch</em> achieves what splendid writing ought to
achieve-story and character that linger in the reader's consciousness. Such is
the power of Roslyn Byrne, who retreats to Manny's Island, Georgia, in search
of herself, only to discover her great need of others. Tender and intriguing,
often dazzling in its prose, this is a mature work of fiction worthy of the
celebration of praise."-Terry Kay, internationally known author of the
classic novel, <em>To Dance With The White Dog </em>
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"There is magic and wonder in <em>The River Witch</em>, but the real enchantment
here is the strength of the characters Roslyn and Damascus. Their voices are the
current that carries the reader along in this compelling tale of healing and
discovery."- Sharyn McCrumb, New York Times Bestselling Author, <em>The Ballad
of Tom Dooley</em>
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"With lyrical prose, Kimberly Brock explores the hidden places of the
heart. <em>The River Witch</em> is a magical and bewitching story that, like a river,
winds its way through the soul. In the voices of her wounded characters, Brock
takes us through both the breaking and the healing of a life." -Patti
Callahan Henry, New York Times Bestselling Author of <em>The Perfect Love Song</em></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><em><o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span> </div>
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<strong><a href="http://kimberlybrockbooks.com/" target="_blank">Author Web</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kimberlybrockauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/kimberlybrock72/" target="_blank"> Pinterest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kimberlydbrock" target="_blank">Twitter</a> @kimberlydbrock</strong></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.kimberlybrockpilates.com/" target="_blank">Kimberly Brock Pilates</a> <a href="mailto:kimbrock@comcast.net" target="_blank">Contact Kimberly</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Brock/e/B0055I9AXA/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1" target="_blank">Author Amazon Page</a></strong></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=i6byw7bab&oeidk=a07e9qar6da50f1fea7" target="_blank">Tinderbox Writers Workshop</a></strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-45303503732430058202014-08-05T21:33:00.001-07:002014-08-06T04:08:17.913-07:00Author Bethany Masone Harar and Her Wonder Dogs <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>Boomer</strong></div>
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<strong>Annie</strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Today's post is part of Bethany Masone Harar's <em>WOW! Women On Writing</em> blog tour for her young adult novel <em>Voices of the Sea</em>. Her tour started on July 28 and runs until August 21. Bethany will be making stops on some wonderful blog sites - so get on board and follow her tour. Interviews, book excerpts, give-a-ways, and of course, her wonderful dog story below. </span><a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2014/07/bethany-harar-launches-her-wow-blog.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Link to <em>The Muffin</em></span></a><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"> (<em>WOW's</em> blog) and meet Bethany and see her tour schedule. Then be sure to scroll down and read more about <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Sea-Bethany-Masone-Harar-ebook/dp/B00LI486Q2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406788269&sr=1-1&keywords=voices+of+the+sea" target="_blank">Voices of the Sea</a></em>.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>My Wonder-Dogs<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I’m very excited to write about the dogs in my life today!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>To start, my sister had horrible allergies to dogs, so I
wasn’t able to have them until I moved out and got married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Since then, I’ve had two important dogs in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The first, Boomer, was a beagle/basset hound mutt my husband
and I rescued in Richmond, VA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
husband and I showed up at his foster home to see him one day, and they
suggested we take him home for a “test drive”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>That test drive lasted ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Boomer was lazy and slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He grunted like a pig, snored worse than my husband, and enjoyed having
his ears scratched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He begged with huge,
puppy-dog eyes I couldn’t resist, and dragged his paws when he walked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boomer hated water, but once plowed through
four feet of snow to find a grassy patch to pee on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was my first doggy baby and I cried
buckets when he died of heart failure.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The second dog in my life is Annie, an apricot miniature
poodle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We originally adopted her and
her sister, who were the only two left in the litter, but soon realized (after
I had a breakdown and cried on the floor) that two puppies was too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend took in her sister, and we kept
Annie.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Annie is a poodle princess, who is spunky, sassy and quirky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hobbies include playing fetch, chewing my
underwear, sleeping on the top of the couch, hiding under the dining room table
after stealing forbidden items, and enjoying belly rubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Annie is a lover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
sleeps on our bed, of course, but prefers to slumber by our feet, saving the
mornings for our “special” time,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when
she lays on my pillow and can sit on my face to lick my cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doles out kisses liberally and is a
glutton for a good human/dog scratching session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Like her former older brother, she prefers to be inside on rainy
days, and would rather risk a scolding than relieve herself in the snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loves everyone, except dogs who dare to
tread on her front lawn, and has been known to openly and wantonly accept
affection from complete strangers.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>She is my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>baby girl,
and I cannot imagine life without her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I write on the couch, she cuddles up against me, often draping
herself on my laptop to re-direct my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t blame her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is used to
being loved and spoiled, like a good poodle princess should.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>She joined me just now, licking my face and woofing in anger
when I asked her to wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bone on the
carpet will bear the brunt of her frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a little while, I’ll go upstairs to bed, and she will follow, leaving
my husband behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll curl up in my
crotch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no better place for a
poodle.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About Bethany:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bethany Masone Harar graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English from James Madison University and a Masters in Secondary English Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has enjoyed teaching high school English ever since. As a teacher, Bethany is able to connect with the very audience for whom she writes, and this connection gives her insight into their interests. As a writer, she wants to make her readers gasp out loud, sigh with longing and identify with her characters. </strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bethany also enjoys posting on her blog, <em><a href="http://bethsbemusings.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #2288bb;">bethsbemusings.blogspot.com</span></a></em>, is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and is an avid follower of literary-driven social media. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span>She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, two beautiful children, and her miniature poodle, Annie.</span> </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Voices of the Sea:</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Sea-Bethany-Masone-Harar-ebook/dp/B00LI486Q2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406788269&sr=1-1&keywords=voices+of+the+sea" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and Barnes and Noble and independent book stores.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><strong>The Sirens of Pacific Grove, California are being exterminated, and seventeen-year-old Loralei Reines is their next target. Lora may look like a normal teenager, but her voice has the power to enchant and hypnotize men. Like the other Sirens in her clan, however, she keeps her true identity a secret to protect their species.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><strong>Lora's birthright as the next clan leader seems far off, until the Sons of Orpheus, a vicious cult determined to kill all Sirens on Earth, begin exterminating her people. When an unexpected tragedy occurs, Lora must take her place as Guardian of the Clan.</strong></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;">Lora is determined to gain control of her skills to help her clan, but they are developing too slowly, until she meets Ryan, a human boy. When Ryan is near, Lora's abilities strengthen. She knows she shouldn't be with a human. Yet, she can't resist her attraction to him, or the surge in power she feels whenever they're together.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And the Sirens are running out of time. If Lora can't unlock the secret to defeat the Sons of Orpheus, she, along with everyone she loves, will be annihilated.</span></strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br /><em><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Voices of the Sea includes a rich history of Sirens. Mythology and modern life come together in this beautifully written book that draws the reader in from the first chapter.</strong></span></em></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><em><strong>Links: </strong></em><a href="http://www.bethanymasoneharar.com/" target="_blank"><em><strong>Author's Web</strong></em></a><em><strong> </strong></em><a href="http://bethsbemusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><em><strong>Author's Blog</strong></em></a><em><strong> </strong></em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bethanyhararauthor" target="_blank"><em><strong> Facebook</strong></em></a><em><strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Sea-Bethany-Masone-Harar-ebook/dp/B00LI486Q2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406788269&sr=1-1&keywords=voices+of+the+sea" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://twitter.com/bethhararwrites" target="_blank"><em><strong>Twitter</strong></em></a><strong><em> </em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target">bethhararwrites <a href="http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2014/07/bethany-harar-launches-her-wow-blog.html" target="_blank"><em>The Muffin Interview and tour dates</em></a></span></span></span></strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-22516386963312371332014-08-05T07:39:00.001-07:002014-08-05T07:39:09.384-07:00Ellen Cooney's Rescue Dogs Inspiration For Novel "The Mountaintop School For Dogs"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ellen Cooney and</span> dogs <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Andy</span>,
golden retriever, 8; <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Skip</span>, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling
Retriever, 7, and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Maxine</span>,
chocolate lab/wire haired terrier, almost 2.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>My own three dogs inspired me to write about the profound and life-affirming things that happen when humans have the chance to truly connect with animals: comedy, really, because comedy is the opposite of the tragic. My dogs drive me crazy at least once a day. But they make me laugh a whole lot more, and while I hope and trust they’ve forgotten their earlier experiences of being in terrible situations, I never stop remembering that at any given moment, somewhere, for every animal being loved by a human, another is being hurt by one. I like to think it’s not a mere fantasy that maybe a reader or two of <em>Mountaintop</em> will want to go to a shelter and bring home a homeless pet. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Maxine</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">I’ve been so preoccupied with
waiting for <i>Mountaintop</i>'s pub date, I missed an anniversary: adopting
Maxine. Never mind for now she is banished from the dog park for terrorist-like
behavior toward dogs she does not like the look of. We're working on that. She
has issues. But in the last year, after having been literally rescued at the
last moment from her designated fate at a kill shelter, where she was a pup who
had outlived her stay, she fell desperately ill, yet pulled through, and then,
one terrifying morning at the beach, she swam over her head into danger—and
was, once again, rescued. I would like a little less drama in her second year
with me, but I fear that is too much to hope for. </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About Another Dog:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">As a volunteer at an animal
shelter, I had the job of walking dogs who’d been “surrendered” by owners who
didn’t want them. Or they’d been rescued from abusive homes. Lots of the dogs I
met there became big-deal inspirations for the dog-characters of my new novel.
I woke up today thinking of one called Corky. I wonder if I’d dreamed of him.
He was a hound mix, about three or four, beagle-spotted, long-legged. He was
always silent, and he had the saddest eyes I ever saw on any creature. He’d
been rescued from a life in a yard, back of “his family’s” house, chained to a
stake in the ground. Until he arrived at the shelter he had never been indoors.
When it was time for him to be walked, he didn’t want to leave his cage. He had
to be lured out with treats. Luckily a rescue group came and took him to put
him into one of their foster homes—he was the only dog at the shelter no one
looked at twice in terms of “I want to take you home with me.” So he had to
watch other dogs getting freed, getting wanted, many times before the
rescue-group person showed up. I know this is absurd of me, but I wish that dog
knew that he became a character in my novel: a dog who looks just him, in rehab
and training after years on a chain. I named him Shadow. I have a whole plot
thing of the sadness going out of his eyes, of his voice changing from mute to
barking and howling.If only one person reads this book and feels even half of
what I felt as I learned about chained dogs from Corky, I did my job. Not that
I’m saying, oh, fiction has a purpose! I’m saying, fiction is where you feel.
Where you connect with the feelings of someone else, and the someone is a dog.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">About the Book:</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">Buy On <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mountaintop-School-Other-Second-Chances-ebook/dp/B00E78IFTE/ref=la_B001H6WKYU_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407248423&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>Publication Date Today: August 5, 2014 </strong><span><span><strong>Houghton Mifflin Harcourt </strong></span></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">The Sanctuary. High up on the
mountain, the Sanctuary is a place of refuge. It is a place where humans save
dogs, who, in turn, save the humans. It is a place where the past does not
exist, where hopelessness is chased away, where the future hasn’t been written,
where orphans and strays can begin to imagine a new meaning for “family.”<br />
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Evie is making her way to the Sanctuary. She has lied to gain entry. She has
pretended to know more than she does about dogs, but she is learning fast. Once
the indomitable Mrs. Auberchon lets her pass, she will find her way. Like the
racing greyhound who refuses to move, the golden retriever who returns to his
job as the Sanctuary’s butler every time he’s adopted, and the Rottweiler who’s
a hopeless candidate for search-and-rescue, Evie comes from a troubled past.
