Pets and Their Authors

Beagle Bailey spills the beans on mystery author Lauren Carr

2011-06-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hey, Beagle Bailey. Last year, your brother Ziggy told my readers about how he came to become part of the Carr household. Now, I believe in giving equal time. How would you like to tell us your story?

Thanks, Amigo! It’s about time someone asked. As a young orphaned pup, I was fortunate to have ended up with a good foster family. I had a lot of foster brothers and sisters, but with my charming personality, I quickly became a favorite among the human children. They used to fight over whose bed I got to sleep in at night.

But, as is so often the case with foster homes, I was only meant to stay there temporarily. One day, a call came from this family that was seeking a companion for a young boy whose dog had recently passed away. It was hard saying good-bye to this family that I had come to love so much, but, alas, this boy, whose name is Tristan, needed me to mend his broken heart.

His mom, now mine, turned out to be Lauren Carr. She writes murder mysteries, which I guess is supposed to be cool. Even better, she’s a swell mom.

Do you mind telling us what breed you are?

I’m a blend of only the best and greatest of the breeds. I’m beagle, which explains my extraordinary sense of smell. I’m Italian greyhound, which explains my fast-on-my-paws moves and slender figure. To round out the package, I’m fox terrier, which Dad says makes me a little crazy. I prefer to use the word “passionate”.

Why does your dad say you’re crazy?

Everyone has a quirk! Okay? Everyone has something that makes them just a little bit crazy. For me, that’s thunderstorms. Dad insists that my barking at the thunderstorms doesn’t make them go away. I say hogwash! It works. I swear. I bark at the storms and they do go away. Sometimes it takes a lot of barking for a really long time, but eventually, they always go away.

Meanwhile, while I’m working my tail and vocal cords off barking at the storms, Ziggy just sits there looking at me like I’m crazy, which doesn’t help if you ask me.

Tell my readers about your brother Ziggy.

He’s an Australian shepherd. Boy, let me tell you about Ziggy.

Mom and Dad had promised me that I would get to be an only dog. For over a year, everything was fine. We were one big—okay, not big, but small—happy family. And then, what happens? One day, Tristan and his mom go out for a football game and what do they come back with? A puppy! This squirt isn’t even housebroken! And I’m supposed to share my toys and family with him?

For the first couple of weeks after Ziggy moved in, I kept threatening to sue over breach of contract. We had a deal! But eventually, the squirt grew on me. Then he grew bigger than me. I have to admit it was nice having someone to frame for my messes. Did I say that? I mean someone to play with.

After a few months, Mom called a dog trainer in to analyze this nutty dog. You see, I do what I’m told, which isn’t very much. I eat, sleep, follow Tristan around and look adorable. How hard is that? But Ziggy refused to get with the program. You’d tell him what to do and he’d say, “That may be what you want, but I’m going to do things my way.” Then he’d get into trouble and act like it was worth it.

So, this dog trainer analyzes both of us and says that Ziggy keeps getting into trouble—get this—because he’s so smart!

Translation: I, Beagle Bailey, don’t get into trouble because I’m dumb. Ziggy gets into trouble because he’s so smart that he gets bored and gets into trouble to liven things up!

Psychiatry is for the birds.

What is it like living with Lauren? Is she one of those egotistical authors (like my mom)?

Would you believe that Mom is the only female in our family? She’s always taking care of everyone: Getting Tristan ready for school and letting us outside. Then, it is time to get Dad up and making the coffee. After she lets us back in, it is time for our before-breakfast biscuit. Then the family needs their breakfast. After she feeds them, then it is time for our breakfast. Then, while she is cleaning up, we need to get our bite of leftover toast from their breakfast. Then we need to go outside again to see if anything changed since the last time we were out. You have to keep an eye out for stuff like that. Then—I don’t know what Mom does after that because then it’s time for my mid-morning nap. But you get the point.

Mom stays up late at night to write when it is quiet. I like to sit across from her in her studio on those quiet times and inspire her.

Tell us about Lauren's book! I hear one of her characters is a dog name Gnarly.