But as they all learn, no one should stay prisoner to a life she didn’t choose.<br />
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This is the story of two women and a whole pack of dogs who, having lost their
way in the world, find a place at a training school—and radical rescue
center—called the Sanctuary. It is a story of strays and rescues, kidnappings
and homecomings, moving on and holding on and letting go. And it is,
ultimately, a moving and hilarious chronicle of the ways in which humans and
canines help each other find new lives, new selves, and new hope.</span></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">About the Author:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Ellen Cooney</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Ellen Cooney's ninth novel, <em>The Mountaintop School For Dogs And Other Second Chances</em>, is being published this summer by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt--a full circle for her. After publishing short stories in The New Yorker and many literary journals, and novels with presses large and small, mainstream and alternative, she is back where she started with her first book, <em>Small Town Girl</em>, published by Houghton Mifflin in 1983.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Cooney's other novels include <em>Thanksgiving</em> (Publerati, 2013), <em>Lambrusco</em> (Pantheon, 2009), <em>A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies</em> (Pantheon, 2007), <em>Gun Ball Hill</em> (University Press of New England, 2004), <em>The White Palazzo</em> (Coffee House Press, 2002), <em>The Old Ballerina</em> (Coffee House Press, 1999), and <em>All the Way Home</em> (G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1984).</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Cooney's short stories have appeared in <em>The New Yorker</em>, <em>New England Review</em>, <em>Ontario Review</em>, <em>The Literary Review</em>, <em>Glimmer Train</em>, and many other journals. She has received fiction fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, and she taught creative writing at MIT, Boston College, and the Extension and Summer School at Harvard.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>She lives in Phippsburg, Maine.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Links: <a href="http://ellencooney.com/" target="_blank">Author's Web</a> <a href="mailto:ellencooney@ellencooney.com" target="_blank">Contact the Author</a> <a href="http://coffeecanine.blogspot.com/2014/08/ellen-cooney-andy-skip-and-maxine.html" target="_blank">Interview on <em>Coffee With A Canine</em></a></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ellen-Cooney/e/B001H6WKYU/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1" target="_blank">Author's Amazon Page</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mountaintop-School-Other-Second-Chances-ebook/dp/B00E78IFTE/ref=la_B001H6WKYU_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407248423&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Buy The Book Amazon</a> <a href="http://ellencooney.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Author's Blog</a></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellen.cooney.71" target="_blank">FaceBook</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/124923.Ellen_Cooney?from_search=true" target="_blank">GoodReads</a></span></strong></div>
Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-41822873776381577882014-08-01T06:20:00.001-07:002014-08-01T06:27:42.522-07:00Author Lynda Fitzgerald Confessions of a Dog Hoarder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Chloe with her paw around Moxie at nap time.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Confessions of a Dog Hoarder</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What do you call someone who
keeps adding new dogs to her existing pack? A hoarder? <o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>How about a sucker? Yes, I’m a
sucker for dogs. Especially dogs who have been abandoned, neglected, or
mistreated. Show me one of those, and I’m Jell-O Instant Pudding.<o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I was down to one dog once. Yes,
only one. My best human friend and housemate had just died, and of the three
Cairn Terriers we once had, only one was left. Fergus and I were both heartbroken.
Devastated. Depressed. You get the idea. Then I saw Chloe on Petfinders, an
online rescue site. She was a twelve-week-old German Shepherd puppy who had
been abandoned and was almost hit by a car on a gravel country road. The folks
who almost hit her sent their young son scooting under their car to drag her
out. She was too terrified to move. Yes, Chloe came home with me. When I
brought her in the house and put her on the floor, Fergus’s ears perked up
immediately as he went over to sniff his new interactive toy.<o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Then I met Chloe’s best friend at
her doggie daycare, an eight-month old German Shepherd/Hound mix who was dumped
there by people who moved away. If I were charitable, I’d say they at least
left her where she’d be well cared for. I’m not, the rotters. I took the horse
sized puppy home for the weekend to see how she’d do with Chloe and the somewhat
shell-shocked Fergus. Remember, he was dealing with a German Shepherd <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">puppy.</i> Before I drove out of the parking
lot, I decided she was mine and changed her name to Moxie. You know, force of
character and determination in the face of adversity? The name fit, and so did
Moxie. I’ve never been sorry.<o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Okay, so back to three, right? For
a while.<o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Finally, Mr. Fergus McTavish,
Cairn Terrier Extraordinaire, came to the end of his almost fourteen-year life,
and we were back to two. It was terribly hard to lose him, but my two girls
consoled me as best they could.</strong></span></div>
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<strong>Mr. Fergus McTavish 2006</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>A couple years later, my daughter Nikki moved in with me, along with her ten-year-old son John, and Josie, one of her three dogs, a beautiful Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix I’d rescued almost two years before when she was five weeks old and was dumped in a neighbor’s fenced back yard. Nikki took one look at Josie the weekend I brought her home and said, “She’s mine.” And so she was, for a while. Now Josie is ours.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Josie as a puppy</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Josie all grown up</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Moving on. Nikki’s ex-husband
moved in with his parents after the divorce and declared he could only keep one
of their two remaining dogs. He threatened to get rid of both dogs unless Nikki
agreed (which meant “mom” agreed) to take at least one. That’s how Lexie, dog
number four, came to live with us.</strong></span></div>
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<o:p> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Lexie </strong></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>End of story, right? Not quite yet. </strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About nine days ago, the wife and
dog dumping ex-husband dropped the other dog off with us for a week while his
parents were out of town because “he was never home to take care of her.”
Excuse me? You have a dog, and you can’t curtail your social life long enough to
take care of it? Apparently not. When I saw poor Zoe’s condition—infested with
fleas, covered with untreated hot spots, her hind legs weak because her dog-deserting
owner also didn’t give her the Glucosamine I bought for her, I pretty much exploded.
But there’s a happy ending to this story, too. Zoe has now been to the vet, is
on Trifexus (bye-bye fleas), and the hot spots have been treated. It will take a
while for the Glucosamine to kick in, but I know it will.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Zoe</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What does all the above have to
do with writing and dogs? Lots. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>You see, I am a writer. A writer
with six books published and more written. During the year my best friend was battling
ovarian cancer, I was her caregiver. And then she died. During that time, I
didn’t write a word. Me. Ms. Prolific. My dedication to writing finally resurfaced
when I brought Chloe home and has grown exponentially since. Do the dogs
interrupt my writing? Of course they do. Does it bother me? Heck, no. They’re a
shining light in my life, a constant source of both entertainment and
inspiration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs remind us that life
goes on. They teach us to live in the moment, not dragged down by the past or
fearful of the future. They teach us that and so much more.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>So call me a sucker, or a dog
hoarder if you like. I consider myself a lucky person--lucky to have those five
dogs in my life and lucky to be writing again. Frankly, I wouldn’t have it any
other way.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About Lynda Fitzgerald: </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Lynda Fitzgerald is an author,
teacher and frequent speaker at writers’ conference and workshops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her debut novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If Truth Be Told</i>, was published in June, 2007. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Of Words & Music</i> came out in March of 2009, and her mystery
series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LIVE</i>, was launched in Spring
2010 with the release of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LIVE</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ringer</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LIVE</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ammo </i>followed in
2012 and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LIVE in Person</i> in late
spring 2014. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Although Lynda was born and spent
much of her life in central Florida, she now lives in Snellville, GA, with her numerous
rescue dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit the author’s <a href="http://www.fitzgeraldwrites.com/" target="_blank">website</a>
for more information, book excerpts, and some beautiful pictures of the area
where her books are set.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About <em>LIVE in Person</em>:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Buy On <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Person-Lynda-Fitzgerald-ebook/dp/B00K9XXU2I/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1405514990&sr=1-3&keywords=lynda+fitzgerald" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Allie Grainger has a new job, a
new love, and a pretty well-ordered life... until a cop she put in jail escapes
and comes after her, determined to make her pay. <o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Her brother Len wants her to pay
a different price. He shows up on her doorstep, demanding she give him half the
nearly two million dollars she inherited from their aunt. Soon, she realizes
he’ll go to any lengths to make it happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Then Len vanishes, the apparent
victim of foul play, and suspicion falls on Allie. She knows her only hope is
to find out what happened to her brother, a move that could cost more than one
life.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The LIVE series is set in Melbourne, Florida. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Investigative reporter Allie Grainger is the lead character in this mystery series. Find all of Lynda Fitzgerald's books on her<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Lynda%20Fitzgerald&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank"> Amazon author page.</a></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>LINKS: <a href="http://www.fitzgeraldwrites.com/" target="_blank">Author Web</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lynda.fitzgerald?fref=tl_fr_box" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Lynda%20Fitzgerald&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/277522.Lynda_Fitzgerald?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Author Page</a> </strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/Lyndafitz" target="_blank">Twitter</a> @Lyndafitz</span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-24233340041977234302014-07-23T07:23:00.001-07:002014-07-23T07:26:52.665-07:00Amie Flanagan and Vincent, the One Eared Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> Vincent Van Gogh</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Mom said she got him seconds before he was to be euthanized. Apparently, saving this older German Shepherd was a massive group effort for many different organizations. However, we did it. I had yet to meet the dog and I wondered how I would like him. The shelter had named the dog Vincent. I wanted him named something else. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">The dog approached me shyly when I got home and I petted him. I’m not really a dog person, but he had the kindest brown eyes. The real miracle occurred when my dad got home. We waited for him to hit the roof. My dad petted the dog and went to sit down. The dog went and sat down next to dad.<o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Later that night Vincent had to go to the bathroom. He didn’t know to come and get either my dad or I. Instead, he just took a dump in the living room. The smell was so horrendous it woke me up from a dead sleep. I sat up and knew my dad would tell me the dog would have to go back. <o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;">I took the dog outside and put him in the old dog pen that is about five feet high, grabbed a shovel, and cleaned up the dog’s mess. I realized the poor thing had hookworm. Afterwards I went back and was almost halfway asleep when I heard him. <o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>“Woof.” </strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I stood up and went to the backdoor where Vincent now waited to go inside. I was in awe that he cleared a five-foot fence. I let him in and Vincent found my parents bedroom. He curled up at the foot of my dad’s bed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></strong></span></span> </div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>While he was in the shelter, Vincent had developed a horrible ear infection. Dad made the decision to have the ear amputated. Mom started to call him Vincent Van Gogh.</strong></span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Over the next few years the dog had proven to become my dad's best friend. He would follow my dad everywhere. We thought the dog might’ve belonged to an older person or may have been a retired service dog. Vincent didn’t like fireworks, and God forbid if he didn’t like somebody. Vincent was a gentle and unusual dog in the sense that he had a calm personality. He was always afraid we would leave him behind, but we never did. </strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">About Amie Flanagan:</span></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zDRh1L1ga4zLM9LfMIj8VNLzX5SGkRRozrEOnNIgjc7UNyC_pfWkROmHCIp8fyZHRMqL7lacIE6bWNjNcS9iHqEIlk0-WO7O-2zQpmxSaN6hqBJpr3MJiBXgxTMsKpAnjHJK_gPuYpag/s1600/amie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zDRh1L1ga4zLM9LfMIj8VNLzX5SGkRRozrEOnNIgjc7UNyC_pfWkROmHCIp8fyZHRMqL7lacIE6bWNjNcS9iHqEIlk0-WO7O-2zQpmxSaN6hqBJpr3MJiBXgxTMsKpAnjHJK_gPuYpag/s1600/amie3.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong>Amie</strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">
</span> </span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Amie Flanagan attends Savannah College of Art and Design, where she’s in the process of obtaining a M.A. in Cinema Studies and a M.F.A. in Writing. She is a contributing editor to the blog<span style="color: black;"> </span></strong></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://curvymoi.com/" target="_blank">Curvy Moi</a> and her website <em><a href="http://amieflanagan.com/" target="_blank">Keys To The Page</a></em> is dedicated to writers. Amie</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> attended Kennesaw State University where she earned her B.S. in Communication with a focus in Journalism. She interned at the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange with the Center for Sustainable Journalism at Kennesaw State University and at EUE/Screen Gems Studio in Atlanta, Georgia. She has interviewed many authors, actors, musicians, screenwriters, and politicians while at Kennesaw State Universities Owl Radio (<a href="http://amieflanagan.com/about-2/about/list-of-people-interviewed/" target="_blank">click here to see list</a>) . Amie loves to read. Here’s a list of her <a href="http://amieflanagan.com/about-2/about/favorite-books/" target="_blank">favorite books</a>. She also loves to write. Check out her <a href="http://amieflanagan.com/portfolio/" target="_blank">portfolio</a>. </strong></span><br />
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<strong></strong><br />
<strong>About <em>Keys To The Page</em>:</strong><br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.keystothepage.com/" target="_blank">Visit web</a></strong></div>
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</span><a href="http://amieflanagan.com/" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">KeysTo The Page</span></em></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia;"> is a website that helps encourage writers to be the best they can be. Exercises and Examples help writers form their craft. There are also quick references on the page for writers, screenwriters, and playwrights. This page also posts news, and interesting things that will be sure to help the budding author and</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>contains basic facts, recommended reading, basic reviews, interviews, and special event coverage to help create a strong mastery of the art of writing.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>And then there are the cats . . . </strong></span></div>
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<strong>Amie and Skippy</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>We won't say how many . . .</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>but here's a hint, let's count from 1 to 7.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links:</strong></span><br />
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<strong>Amie and Charlie</strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-20174299045836974252014-07-21T10:15:00.001-07:002014-07-21T10:15:43.598-07:00Dog Blogger K.S. Mueller with Hobie, Cooper, and Charlie Brown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>K.S. Mueller and friends.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>At no time in my life have I ever been dog-free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear some dog owners say that they look
forward to a time, later in life, when they will not have a dog so they can
have more freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, it’s just the
opposite… if and when I retire, I want to have multiple dogs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dream is to own and operate a senior pet
sanctuary some day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been fortunate
to have many dogs and cats who enjoyed their golden years with us, and feel I
have been given a great gift to be able to care for so many elderly
animals.</strong></span></div>
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<strong>At the moment, we have three dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hobie is a 14 ½ year-old Lab/Shepherd mix with
whom I fell in love at first sight when he was just a puppy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charlie Brown and Cooper are 2-year-old littermates
from the “Kate Plus Eight” litter of “Tennessee Ugly Brown Dogs” transported
north to Massachusetts with their mom saving them from a high-kill facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charlie is the “alpha” of the household now;
and his brother Cooper only has three legs (but he doesn’t know that, so please
don’t tell him!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching over us
always are the late, great, Hector Hound and the girl-dog I knew the longest,
Timba; as well as Mr. Kitty, the reincarnated dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also have three cats:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tux, Newman and Cali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My significant other gave them
nicknames:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bullet, Hairball and Lady
Kitty, respectively!</strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The dogs follow me everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to say we move as a unit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I leave a room, they follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cats follow us, too, usually on walks on
our lakeside, dead-end dirt road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neighbors point and laugh -- it is pretty funny to see the cats
following along, and even putting their paws in the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a pack, that is for sure. It can get
crowded in our too-small house, but I love having them nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lie under my desk, or somewhere nearby,
when I’m writing and using the computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I take pictures of them almost daily, which I’m sure drives some of my
social-media friends crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About K.S. Mueller:</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-JXj7648dijvJLo-3AqlO0kmggryk_IK_okK-56CgkU6sbBStOQ7NCLq1_vGMGRe5_F2Kh0KXw3U2xKmsiIrGb73_eNkHg58p9DAGpc67_qGg37tCeV0a3Wm7Su-XMSAOcPI0ynMZ5eq/s1600/189_k2john2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-JXj7648dijvJLo-3AqlO0kmggryk_IK_okK-56CgkU6sbBStOQ7NCLq1_vGMGRe5_F2Kh0KXw3U2xKmsiIrGb73_eNkHg58p9DAGpc67_qGg37tCeV0a3Wm7Su-XMSAOcPI0ynMZ5eq/s1600/189_k2john2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">K.S. Mueller (a.k.a. "k2" **) </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">writes essays about dogs, cats and other topics during her spare time from her "real job" as a travel executive, and takes a lot of photos. Mueller lives in Massachusetts with her significant other, their dogs Hobie, Charlie</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Brown, and Cooper, and three cats, Cali, Tux and Newman. Mueller has shared her life with dozens of dogs and cats since childhood, and volunteers for several animal-related non-profit organizations. In 2010, she discovered a box of letters written by her late parents during WWII, and is currently publishing those letters in a three-volume biography of the Mueller family.</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Hobie</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The Blogs:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.k2k9.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">K2K9 Blog</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.travelingdoglady.com/" target="_blank">The Traveling Dog Lady</a></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Travel and lifestyle tips for you and your dog.</em></strong></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What The Human Does In Her Own Words:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>For the last three decades, I’ve been employed by my
significant other’s student travel business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s sort of like running the family business, but not being an actual
owner – even</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>though I act like an owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Folks generally don’t understand what student travel is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember when your school’s French class went
to France with their</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>teacher?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the
Spanish teacher took her kids to Spain or Costa Rica?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I have “worn every hat” in the
company, my main function</strong></span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>is Bookkeeper Extraordinaire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A far cry from writing, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently started writing the company’s
blog, <a href="http://www.passports.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Going Places</span>.</a> </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Books:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Anything-World-1942-1943-ebook/dp/B0053D9UC8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1405539094" target="_blank">Amazon and Kindle</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> A collection of WWII love letters written by my parents during World War II from 1943 through 1945 when my father was a sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in various locations including Illinois, California, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas, England, Germany, Belgium and France. Includes autobiographical documents written by Frank J. Mueller. Volume I comprises 1942 & 1943. Future volumes will complete the series.</strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Dog books:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In progress!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dear Hobie:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Letters To A Yellow Dog” and “Everything Is A Song: Essays”. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links:</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: white;"><em>Sites Where K.S. Mueller writes</em></span>: <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://woof.doggyloot.com/author/k2k9dogsgmail-com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">DoggyLoot blog</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://blog.fairydogparents.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Fairy Dog Parents blog</span></a></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue;"></span></strong> </div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.easthamdog.org/id6.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Eastham Dog Owner's Association Newsletter</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://www.capewomenonline.com/AuthorPages/KSMueller.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Cape Women Online</span></a></strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: white;"><em>Personal Blogs:</em></span> <a href="http://www.k2k9.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> K2K9</a> <a href="http://www.travelingdoglady.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Traveling Dog Lady</span></a></strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Amazon:</span> </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Anything-World-1942-1943-ebook/dp/B0053D9UC8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1405539094" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Paper and Kindle</span></a></strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><em><a href="https://twitter.com/k2k9" target="_blank">Twitter</a></em></span></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span class="nickname"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@k2k9</span></strong></span> </div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/k2k9dogs?fref=nf" target="_blank">FaceBook</a></em></strong></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4984203.K_S_Mueller" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="mailto:k2k9dogs@gmail.com" target="_blank">Contact</a></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span> </div>
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<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> </strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-70293683330130760812014-07-15T10:16:00.003-07:002014-07-15T10:16:14.017-07:00Author Roy Dimond with Mickey and Lou<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4in2fdMitFlwfK3QwXidKasGZIOid-Nfgwp9wH8gYlQPdplJHUpvd3Wou7GULdyJ8w0JGK1VObBfI0bUxSaJdt7ocCNxql3gDrlbhyphenhyphenBoDWYdQYElaobJouwv4jQDCkYk3mgxxWyt6ATik/s1600/BeFunky_cozy+mickey.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4in2fdMitFlwfK3QwXidKasGZIOid-Nfgwp9wH8gYlQPdplJHUpvd3Wou7GULdyJ8w0JGK1VObBfI0bUxSaJdt7ocCNxql3gDrlbhyphenhyphenBoDWYdQYElaobJouwv4jQDCkYk3mgxxWyt6ATik/s1600/BeFunky_cozy+mickey.jpg.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mickey on the couch that we cut the legs off when he got old.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD7OtJDUQ62na0H2xRcO4UEvlxr_-A0mBRJrMOOB1eSrn6gIRFiZplbw7LPo8pGklxR2CyaXxX9kMmLV5BN7A4fUpKugTbxr-E4gdTgU1460nwSMhGsX6dS0xXV__6IVy4OdibSUoViAV/s1600/BeFunky_Miss+Lou.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD7OtJDUQ62na0H2xRcO4UEvlxr_-A0mBRJrMOOB1eSrn6gIRFiZplbw7LPo8pGklxR2CyaXxX9kMmLV5BN7A4fUpKugTbxr-E4gdTgU1460nwSMhGsX6dS0xXV__6IVy4OdibSUoViAV/s1600/BeFunky_Miss+Lou.jpg.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Lou with her kind eyes</strong></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Barbara, thank you so much for providing me with the
opportunity to share a story on your exciting new blog. I swear that every word
here is the absolute truth. This all happened… to me. Roy Dimond</em></strong></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I was on a date with a young woman
whom I found most attractive. It was early in the relationship and I was on my
best behavior, trying mightily to impress her. We were walking beside a
four-lane highway holding hands and chatting -- when I saw it -- and without
even realizing it my shoulder pressed against the young lady nudging her out
into traffic. I was halfway into the oncoming traffic; hands holding her so
tight our knuckles were turning white before I realized what I was doing. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>By the time we meandered between
honking cars and had made it to the other side of the street without dying, I
knew she was the woman I would marry. Anyone who would follow me into traffic,
help me stop four lanes of cars, with no explanation other than my shoulder
slowly guiding us, well she was the woman for me.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Now you may ask, what would cause a
perfectly sane man to drag his date out into traffic. I had spotted a dog. A
black dog to be specific. Probably a lab, but to me all black dogs were hounds
spawned from some biblical beast and a threat. Why? Because of what happened to
me when I was 6 years old.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It was a beautiful summer day and I
was throwing a tennis ball against the house. I will always remember that day
when the ball went into our open garage door. I trotted into the darkness and
waited for my eyes to adjust before finding my ball. I remember it so clearly,
partially because it was such a beautiful summer day with summer clouds and
bright summer sun, and so dark in the depths of the garage. When I turned
around to leave, three of the biggest, blackest, most vicious dogs I have ever
seen or ever hope to see -- hounds from hell -- cornered me in that dark garage
for who knows how long. A day, a year, it seemed longer, but most likely it was
about ten minutes. But ten minutes of hell is a lifetime to a six-year-old boy.
They snarled and their back legs quivered in attack mode anytime I moved. With
hackles up they kept me cornered until thankfully my mom came looking for me.