Gnarly is a German shepherd. She based him on Ziggy, which is why that squirt has such a big head. Let me tell you how smart Ziggy is—Sorry, you asked about Gnarly. His name means extreme and that’s Ziggy, that’s for sure. Gnarly is either very bad or very good, but always loveable. He’s the only dog to be dishonorably discharged from the United States Army. The army refuses to talk about him. I have some thoughts about that.

In It’s Murder, My Son, homicide detective Mac Faraday was on the brink of bankruptcy when he inherits his birth mother’s estate. It ends up she was Robin Spencer, the American version of Agatha Christie. In addition to her swanky estate in a small resort town on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, he inherits Gnarly, her German shepherd. The very first time the reader meets Gnarly when he’s standing on Mac’s chest when he first arrives at Spencer Manor. He finds out that Robin had saved Gnarly from being put down after he almost died trying to save his mistress, the next door neighbor, from being murdered.

So Gnarly is a witness to his mistress’s murder?

Yes, and he leads Mac Faraday to the killer. Gnarly becomes Mac Faraday’s sidekick.

They work together again in Old Loves Die Hard. Mac’s ex-wife shows up on account that he’s now rich. But before Mac can tell her to leave, she and her estranged lover are found dead in his private penthouse suite. Now Mac has to work not only to clear his name, but the reputation of the Spencer Inn, the five-star resort he had also inherited from his birth mother. In this book, Gnarly saves Mac’s life!

You have to read them both! They are both available in both print and Kindle, and all the e-book formats on Mom’s website, Amazon, and anywhere you can get books.

Does Lauren have a website?

Sure does. It’s at http://laurencarr.webs.com/.

What do you do while she writes and ignores you?

I often sleep at her feet and inspire her. I really like it when she puts a fire in the fireplace and I can curl up in front of the fire. Since I don’t have as much fur as Ziggy, I get cold easy. I do that when I’m not napping in what Mom claims to be her writer’s studio. She would be able to spend more time in it if she wasn’t always so busy taking take of everyone.

Every now and then to break things up, Ziggy and I will wrestle and play around. Our favorite thing is to go tearing around the house. We have all hardwood floors here so when we get running really fast it can be like skating. I love to nip at the back of Ziggy’s legs and chase him into the living room where he’ll hit the Oriental rug at top speed and slide it all the way across the room and Wham! end with a body slam against the French doors! Then Dad comes in and finds the rug up against the doors and chews out Ziggy for messing up the living room. There are advantages to being the good dog. (ha-ha!)

What do you love most about Lauren?

She’s a softie. I was watching television and saw this old show called Lassie. Lassie would do this thing where he’ll would sit there all pretty and lift up a paw and look so loveable. So, I tried that. And it worked! I’ll lead Mom into the kitchen and perch there in front of the cabinet where the biscuits are and put on the most adorable face, and then I’ll lift my paw. Works every time!

Leave us with some canine words of wisdom.

Always leave room in your schedule for a good nap.

Saber spills the beans on author Kim Murphy

2011-04-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm Saber, a four-year-old Belgian sheepdog, and I was born on July 4. My birthday is a national holiday. People celebrate the day with fireworks every year. I like the attention, but I'm really not too crazy about the firecrackers, which sometimes scare me. My dad gets my birthday off from work, which is nice, but my mom always has to go to a book signing. That can be a bit of a drag, but I don't mind too much as long as I have my Kong filled with treats.

My registered name is Belroyale's Gettysburg Saber. Mom tells me that a famous battle was fought long ago on the day near my birth. I'm not sure what a battle is, but it sounds scary. Mom also tells me that I was named after Saber, also a Belgian sheepdog, in her book Whispers from the Grave. She says the dog in the book resembles my predecessor, Magic, more than me, but by the time she wrote the sequel, Whispers Through Time, I had arrived and the dog in the book started to take on my characteristics.

My mom was very sad when Magic died, but I came along a few months later and cheered her up. She says that I make her laugh. When I joined the household, I had an older sister by the name of Isabella. She was a Lab/mastiff mix. I liked teasing her. Even though she was so much older than me, she was fairly patient of my puppy antics. But sometimes, she told me off with a big WOOF.