She was Super Woman that summer afternoon. Beating them off with the handle of
a broom. They jumped our fence and the pack was never seen in our neighborhood
again. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>That is why, despite trying to
impress my future wife, I crossed to the other side of the street… I had to, at
any cost… loss of dignity and thus loss of future wife, run over by car, cause
a multiple car pile up, it didn’t matter. It was a black dog and it was on my
side of the sidewalk. This is what my life was like whenever I saw a dog,
especially a black dog… until…<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>One day, my now happily married
wife, and yes it was that same loyal woman who married me, came home and
announced, “We are getting a dog.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“No we aren’t.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“Yes, we are.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“NO we are NOT.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>As with most arguments between my
wife and me, it went back and forth like this until I finally put my foot down
and insisted, “Yes darling, you are right, we are getting a dog.” I take great
pride in that I win most of the family arguments, even if it takes me some time
to see the correctness of my position.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>So we went to meet the beast -- the
enemy -- the spawn of Satan. En route, I admit to some mild complaining, but
not, as my wife has expanded over the years when telling the story, to
sniveling and whining like a five-year-old girl. That NEVER happened… anyway…
back to my story…<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>We showed up at the country home
where a dozen dogs roamed about terrorizing all other life forms. Sure it
looked like play to the untrained eye, but I knew they were actually exercising
their skills of trickery, rolling on the ground exposing their bellies for a
pat only to rip and tear the hand that offered nothing but kindness. I watched
them run and frolic until their tongues hung out. No doubt these were
cardiovascular drills training them to chase down humans and to attack as a
pack. Ruthless beasts.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>While standing in the middle of
their drills of death, I heard my wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Here, this is the one I wanted to show you… he’s perfect.” She picked
up the puppy and held it close.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I thought to myself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what guile… tricking her into bringing her
face close so he could rip a hunk of flesh right from her cheek.</i> But no… he
licked her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Little bugger must be waiting
for his canine teeth.<o:p></o:p></i></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>At least he was white and a lab; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they do have a nice face</i>… I was
weakening. Then it happened…<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I took a step closer and almost
fell flat on my face. Down at my feet was the cutest… err… I mean the most
deadly looking beast… it was a lab… curled around my ankles so if I moved I
would fall allowing the other hounds to eat the flesh off my bones. Worse of
all… yep… it was black. Yes, yes, it was the runt of the litter, but it was
black… and it had me in its grip and it was NOT letting go.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Still clutching the white lab puppy
to her chest, my wife laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face… she
had a cruel streak in her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My knees were
locked, paralyzed with fear. The dog owner chuckled, “I can’t do a better selling
job than that.” <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Unfortunately my wife agreed. “We
have to have both of them.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“No, we do not.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“Yes, we are.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“NO we are absolutely NOT.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I, of course, eventually saw the
error of my ways and won the argument… by paying the dog owner for two Labrador
puppies.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>By the time we got home it was
raining hard and we had not one, but two dogs romping about the basement. We
agreed that the white lab would be named Mickey. He was all boy and handsome as
handsome can be – Mickey Mantle.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The girl dog we named Lou and she
was tiny, tiny, tiny, so naturally she was already bossing around her bigger
brother.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I put down my car keys and closed
the garage door, and before I could stop him, Mickey had picked up my keys in
his mouth and sprinted into the back yard. For two hours in the pouring rain I
searched for my keys, and by the way neither mutt even offered to come out into
the downpour to help look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
locating them, I marched inside soaked to the skin. I yelled at Mickey, “Bad
dog! You don’t ever take my keys again.” Please remember, it was my first hour,
ever, with the enemy and I did not understand the terms of our agreement
yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His head cocked from side to side
clearly confused by my tirade. My bemused wife offered me a towel, but then it
happened. In that moment, the enemy became a part of my family. I yelled one
last time at Mickey, “BAD DOG” when in the corner of my eye I saw little Lou
faint -- she toppled over, legs in the air, unconscious. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It was then that I realized she
wasn’t a beast, but as sensitive a creature that has ever walked the earth.
Better than man and kinder and wiser as well. I coaxed her back to
consciousness and realized that I could never raise my voice in my house ever
again. That included shouts of joy over a sports event, as that would mean
twenty minutes of what we came to call “Love Talk” -- twenty minutes of kind
words so that precious Lou knew she was safe and loved. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I also learned that I was not allowed to do sit ups
because that caused dear nurse Lou to run to my side and closely monitor me. If
I continued my sit-ups, she would put a paw on my chest to pin me to the
ground. If I persisted, she would spread eagle on top of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be laughing so hard I was forced to
stop.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>In time, as the puppies grew into
healthy dogs, my fear vanished and for that I am ever grateful for being wise
enough to demand that we bring home both dogs. At least that’s how I remember
it.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>In his old age, Mickey began having
seizures and Lou would always come and tell us minutes before they happened.
Somehow she knew and would try to pin her much bigger brother to the ground
thus giving us warning so we could put him into his safe bed where he couldn’t
hurt himself.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>On Lou’s final day she passed
peacefully while giving me her paw. That night, Mickey went to bed alone for
the first time in his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After my
wife and I went to bed, he let out the most mournful howl imaginable. We cried
and climbed out of bed and went down stairs to sleep with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never recovered from that loss and
followed Lou one year later, but at least he never had to sleep alone.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Now when a black dog comes walking along the
sidewalk, I don’t cross over, but am the first to greet it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time, I am reminded of my Mickey and my
Lou and miss them -- I would have it no other way.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Book Excerpt:</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mickey with his bowl... good story <em>In Saving Our Pennys</em> about him saving his
bowl from a storm.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>This is a segment from a book I co-authored
with my good friend Jeff Leitch. It is a story about an individual who is
struggling with his day-to-day life and the journey he takes to find joy and
happiness. It is called, Saving Our
Pennys. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>In the book, we shared a couple
of stories about Mickey {we call him Lab}. Although he has a small part in the
book, he is very fundamental to the tale and everything we shared is true. I hope
you enjoy…<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Our-Pennys-Roy-Dimond/dp/1618071122/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1405442707&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> When I finally arrive at the end
of the driveway, Lab frantically dashes out to share all the day’s events with
me. One of the peculiarities of this rather peculiar dog is that wherever he
goes he carries his food bowl in his mouth. No one has ever taught him this,
but my kids attribute it to the Boy Scout in him. “Always be prepared,” as one
never knows when food might arrive. At this point in our greeting ritual, he
usually does me the honor of dropping his bowl and taking my hand to guide me
around the yard. It is his way of showing me what happened during his day.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, just before he is able to do
this, there is a bright light followed by an ear-splitting crack of thunder. I
am nearly hit in the head, not by the lightening, but by Lab’s bowl as it flies
into the air. In the millisecond it takes me to realize what is happening, a
tail disappears through the dog door. I run after him as cold wet drops begin
to splatter the ground. Inside, whimpering comes from a dog that has no bowl.
My consoling does no good as he paces.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the thunder, his courage wins the
day, and I have never been so proud of him. I open the door and at warp speed
he races out, ears pinned back, crying in fear during the entire frantic dash.
Without breaking stride he scoops up his bowl and, trying to bleed off speed,
forces his head to aim toward the house while his back legs skid out from under
him. This makes his circle route as small as the laws of physics allow. I open
the door just slightly wider than his terror-filled eyes. Focusing on his
destination with one mighty leap through the opening, he slides across the
floor and with a loud grunt bashes into the wall on the other side of the room.
With his bowl tightly gripped in canine teeth, he has made it! A finer display
of courage I have never seen.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I congratulate and then console him, as
thunder shatters our moment. We share unimaginable trust as he allows me to pry
the just saved bowl from his jaws and place it beside his blanket. Still panting,
he sprawls next to it. I lie beside him and pat his head, muttering, “Good boy.
Good dog.” Despite the thunder, we are both thankful: he for his bowl and me
for my dog.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About The Authors Of <em>Saving Our Pennys</em>.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Roy</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Roy has visited three times on my <em><a href="http://barbarabarthbookblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Book Talk Blog</a></em>. You can click on each book title and visit the post. <em><a href="http://barbarabarthbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/saving-our-pennys-by-roy-dimond-and.html" target="_blank">Saving Our Pennys</a></em>, <em><a href="http://barbarabarthbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/roy-dimond-new-release-rubicon-effect.html" target="_blank">The Rubicon Effect</a></em>, and <em><a href="http://barbarabarthbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/roy-dimond-singing-bowl_15.html" target="_blank">The Singing Bowl.</a></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Roy Dimond lives with his wife in Pender Harbour, a small fishing village on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Locals call it "Penderdise." In his first life, Roy had the honor of helping at risk children and their families. In his second life, he pursues his love of travel and writing. Having explored four continents from Cuzco to Kyoto, Santorini to Tsumago, his wanderings have all found a way into his stories. Roy's first book <em>The Singing Bowl</em> and is now in a Second Edition. His second novel is called, <em>The Rubicon Effect.</em> <em>Saving Our Pennys</em> is his third book, and first work of non-fiction.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Jeff</strong></span></div>
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<br /><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Jeff Leitch lives with his family in Maple Ridge, a proud community at the base of the majestic GoldenEarsMountain in British Columbia, Canada. Honoured to be a teacher in his native Coquitlam, British Columbia, Jeff’s passions include his wife Linda, and their three kids, Amanda, Matthew and Adam, “all his families” and friends, and the great stories they share. You can find him at any sporting venue, or live theatre, with coffee in hand, cheering and coaching those who display courage and dare to chase greatness. Along with writing occasional articles for local papers, Jeff’s current restlessness has him dreaming of many more novels, while writing at least one musical hit as he goes beyond the three chords he knows on his acoustic guitar.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About the Book:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Ever been overwhelmed by the
everyday burdens of life? And yet, everyone else turns to you for support and
guidance. You see a person sitting next to you laughing, enjoying life. How did
they get there? <o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The universe seldom takes the
straight path. Seeing someone filled with simple joy can often provide the
opportunity for a profound experience. Our long journey is often twisted with
depression, angst, dread... But IF we have the energy to keep our eyes open,
then solutions may appear in the strangest of places. <o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mentors are everywhere, waiting
patiently... IF we look for them. Heroes take many forms, one may be the small
child laughing on a swing and another may be the old man smiling contentedly
beside you on a bus, or perhaps even the people who look to you for help and
guidance. Is it possible to help someone else while helping yourself?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links:</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://roydimond.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Author Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roy-Dimond-Author/391172050979499" target="_blank">Facebook </a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5027782.Roy_Dimond" target="_blank"> Goodreads</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saving-our-Pennys-Roy-Dimond-ebook/dp/B00IHQBCM4/ref=la_B00BBJHVYC_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405443984&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Buy On Amazon</a> </span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-61234278240663395632014-07-10T08:36:00.001-07:002014-07-10T08:58:21.596-07:00Author Barbara Techel and Frankie, The Walk 'N Roll Dog That Started A Legacy <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>Barbara and her current dog Gidget</strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong>Frankie the Walk 'Roll Dog 8/20/99 - 6/21/12 - The Dog That Started It All</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It’s my love of dogs that started me down a new path in life at the age of 41 over ten years ago. Being a writer or caring for special needs dogs was never a part of my life plan. But oh, how it has helped me become the woman I am today!</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The bond between human and animal that can be so deeply intense I yearned to capture all the different facets of it. But little did I know I’d be taken on a journey of personal healing that would help me live more from the true authentic center of who I am.</strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It began with my favorite flavor in color- chocolate. For many years I yearned for a Labrador retriever. I finally got one as a puppy and named her Cassie Jo. I learned patience, grew deeper in compassion, and began to understand the depths of unconditional love because of her.</strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Her diagnoses of bone cancer that took her life eight months later, as odd as it might sound, was a gift in disguise for me. As I watched cancer invade her body, it was her spirit that astounded me. It was as if she had no idea that the tumor on the side of her hip would eventually claim her life. Despite what she was going through, she was truly happy. It was that joyful spirit that I wanted, too. She paved the way, and gave me the courage to venture out into the world of writing.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Dogs would continue to reveal the many layers of who I am when my spunky, short, red haired dachshund, named Frankie, became paralyzed in her hind legs due to disc disease. She was custom-fitted for a dog wheelchair and her zest for life was absolutely contagious.</strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I often sat in awe of this 10-inch tall dog with limp back legs who now enjoyed life to the fullest in a wheelchair that helped her to do all the things she did just like before her paralysis. It was her unabashed attitude of not worrying that others might think it strange she was in a wheelchair, that the next layer of my own insecurity fell away.</strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>This moment etched in my memory forever, watching my petite 14-pound dog roll through the grass, happy to be who she is, despite her wheelchair. All of a sudden, as if a bolt of lightning hit me, I realized all along I had a choice. I could continue to worry what others thought of how I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> live my life or I could live from the heart of who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I truly wanted</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to be</i>.</strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>That skin of which for so many years I felt so uncomfortable in was beginning to feel so much more comfortable. Writing about my experience with a dog in a wheelchair, and the many lessons I learned from her, became my passion. The more I wrote, the deeper I healed.</strong></span></span></div>
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<strong>Available on<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Walk-N-Roll-Dog-ebook/dp/B00DMD8GTO/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405002915&sr=1-5" target="_blank"> Amazon</a></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>For the next five years Frankie and I visited over 350 schools and libraries in our state of Wisconsin. Through the children’s series I wrote about her, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog, </i>we taught kids to be positive, make a difference, and keep on rolling no matter what their challenges. Frankie also became a therapy dog and left a loving and joyful affect on the lives of many in need. She logged over 250 visits visiting people in hospice, our local hospital and an assisted living facility. She was also, as far as I know, one of the first dogs to ever Skype sharing her story to over 50 schools right from the comfort of my writing cottage.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>When Frankie died at the age of twelve, my world as I knew it fell apart. I thought I had finally found my calling with all the work I did with her. Without Frankie, I questioned what it is I’m supposed to do on the next leg of my journey. </strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Four months later, Joie (pronounced Joey), a black and tan dachshund, found her way into my heart when I was searching for another disabled dog to love.</strong></span> </span><br />
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<strong>Joie</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>But it would only be ten short months later when my heart would shatter into a million pieces yet again. Complications and serious health challenges unbeknownst to me when I adopted her, made themselves known in a sudden and unexpected way. The greatest gift I could give her was to let her go.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>At my side during the painful grieving process of Frankie and Joie has been my eight year old English Labrador, Kylie. She has been my rock of solace and comfort during very sad days.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">would only be after Joie left this earth that I would realize the gift of what she taught me. Her lesson to me was that it was time for me to be still. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She left so that I could sit in reflection and refill the well of which I knew was empty, but was too frightened to accept. After years of writing for my blog, writing children’s books and nearing the completion of my memoir, I stepped back. I completely stopped everything I had been doing and took a two month sabbatical. I felt this was essential to my soul. I knew had to find my way back to my center again.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Through daily journaling just for me, I was able to peel away even more layers and heal on yet another level. It is where I came to grasp the gift of being a woman who is a work in progress. In this I’ve realized there are more opportunities to grow and evolve. I’ve learned that a big part of my calling is caring for special needs dachshunds and I knew I would do that again someday soon.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>November 2013 found me holding a newly adopted dachshund in my arms that I found through a rescue organization on the west coast. Inflicted with the same disc disease, Gidget is what I call my “walk ‘n wobble” dog. Unlike Frankie and Joie, she does not need a wheelchair. Though she may webble and wobble, and fall down at times, it’s a new adventure for me to watch a new kind of perseverance in her determination. I also lovingly refer to her as my Buddha dog.</strong></span> </span><br />
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<strong>Gidget</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>There is just something about her that reminds me to practice daily stillness, pay attention to the</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>whispers of my heart, and encourages me to not be afraid of what the next step on my path is. She does this all just by the way in which she seems to be so planted firmly in the spirit of who she is.</strong></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tea anyone?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It continues to be my love of dogs and especially those like Frankie, Joie and Gidget with special needs, that I continue my writing through my blog at <a href="http://joyfulpaws.com/">joyfulpaws.com</a>. It is there that I not only write about my love of them, but also write about how I define a meaningful and authentic life— all these lessons of which, I continue to learn through my beloved pets.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Joyful Paws<a href="http://joyfulpaws.com/" target="_blank"> Web</a></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It’s also my honor to carry on the legacy and mission that Frankie and I began with a day I founded in her memory, called <em><a href="http://nationalwalknrolldogday.com/" target="_blank">National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day</a></em>. Along with this special day I also founded <em><a href="http://nationalwalknrolldogday.com/the-frankie-wheelchair-fund-application/" target="_blank">The Frankie Wheelchair Fund</a></em> which helps disabled dogs in need. To date, the fund has granted 27 wheelchairs to paralyzed dogs.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>National Walk 'N Roll Dog Day <a href="http://nationalwalknrolldogday.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About Barbara Techel:</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Barbara Techel is the
award-winning author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Through Frankie’s
Eyes</i>, an inspirational memoir about her journey to her authentic self. It’s
the story of how her paralyzed Dachshund,</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Frankie, in a wheelchair, helped her
overcome many of</strong></span> <strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">her fears to live with more joy, integrity and intent. Frankie
taught Barbara to let go of what didn’t matter and embrace the whispers of her
heart, and stand tall in who she is. </span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Through-Frankies-Eyes-journey-authentic-ebook/dp/B00BJ8IHWA/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=183FCVWW7PX18H5TR182" target="_blank">Amazon and Kindle</a></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Other Books by Barbara Techel</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Therapy-Visits-Libbys-House/dp/0980005248/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405004673&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Buy On Amazon</a></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Walk-Coloring-Paper-Activity/dp/0980005256/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405004673&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Buy On Amazon</a></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Activity Book on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Walk-Roll-Activity-Book/dp/0980005221/ref=la_B00310KAD8_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405005888&sr=1-8" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And For Writers</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Class-Act-Through-Library-Appearances/dp/0980005264/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1405007727&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links: <a href="http://joyfulpaws.com/page/4/" target="_blank">Author Web</a> <a href="http://nationalwalknrolldogday.com/" target="_blank">National Walk 'N Roll Dog Day</a> <a href="http://nationalwalknrolldogday.com/the-frankie-wheelchair-fund-application/" target="_blank">Frankie Wheelchair Fund</a></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Gail-Techel/e/B00310KAD8/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1" target="_blank">Author Amazon Page</a> (links to all books) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joyfulpaws" target="_blank">FaceBook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/joyfulpaws" target="_blank">Twitter</a> @Joyfulpaws</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="https://plus.google.com/+BarbaraTechel/posts" target="_blank">Google+</a> <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/barbaratechel/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-81846953294001679752014-07-08T13:40:00.002-07:002014-07-08T13:51:29.848-07:00Elizabeth Cassidy, Writer and Artist, and Miz Ruby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>A conversation with Elizabeth and Miz Ruby – one paints and writes and the other pants and begs for cat treats. </strong></span><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dog Hair all over everything means never having to say you are sorry. You hear that, Ruby?</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hello, my name is Elizabeth Cassidy, writer and artist, and this is Miz Ruby, a 109 lb. yellow lab of love. I hope she doesn’t find out that I am telling the world that she gained 7 lbs. since her last vet visit. I know she would never do that to me because her typing skills are not what they used to be. Plus, she does not have a mean bone in that body of hers.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ruby believes that she is the mother of my cats. She can be quite maternal with them <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- cleaning them and knocking them over with her huge tongue. They really enjoy that. <em>Not.</em> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dream about her with a scooper in her paw cleaning out the litter boxes. But, that is why you keep humans around you. Isn’t that right, Ruby? Don’t look at me like you don’t know what I am talking about and stop blaming the cats for the big hole in the leather sofa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why they make chenille throws. Another secret exposed.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ruby came into our lives 10 years ago. She was two years old and living in the garage of a woman who had too many people and animals living in her house. Her name was Misty, but I quickly changed it to Miz Ruby. Our petite pup never barked until she was living with us for about six months. Scared the hell out of all of us. Seems that nasty woman had a collar on her that shocked her when she did bark.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She has a good hearty bark. Sounds scary although once you break into my house, Ruby will show you where the jewelry and cash are. Just give her half a bag of cat treats and she will just roll over while showing where I keep my good shoes.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think I just hurt her feelings. Bad me. Here is that big rawhide treat that I have been saving for a special occasion. Please do your best to not choke on it. I know the cats told you that I like to put my whole hand down your throat to retrieve the wayward piece, but alas, they lie.</span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I know I am hogging the conversation, so I would like Ruby to answer a few questions. And for God’s sake, stop licking yourself. You’d never catch me doing that….when other people are at home.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Ruby, how is it being a dog living in the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> Century?</strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong> </strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Woof, woof, woo woo, WOOF!!!</span></em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So are you saying you like living here? Stop yawning and I just love the cat poop breath on you. You will eat just about anything except for grapes and olives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you like to comment on that?</span></strong> </span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Yes, you do have big teeth but they are in proportion to your body. So that is a “no” as to why olives and grapes are not on your list of things to steal from the fridge. I just hope you enjoyed the whole chicken from last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, grapes and olives were used for the base for the gravy. Makes you want to rethink the next midnight trip to the fridge, eh? </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>So what is your favorite thing about taking a walk?</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>I hear you. What walk? It is more like a stroll in slow motion. Yes, it does give you time to see which friends have visited what trees and what their moms gave them for dinner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What, are you writing a book? Don’t give me that look. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>I just glanced over and there Ruby is, lying on her left side and dreaming. I swear, if I spent as much time as she and the cats do snoring and running in their sleep , we would be living under a bush with a dead rat to share amongst ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Veganism is sounding so good right about now.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So that is my dog, Miz Ruby. I can’t believe that we got such a loving animal to live with us. She is really a joy to be around. She teaches me more than I could ever teach her. Although I did get her to understand the sit command. She just chooses to ignore it. So in the end, we work really well together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she is not getting the keys to the car. Ever.</span></strong> </span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">What The Human Does:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><em>Become who you truly are. Just get really quiet and wait to hear yourself say, “It is time to create what my soul feels.” </em>Create your own masterpieces. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Three years ago, I rediscovered my artistic side. I was co-facilitating a women’s workshop in Manhattan when I met a photographer who was talking about wanting to draw for 30 days. My arm went up into the air (I was hoping it was just a spasm) and I said I would draw with her. It had been years since I picked up a brush or a pen. We all know the story – my life got in the way of me doing what I am supposed to be doing. I could take a little time each day to create. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>My first week of painting was a disaster. I started to grieve for the artist that I had neglected. But then a remarkable thing happened. I just told myself to paint whatever I wanted to <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">paint – no</span> restrictions. And little by little my inner artist decided to make another appearance and we have been living happily in the same body ever since that day. Right? </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>I create art because I feel I have no choice but to paint what I feel.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> It is a very emotional experience for me to put myself on paper, whether it is words or art, because if I don’t get my art and words out – then who will?</span> I like to think of this as the best job I <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">never</span> got hired for. And the good news is that I can’t fire <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">myself. I t</span>ried once. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>I love painting in pastels, dabbling with ink and colored penc<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">ils, and</span> I favor the abstract world since the rents are cheaper there. I create my portraits by using my non-dominant hand and I just discovered Touch Drawing. </strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The Queen Is Not Amused</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was in the advertising and publishing field for over 20 years in NYC. I am now a humorist, artist, certified creativity coach for artists and writers, a Reiki Advanced Practitioner, and a faculty member of the Art League of Long Island, where I am currently teaching workshops on Touch Drawing. I am a member of Art (that Matters) an artist collective in Huntington. For two years, I have been one-half of The Film Fatales - a couple of opinionated women who review movies - and we have just gone international. Who knew?</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links:</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Artist/Writer in Residence at <a href="http://elizabethcassidyart.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Cassidy Art</a></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://filmfatales.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Film Fatales Blog</a></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.cassidy.98" target="_blank">Face Book</a></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://twitter.com/EdgyCoach" target="_blank">Twitter</a> @EdgyCoach</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="mailto:elzcassidyart@optonline.net" target="_blank">Contact Elizabeth</a></span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-69274101673389183142014-07-07T09:59:00.001-07:002014-07-07T09:59:30.330-07:00Author Cat Lavoie And A Cat Named Abbie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Abbie the cat and a girl named Cat</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Thank you so much for having me on your lovely blog,
Barbara! Since Abbie isn't a fan of other cats, she's particularly happy to be
featured on a dog blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I have been a cat (and dog!) person my entire life, but I've
been a crazy cat lady since July 5, 2002. That's the day I walked into a rescue
shelter looking to adopt a cat. If it had been possible, I would have adopted
every single cat there... and then crossed over to the dog section and adopted
all of them as well. Pets were an important part of my childhood and, when I
moved out on my own to go to University, I yearned to have a cat. But I lived
in a tiny one bedroom apartment where I barely had space to move. It didn't
seem fair to bring a pet into that space. When I finished school and moved into
a bigger apartment with large windows and actual rooms to move around in, I
knew the time was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>And then I met Abbie. While all the other cats were trying
to get my attention, she just sat quietly in her cage—a scrawny, thin gray
kitty with a defiant attitude. "Pick me. Don't pick me. I don't
care," she seemed to be saying. I knew we were meant to be. When I told
the rescue shelter worker that I wanted to adopt her, she asked "are you
sure you want that cat?" Yup. And I was even more sure when I took her in
my arms and she nuzzled her little face in my shoulder. The only information
they had on her was that she'd been picked up from an alley the day before and,
by the state of her teeth, they estimated she was about five years old. I had
no idea where she came from or if she belonged to anyone. After a few minutes
spent together, I knew that she was mine now. <o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I named her Abbie for Westminster Abbey and the gray London
sky I love so much. Things were a bit rocky at first--Abbie had a health scare
a few weeks after I adopted her. And then a few months later she had an asthma
attack and I was afraid I was going to lose her again. She had behavioral
issues as well, which I blame on her possibly shady past. She wasn't always the
nice, cuddly kitty she is now. There was a time where she would either keep me
up at night with constant meowing or wouldn't let me sleep past four in the
morning. I call her "tempestuous" now because she's still a bit of a
rebel and can't resist knocking things (almost always breakable) off tables or
waking me up after deciding I've had enough sleep. <o:p> </o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Abbie is the perfect writer's cat—even though she
occasionally likes to sit on my notes or my laptop. In my second novel, ZOEY
& THE MOMENT OF ZEN, the main character has a cat but Mocha isn't based on
Abbie. I still haven't been able to write a fictional version of this little
creature with the big personality who's been in my life for the past twelve
years. I hope to be able to do that one day and, if this future book cat is anything
like Abbie, it's going to be affectionate, adorable and just a little bit
crazy.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><o:p><em>Abbie</em></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About the Author:</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Author Cat Lavoie</em></span></strong></div>
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<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Cat
Lavoie was born in the small town of Jonquière in Québec, Canada. At the age of
nineteen, she packed up her things (mostly books) and moved to the big city of
Montreal where she currently lives with her tempestuous cat Abbie–who is both
adorable and quite possibly evil.</span></b></em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
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</span></i></b><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">An incurable Anglophile
since her university days where she studied English Literature, she can often
be found daydreaming about her next trip to London. Since she’s an expert at
the art of procrastination, Cat is easily distracted by cooking and home
improvement shows–even though she’s not particularly good at either.</span></b></em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
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</span></i></b><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Cat grew up watching soap
operas and legal dramas and–had she not decided to be a claims analyst by day
and write chick lit by night–she would have probably become a designer
suit-wearing lawyer. Or a character on All My Children (which is what she
really wanted to be when she was twelve).</span></b></em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
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</span></i></b><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Cat is not sure whether
she’s a geek or a nerd–and is afraid she might be both. She is the author of
BREAKING THE RULES and ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN and is currently working on
her third novel. <a href="http://www.catlavoie.com/" target="_blank">Visit her website</a> to read more.</span></b></em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About The Book:</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWW8cUZgK_20Y-j_-D2Frz5dPjqEqGb202ztz2dZixp6oaMETzqBrwd1Nxc7ciHyw7MqZkNjcox2TZd6PdgBtTt9zqunx3c52kGz_f-VFigbzCETvIV38DJgCI8SYWWfBIsjWXObNUqNf/s1600/Zoey+&+the+Moment+of+Zen+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWW8cUZgK_20Y-j_-D2Frz5dPjqEqGb202ztz2dZixp6oaMETzqBrwd1Nxc7ciHyw7MqZkNjcox2TZd6PdgBtTt9zqunx3c52kGz_f-VFigbzCETvIV38DJgCI8SYWWfBIsjWXObNUqNf/s1600/Zoey+&+the+Moment+of+Zen+FINAL.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Moment-Zen-Cat-Lavoie/dp/0985591455/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404751133&sr=1-1&keywords=cat+lavoie" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Moment-Zen-Cat-Lavoie-ebook/dp/B00G3N18M2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1404751133" target="_blank">Kindle</a></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>When coffee shop owner Zoey Everwood takes her obsession
with ex-boyfriend Braden too far, everyone—except Zoey—is convinced a bit of
fun in the sun at the Moment of Zen Wellness Resort will help her get over him
once and for all. <br />
</strong></span>
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>But Zoey's relaxing vacation turns out to be anything but peaceful when she
meets Shane Lawson, a resort guest who bears a striking resemblance to Braden.
And things get even more complicated when the resort's owner starts spilling
secrets about Zoey’s aunt Nessa, the woman who raised her. Add a snarky Wellness
Coordinator and Nate Holmes—Shane's grumpy friend—to the mix, and you've got
the recipe for a perfect tropical storm. </strong></span>
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</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>When Zoey comes back home with a new husband instead of tacky souvenirs, she
must convince everyone she hasn't completely lost her mind. As Zoey and Shane
struggle to keep the magic alive outside the resort, Zoey discovers that she
isn't the only one having trouble letting go of the past. And when Nate drops a
bombshell that changes everything, Zoey must decide if the old saying is true—what
happens at the Moment of Zen stays at the Moment of Zen.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links:</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.catlavoie.com/" target="_blank">Author Web</a></strong></span>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CatLavoieAuthor" target="_blank"><strong>Facebook<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></strong></a><strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/Catenabi" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Lavoie/e/B008NQ8N7U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">Author Amazon Page</a> </strong></span></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Moment-Zen-Cat-Lavoie-ebook/dp/B00G3N18M2/ref=la_B008NQ8N7U_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404751257&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Buy On Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-the-Rules/dp/B00DWHYZN6/ref=la_B008NQ8N7U_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404751257&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><em>Breaking the Rules</em> Amazon</a></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Abbie</em></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-69702483295936815652014-07-01T14:36:00.003-07:002014-07-01T14:40:12.723-07:00Dog Contest: So How Did You Name Your Dog? Author Kerry Alan Denney Has Something Cool Going On.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Kerry and Holly Jolly</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Author Kerry Alan Denney is having a contest! You met Kerry here a few days on June 27th with his story on Holly Jolly. If you missed his post you can read it <a href="http://writerwithdogs.blogspot.com/2014/06/author-kerry-alan-denney-reality-bender.html" target="_blank">here</a>. His contest sounded like so much fun I wanted to share it here and let everyone know you can visit his blog and enter to win!</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Here's the skinny in Kerry's words:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For those of you who are genuine lifelong
dog lovers, as I am, you know that we</span> always have an absolute blast—and often a
barrel full of laughs—naming our canine companions. Some names are funny, some
are tough, some are cute, some </span></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: small;">are outrageous, some are absurd, and for those
of us who are dedicated dog lovers, most are clever.</span></span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">So what and how did you name
your dog?</span></em> Holly Jolly and I would love to hear your responses and
your stories. Please share them in the comments section by clicking on "Add
Comment" below this blog post!
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="color: #741b47;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">THE
CONTEST:</span></span></u> Whoever comes up with the coolest name that I like
the most will <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">not</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> only win a FREE signed 6X9 paperback copy of my paranormal
fantasy novel </span></span></span></strong></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soulsnatcher-Kerry-Alan-Denney/dp/1499251777/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1399299712&sr=1-1" title=""><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><strong>SOULSNATCHER</strong></span></span></a><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>, but I will
also use your dog’s name in my next novel for my fictional canine hero (or
heroine), and mention your name in my next novel's</strong></span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Acknowledgments page.</strong></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Simple enough. Just go to Kerry's blog by </span><a href="http://www.kerrydenney.com/blog/contest-so-how-did-you-name-your-dog" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">clicking here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. Then scroll down and leave your comment!</span> </span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've already entered with Miss April In Paris. I'm getting the evil eye from five other dogs who wonder why I didn't choose them. But April has a tale to tell and it is posted with the other contest entries.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Good luck to all!</span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-57038765276656687082014-06-30T09:20:00.000-07:002014-06-30T09:24:12.928-07:00Mavis Duke Hinton Writes Like A Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Author Mavis Duke Hinton with her dachshund, Duke</span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">About Dachshunds, and Why I Write from a Dachshund’s Viewpoint:</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I've always thought that dachshunds were comical. I've also closely watched other dogs, and many breeds do have a well-developed sense of play, enjoy interacting with humans, and love dog toys. </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>However, none (in my humble estimation) even comes close to having as many comical facial expressions or actions as our beloved doxies do. I've often said that Duke manages to make me laugh at least once a day, and if I ever had my cell phone handy at the right time, I could capture enough comical pictures of him to fill a book. </strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>That brings me to the point about why I have written my books from a dachshund’s viewpoint: </strong><span style="color: black;"><strong>Oh, I've been asked that question countless times . . . and I always give the same answer, basically something like this: "It is a running joke in our family that we just know what a dachshund is thinking by its facial expression and body language. My late father used to tell us what our dachshunds were thinking, and I believe I have inherited that 'gene' for doing so. All of this is tongue in cheek, of course—and it makes for many a laugh around our house." </strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the uninitiated, dachshunds <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i> display a myriad of facial expressions and body language--and I proclaim that dogs can smile! When unhappy</span>, <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Duke's ears practically drag the floor, along with a somber face and sad eyes (and he knows what he is doing). In regard to food, Duke would join the food on the plate if he could reach it. He once</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">snatched my piece of toast off my plate—and it was on the kitchen counter, so don't let those short dachshund legs fool you. Chow hounds</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">extraordinaire, dachshunds have one of the strongest senses of smell in the canine world, according to The American Kennel Club, so food is exceptionally enticing to their</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">noses.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Therefore, I also write about food a lot:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how it</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">smells, its consistency, and how it tastes, all in great detail, as I imagine that our doxies</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">would do if they could write.</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>My other reasons (besides the “gene” thing) for writing from the dog's viewpoint are:</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>1) I enjoy imagining how day-to-day happenings must appear to the family dog;<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>2) I can shift reality to share with readers what dogs supposedly think about life situations;<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>3) I have a zany sense of humor (my family can attest to that), and can use such humor when incorporating it into the dog’s viewpoint;<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>4) I love and appreciate dogs as man's best friend--they show us unconditional love!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the characters in THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series, Papa Duke, so aptly states my feelings about dogs:</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>"A dawg loves you no matter what. You can be ugly, old, even dumb--but a dawg don't care. All he</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>wants is your love and some food now and then.</strong></span></em></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> </strong></span></span></i></span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I think dawgs</strong></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>represent the unconditional love God has for us--maybe that's why He created them, to show that to us."</strong></span></span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Papa Duke was my late father, who loved dogs tremendously—and they returned the favor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always called “Papa” by his grandchildren, and in my books, he lives on, just like he does in our hearts. </strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>For those of us who love our dogs, my doggie stories give us a glimpse into our dogs’ views on life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, they’re not Shakespeare, but they read just fine for us dog lovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or so I'm told.</strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Books:</span></strong></span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Am-Sarge-Mavis-Duke-Hinton/dp/1602903158/ref=tmm_pap_title_0" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <span id="goog_1319266337"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">Kindle<span id="goog_1319266338"></span></a></em></strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em></strong> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;">
</span> </span> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><strong>I am Sarge (The Dachshund Escapades Book 1)</strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><strong></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Sometimes a dachshund's "lowdown from the ground" perspective is just what human beings need. I was only eight weeks old when I was adopted into my new human family who knew immediately I was a super dog. They proudly gave me the name Sarge-after my Papa Duke, who was a sergeant in the Army. Quite a fitting name for a good-looking dachshund too, I might add. I just know someday I'll do great and mighty things, befitting a super dog. But in the meanwhile, I'll just steal your heart and make you laugh out loud with the antics of this "chow hound." And maybe, if you come over, Papa and I-two food lovers-might just share a snack or two with you, too. Fall in love with Sarge, the quintessential dachshund, and laugh along with his foibles and humorous escapades.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Am-Dachshund-Mavis-Duke-Hinton/dp/1602902593/ref=la_B004FVF0MI_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404144585&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dachshund-Escapades-Book-ebook/dp/B0057CR860/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1404144585" target="_blank">Kindle</a></em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><em></em></strong> <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span id="btAsinTitle"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I am Dachshund (The Dachshund Escapades Book 2)</strong></span></span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Sometimes a dog has to put up with a little silliness from humans. People have strange notions and do some of the craziest things, but I don't mind them. I get all the attention I want from Mama, Papa, and my sweet baby sister, Annika, who loves my kisses. But there's one thing lacking...people food. I love people food. After you've had it, dried-up dog food tastes like cardboard. That's why I count on my absolute favorite person in the world, Papa, who calls me his "Granddawg," and his best friend, Sellars. They've been known to slip me the good stuff now and then, when Mama and Grandma aren't looking.Most dogs just lie around, passively accepting what comes their way, watching the world go by. That sounds suspiciously like a cat to me. I want the world to know I AM DACHSHUND - the guardian, the sentinel, the keeper of everything my family holds dear.</strong></span></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mavis with Shadow and Duke</strong></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>MAVIS DUKE HINTON (B.A. in English and Secondary Education), taught all grades of high school English and related subjects, including AP British literature, creative writing, speech, and journalism in her twenty-three-year career. Other pursuits have included editor and writer for various publications, including Liberty University and the North Carolina State Budget, office administrator, and police officer. She has taught method workshops at education conferences, Bible classes ranging from first grade to adult women, and spoken to Christian women’s groups.</strong></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Raised in a military family, Mavis has lived in France and Germany, visiting Spain, touring Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg on camping trips with her family when her father was stationed in Europe. The family had the enjoyable experience of meeting and sharing meals with friendly Europeans along the way.</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>She has also traveled across the USA and Canada, calling several states home: Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina (where she was born)—with Alaska being her favorite of all. Living near Fairbanks and experiencing subzero weather, Northern lights, and snow-capped mountains, she loves cold weather and snow. She has incorporated these character-rich and varied experiences into her writing.</strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Married for forty-three years, Mavis is the mother of two married daughters and grandmother of three grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her husband Clark adopted Duke when Shadow and his family moved out of state—thus creating the need for their own doxie to spoil. Duke was eight weeks old when he came home with them, and it took him only about a day to make himself at home in their house as well as in their hearts. (Duke is introduced in the novel I AM DACHSHUND, Book 2.)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Although classified as fiction, I AM SARGE is written from her real “granddog” Shadow’s viewpoint and based on her real-life family and friends. I AM DACHSHUND, the second novel in the trilogy THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES, details more of Sarge’s family, shenanigans, and stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final two books of the series are completed and currently with her publisher (Oaktara Publishing), awaiting publication:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DACHSHUNDS FOREVER, Book 3, and A DACHSHUND’S TRIBUTE, Book 4.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mavis and her husband, Clark, a retired science teacher, make their home in the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, writing, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and laughing.</strong></span></span></span> </o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">Links:</span> <a href="http://mavisdukehinton.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> <a href="http://mavishinton169.vpweb.com/" target="_blank">Author's Web</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mavis-Duke-Hintons-Books/342305500041" target="_blank">Author's FaceBook Page</a> </span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://the-dachshund-escapades.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong>The Dachshund Escapades Blog</strong></a><strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/writer4dawg" target="_blank">Twitter<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></a></strong></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Sylfaen; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/writer4dawg" target="_blank">@writer4dawg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/writer4dawg" target="_blank">Author's Amazon Page</a></span></strong></span></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.oaktara.com/mavisdukehinton" target="_blank">OakTara Publishers</a></span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Duke's Birthday Bash</em></strong></span></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-70556888909627180622014-06-29T11:28:00.002-07:002014-06-29T12:12:44.826-07:00The Writing Process Blog Hop Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Australian writer, children's author, and poet, Helen Ross has tagged me in a </span></strong><a href="http://gabriellebryden.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/writing-process-blog-tour/" target="_blank" title="http://gabriellebryden.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/writing-process-blog-tour/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Writing Process Blog Tour</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>. </strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> Helen is also an educator and workshop presenter. Check out<span style="color: purple;"> </span><a href="http://helenrosswrites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">her site</span></a> and learn more about this talented lady from down under. You can read her post, on which I was one of those tagged, on the blog tour <a href="http://helenrosswrites.com/2014/06/26/writing-process-blog-tour/" target="_blank"> <span style="color: purple;">here</span></a> .</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Helen's children's books were featured on <em>Book Talk</em> on June 20, 2012. You can read that post by <a href="http://barbarabarthbookblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/helen-ross-10-yellow-bananas.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a> . I met Helen in cyber space when I found her delightful blog <em>Helen Ross Writes </em>in 2010, right after <em>The Unfaithful Widow </em>was released. I asked her to review my memoir and we have been cyber friends ever since. I'd love to meet her one day in person and chat over Margaritas. Thanks Helen for tagging me in this tour. I am honored to be included!</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">(Do you think Helen's sweet kitty looks a little nervous to be on a <em>Writer With Dogs</em> blog? We are pet friendly here and embrace cats and other author pets too. <em>Here kitty, kitty . . . you are purr-fectly charming. </em><em>)</em> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><em>So what is this all about?</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Writing Process Blog Tour</em> is simple. I answer four questions about my writing and then tag other authors to continue the tour and answer the same four questions on their blogs. Then they tag authors they know and it continues on . . . You can see who I've tagged at the end of the post. I am so pleased to bring this tour to the USA!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">The questions!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><em>1. What am I working on?</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am not moving as quickly with my writing as I usually do. I've become distracted like a pup with its head out a car window, smiling as the breeze blows across my face, just enjoying myself, going nowhere in particular. Perhaps my excuse is it's summer. But then . . . other seasons have their own sirens. Maybe I am just a bit tired!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Writing my first novel was exhausting for a gal who is used to short essays. <em>Danger In Her Words</em> was released February 2014. I've completed a month long blog tour with <em>WOW! Women On Writing</em> to promote my book online. It required different interviews and one-of-kind posts I had to write on topics such as; the healing power of dogs, girlfriends, how to make a book trailer. I've just revamped the format for this blog. I've updated my website. All of that is very exciting - but it is not pulling together the books I see ahead of me. Writing marketing material is not the same as completing a new book, but it is equally as important if you want anyone to see your work.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I still dream big. I believe your heart and mind should be full of possibilities - in doing so wonderful things are accomplished. My dreams include my dog memoir, a children's book, an odd little series on my Chihuahua Chloe, and another novel with a sixty-five year old heroine designing her destiny. My goal is the dog memoir by mid fall. I have six dogs that are waiting for the moment of fame and I promised them their stories would be told. Perhaps I will stop sniffing the air out my window, as intoxicating and refreshing as it is, and get back to the business of my dreams . . . <em>tomorrow</em>. Today I want to be Scarlett, tomorrow I will want to be a writer again.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><em>2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The one thing I focus on . . . dogs. My personal essays are chock-full-of-dogs. I've written short stories that revolve around dogs. My novel had a very spunky little pup that helped save the day. Perhaps my work is overrun with canines more than most. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><em>3. Why do I write what I do?</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Non-fiction memoir - It's cheaper than therapy. It clears my head. It's a social process. I live alone with six dogs so writing is my way of communicating with the world. I started writing when my husband died and found that it gave me purpose. I think writing from the heart, be it about sorrow, or joy, or dogs, is a way to reach out to others and form friendships that would never have been made in my daily life. Nothing makes me happier than to have someone comment on what I've written or contact me directly. Those are the perks of writing I love. I live a fairly simple life - which sounds bigger than it is on paper - but I like to journal about it. As one who talks about everything - writing about everything - seems very natural. I write because I have to, it brings me pleasure and I hope my stories do the same for others. Fiction is a different critter for me and I am trying to get a leash on it.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><em>4. How does my writing process work?</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I don't have a schedule - and I mean any schedule. I am retired from my career with the federal government and my time is my own - except for the doggie demands. In the morning after I run them into the yard - because they gang up on me about 7am for breakfast - and are relentless until I get up - I grab my coffee and sit at the computer. Most mornings I work on my blogs that promote other authors or do PR of some sort. My personal writing is more an evening thing - a late evening, early morning thing. I am up usually until 3am. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The most amusing aspect of my writing (to me and I recently discovered this about myself, although I knew it, just didn't acknowledge it) is that when I write my personal stories - I have to post them somewhere. That is why I have so many blogs - both public and private. I write on my blog, correct it until I am happy with it, and have to find graphics to go with the post. I was just part of a 24 Day Health Challenge - where we were to keep a journal. I couldn't write until I set up a private blog, gave it a header, backdrop, and illustrations to go with each entry. That is when I realized I was blog crazy. The good part - my blogs are my online files - so when I need something - I know where to find it.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Writing fiction - short stories- or my first novel - is all done in Word and kept in files in my Dropbox. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia;"><em>Next - Tag you're it!</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The authors, artists who write and illustrate, and more below - have been featured on my <em>Writer With Dogs</em> blog or will appear here soon with their favorite canines. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am stealing the lovely words of Helen Ross to take the pressure off those I've tagged. As she so gently wrote when she tagged me : </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Please do not feel you have to participate – quietly ignore if you wish. And if you are happy to participate, just do when you can do.</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tag and Go: <a href="http://valeriejoanconnors.com/wordpress1/" target="_blank">Valerie Connors</a>, <a href="http://bethrommel.com/" target="_blank">Beth Rommel</a>, <a href="http://injaynesworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jayne Martin</a>, <a href="http://www.kerrydenney.com/" target="_blank">Kerry Alan Denney</a>, <a href="http://joyfulpaws.com/" target="_blank">Barbara Techel</a>, <a href="http://elizabethcassidyart.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Cassidy</a> .</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Remember the rules - take the four questions above, answer them on your blog, and tag more writers to do the same!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thanks again Helen for including me in the tour!</span></strong><br />
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7678058185896197581.post-76014433485372537112014-06-27T08:20:00.000-07:002014-06-27T08:22:26.745-07:00Author Kerry Alan Denney "The Reality Bender" and Holly Jolly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Holly Jolly, official mascot of the Atlanta Writers Club</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>My seven-year-old Golden
Retriever Holly Jolly and I attended the </strong></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atlanta-Writers-Club/218575894874539" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>AtlantaWriters Club</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> annual 2014 picnic Saturday, June 21 at Holcomb Bridge Park,
where </strong></span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://valeriejoanconnors.com/www.valeriejoanconnors.com/Home.html" target="_blank">Valerie Connors</a></strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>, President of the AWC, publicly announced that
Holly is now the official mascot of the Atlanta Writers Club, woo-hoo! At the
picnic, Holly was commended and complimented several times on her exemplary
good behavior, as well as on her irresistible charm and gentle, affectionate
nature.<br />
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Holly is a playful, energetic, joyful, and friendly dog who loves all people
and dogs alike. My furry four-legged friend is the best companion I could ever
hope or ask for. She is not only an excellent writer’s assistant—she keeps my
head in the clouds but my feet on solid ground and my heart in each precious
moment—she is also a faithful and loving friend without whom my world and life
would be a little bit darker and a lot more lonesome. Holly knows how to fly
better than Superman, how to make loneliness and ravenous monsters magically
disappear in the way only a loving dog can, and how to make friends better than
any of us humans ever will. If we can all learn only a small piece of that
magic, what a wonderful world it will be.<br />
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Holly is a certified Canine Good Citizen—a prestigious award presented by the
American Kennel Club for passing a rigorous behavioral and obedience test—and
she is also a professional therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Incorporated.<br />
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Holly and I have been participating for over a year and a half now in a local
library-sponsored R.E.A.D. program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) in which
we go to the library with other therapy dogs and their humans and sit in the
children’s section. Kids pet the dogs, read to them, or show them picture books
if they can’t read yet. The READ program’s intent is to promote an interest in
reading and help kids develop better reading comprehension skills, as well as
teach them the proper method of approaching and familiarizing themselves with
strange dogs. Holly is a huge hit with the kids—they generally have no
idea who I am; I’m just her human who tags along with her—but they know Holly
and call her by name, and are always happy and excited to see her.<br />
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For those of you who have kids who love to read and love dogs and would like to
come out and join us, Holly and I are at the </strong></span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.gwinnettpl.org/library-location/mountain-park-branch" target="_blank">MountainPark Library</a></strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> for their <i>Doggie Tales</i> program from 1 to 2 p.m. on the
first and third Saturday of every month. The library is located at 1210 Pounds
Road SW on the corner of Five Forks Trickum Road and Pounds Road in Lilburn,
Georgia. We also participate in the </strong></span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.dekalblibrary.org/branches/stone-mountain.html" target="_blank">SueKellogg Library</a></strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>’s <i>Read to Rover</i> program in the heart of Stone
Mountain Village at 952 Leon Street on the fourth Saturday of each month from
12 noon to 1 p.m. Children of ALL ages are invited—from 1 to 100!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>With their effortless playful
innocence, unconditional love, and unrestrained exuberance, our dogs show us
vitally important things about ourselves that teach us much about honesty,
integrity, love, loyalty, forgiveness, and compassion, and teach us how to
share that special bond with our human friends and families. My former
four-legged friend Sadie Milady, a beautiful American Eskimo (also called a
Spitz), was well-loved by many. She brightened my life and brought me endless
joy for sixteen canine-love-filled years, from 1990 to the Spring of 2006 when
she finally tuckered out and took that final journey to Rainbow Bridge. I still
remember the faithful look of trust in her eyes in her final moments when we
said our goodbyes to each other, as if she just knew there was no way I would
ever let any harm or loneliness come to her, either in this life or the next.
For over a year after Sadie was gone, fool that I sometimes am, I let the
heartbreak of losing an irreplaceable friend prevent me from searching for a
new special furry friend. I forgot that I wasn’t supposed to be trying to
replace her, which I could never do: I was merely searching for a unique new
friend who would fill that empty space in my heart which only a dog can fill.
When I finally found my Holly Jolly in December of 2006, a fluffy, loving,
playful little ball of fur who looked like a stuffed teddy bear as a puppy, I
knew I had been given a gift from God or whatever you choose to call the
universal creative force, and that I had found a true friend for life.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It's no small wonder that “dog”
is “God” spelled backwards. (Check out Wendy Francisco’s wonderful video and
song “GoD and DoG” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY" target="_blank">here</a> or<a href="http://www.godanddog.org/" target="_blank"> here</a>!) Adopting a dog into your home, life, and
heart is a solemn and dutiful responsibility and a lifetime commitment, and
should never be undertaken lightly. Dogs need lots of love, playtime,
attention, social interaction, and exercise, a miniscule sacrifice of my time
and heart that I’m happily willing to give each and every day. Because of Sadie
and Holly, I know that unique love will always be returned a hundredfold. It
should come as no surprise to anyone that people who responsibly accept a dog
into their lives have a happier, longer, and more rewarding and fulfilling
life.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Although our furry friends are
only with us for far too brief a time, they live a multitude of lifetimes in
their unique ability to experience joy as if it gushed forth from an eternal
fountain right here within our reach from which all may partake, never worrying
about the past or fearing for the future. We can all stand to learn that
priceless lesson from our dogs. To me, their motto is and should always be live
with wind-in-fur.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Cheers and blessings to all you
genuine dog lovers out there. May you always share that special love and joy
that only our furry friends can bring, and may you live your lifetimes with
wind-in-fur.<o:p> </o:p></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holly Jolly sez
“Woof!”</strong></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>About Kerry Alan Denney:</strong></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Kerry Alan Denny is The Reality Bender</strong></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Colleagues and readers alike have
dubbed Kerry Alan Denney as The Reality Bender. A multiple award-winning
author, Kerry incorporates genre-blending elements of the supernatural,
paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror in his novels and short stories. With
joy, malicious glee, and a touch of madness, he writes reality-bending
thrillers... even when the voices don't compel him to. Kerry lives near Stone
Mountain, Georgia with his Golden Retriever Holly Jolly, a professional therapy
dog, where he is currently writing his next novel. His post-apocalyptic sci-fi
novel JAGANNATH will be published by Permuted Press February 2015.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">About The Book:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>New York Times bestselling author
James Rollins (THE EYE OF GOD, the SIGMA series) says: "Kerry Alan
Denney's SOULSNATCHER grabs you by both the heart and the throat, as children
with incredible powers are put in the path of villains with truly horrific
ambitions. Here is a story rife with adventure, suspense, and a dash of humor,
and it had me turning the pages deep into the night--and it will have you doing
the same."</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soulsnatcher-Kerry-Alan-Denney-ebook/dp/B00K1NHBDK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1399299712" target="_blank">Go To Amazon</a> and Peek Inside. </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Children with extraordinary psychic powers are being used as pawns in a deadly supernatural war. Jasmine “Jazz” Tandy and her nine-year-old son Chaz, who can heal people with his touch, are fleeing from a ruthless organization that kidnaps these children. Children such as Kaylee Daley, who can control and manipulate plant life, and Mara Fleming, who can see into the future. Their only hope for salvation is a covert group called the Guardians, who protect these children from the organization’s merciless hunters. </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><br /><br />Dr. Larssen Sössnacher, the organization’s leader—called “Soulsnatcher” by the remarkable children he abducts and exploits—believes Chaz is the miraculous prodigy who will grant him the immortality he craves... and he’ll stop at nothing to get Chaz. </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><br /><br />Cody Jackson, a Guardian and martial arts and weapons expert, rescues Jazz and Chaz from Soulsnatcher’s hunters and takes them to Homestead, a safe haven where the children learn to use their powers to help others. But Soulsnatcher’s hunters raid Homestead and battle the Guardians in a surreal deadly showdown—with the souls of all the children as the ultimate prize.</strong></span></div>
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<span class="swSprite s_expandChevron"></span> <a class="showMore" href="http://www.amazon.com/Soulsnatcher-Kerry-Alan-Denney-ebook/dp/B00K1NHBDK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1399299712#">Show more</a> </div>
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<span class="swSprite s_collapseChevron"></span> <a class="showLess" href="http://www.amazon.com/Soulsnatcher-Kerry-Alan-Denney-ebook/dp/B00K1NHBDK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1399299712#">Show less</a> </div>
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<noscript> &amp;amp;lt;style type='text/css'&amp;amp;gt; #outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } &amp;amp;lt;/style&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;div id="postBodyPS"&amp;amp;gt;Children with extraordinary psychic powers are being used as pawns in a deadly supernatural war. Jasmine &amp;amp;amp;#x201c;Jazz&amp;amp;amp;#x201d; Tandy and her nine-year-old son Chaz, who can heal people with his touch, are fleeing from a ruthless organization that kidnaps these children. Children such as Kaylee Daley, who can control and manipulate plant life, and Mara Fleming, who can see into the future. Their only hope for salvation is a covert group called the Guardians, who protect these children from the organization&amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s merciless hunters.&amp;amp;lt; br /&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt; br /&amp;amp;gt;Dr. Larssen S&amp;amp;amp;#xf6;ssnacher, the organization&amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s leader&amp;amp;amp;#x2014;called &amp;amp;amp;#x201c;Soulsnatcher&amp;amp;amp;#x201d; by the remarkable children he abducts and exploits&amp;amp;amp;#x2014;believes Chaz is the miraculous prodigy who will grant him the immortality he craves... and he&amp;amp;amp;#x2019;ll stop at nothing to get Chaz.&amp;amp;lt; br /&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt; br /&amp;amp;gt;Cody Jackson, a Guardian and martial arts and weapons expert, rescues Jazz and Chaz from Soulsnatcher&amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s hunters and takes them to Homestead, a safe haven where the children learn to use their powers to help others. But Soulsnatcher&amp;amp;amp;#x2019;s hunters raid Homestead and battle the Guardians in a surreal deadly showdown&amp;amp;amp;#x2014;with the souls of all the children as the ultimate prize.&amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;gt; </noscript>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Meet Kerry and author </span><a href="http://www.fitzgeraldwrites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #0b5394;">LyndaFitzgerald</span></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> in their Author Booth at the 2014 </span><a href="https://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2014/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #3d85c6;">Decatur Book Festival</span></a><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"> August
29-31.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Links:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soulsnatcher-Kerry-Alan-Denney-ebook/dp/B00K1NHBDK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1399299712" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Amazon</span></a> , <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soulsnatcher-kerry-alan-denney/1119398751?ean=9781499251777&itm=1&usri=9781499251777&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10:1&r=1,%201" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Barnes & Noble</span></a> , <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/434977" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Smashwords</span></a> , <a href="http://www.blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2819" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Blushing Books</span></a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22039979-soulsnatcher" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GoodReads</span></a> , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kerry.a.denney?ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank"> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">FaceBook</span></a> , <a href="https://twitter.com/KerryDenney" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Twitter</span></a> @KerryDenney , <a href="http://www.kerrydenney.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Author's Website</span></a> </strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.kerrydenney.com/contact.html" target="_blank">Contact Kerry Denney</a></span></strong></div>
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Barbara Barthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12094942513984046193noreply@blogger.com0