Now that I'm grown, I like playing Frisbee, taking long walks, my Kong, playing Frisbee, and pulling my squirrel toys out of their nest. Oh, and I have a little sister. She's also a Belgian sheepdog. Her name is Phoebe, and like little sisters everywhere, she can sometimes be a pain to live with. Right now she's pouting because I'm writing the blog, and she's not.

Anyway, the Saber in the book lives on a plantation. A plantation is a big house with lots of land where a dog can run, chase squirrels, and do a lot of sniffing. It's a Civil War ghost story. The Civil War is when that famous battle near my birthday took place. My namesake lives in present time, and here is the blurb:

The Virginia Plantation Poplar Ridge is sprawling, secluded, and foreboding. Chris Olson is immediately swept into its somber history and an inexplicable, electrifying passion for Geoff Cameron, her best friend's brother. Dreams of a Confederate soldier who strongly resembles Geoff and a haunting one-eyed scout cloud her mind further.

Through the eyes of the long-dead Margaret, Chris witnesses mysterious events shrouded in the conflict of the Civil War, until little by little, she uncovers Margaret's dark and terrible secret—and Geoff's connection to the enchanting woman from the past.

Whispers from the Grave has won two awards and is now available on Kindle. Besides the sequel, Whispers Through Time, Mom has written four other books. She loves writing historical stuff and is constantly researching. Now and then, her research takes time away from my Frisbee games. Her Civil War trilogy has some horses, but no dogs. Her current release The Dreaming: Walks Through Mist has a greyhound in it, and the main character goes by my little sister's name. Of course, that's gone to Phoebe's head, and she thinks she's famous now. You can contact me through my mom and read more about her books at www.KimMurphy.Net, or you can see lots of pictures of me and follow my adventures on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kim.murphy1.

Mitzi spills the beans on J. Anderson Coats

2011-03-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

Excellent, you’re all here. My name is Mitzi, I’ve been kindly invited by Amigo to tell you a little about the girl monkey who feeds me and sometimes writes books when she’s not making a warm lap for me. Her fancy writer name is J. Anderson Coats, and she has a website with entirely too few pictures of me on it.

Here are five things you should know about J and her work:

* J doesn’t write stories that matter. That is, they are not about cats. They all take place hundreds of years ago, and they are all about those half-grown monkeys who hide in their rooms and play their little screeny-games too loud. The fancy writer term is “young-adult historical fiction,” but it’s really just half-grown monkeys behaving badly in the middle ages.

* There were cats in Wales in 1293. This is important because the book J just wrote takes place in north Wales ten years into English rule. It’s about two girl monkeys who don’t get along. One girl is English and wants to leave the town of Caernarvon and go back home. The other girl is Welsh and wishes all the English would leave. Neither of them will get her wish, and things are getting violent. The good news is that no cats are hurt. I can’t say the same for the monkeys.

* J’s book is called Without the Walls, and it is forthcoming from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in the fall of 2012. I like the fall because of all the crackling leaves that stick to the monkeys’ shoes when they come inside. And there are a lot of crows. I really like crows.

* J doesn’t know the first thing about beauty rest. Every day at 4:30 in the morning, there’s this awful noise and – you’re not going to believe this - she gets out of bed while she’s still tired, sets up her laptop and writes. At least she remembers to put the wet food down for me before she starts.

* Sometimes J posts pictures of me on her blog. She is kind enough to preserve my anonymity by referring to me as Thumbkitty. While I find the term “kitty” slightly demeaning, I appreciate the fact that she highlights my thumbs. My thumbs are instrumental in my future plans to learn the fine art of the can opener. Oh, and sometimes she talks about writing too. You can read it here if you’re so inclined.

So. As you can see, I’m strongly supportive of anything my monkeys do that might improve the quality of the food around here. I’ve even learned something about books beyond their obvious value of rump-warming.

Thanks again to Amigo for having me here today. The heat vent just came on, and there’s a box in front of it with my name on it.

~*~

Bio: Mitzi is a tortoiseshell cat “of a certain age.” The rumors that she’s shaped like a gumdrop are vicious and scurrilous. She has no comment on their accuracy.

The monkey’s bio: J. Anderson Coats has dug for crystals, held Lewis and Clark’s original hand-written journal and been a mile underground. She writes historical fiction set in the middle ages that routinely includes too much violence, name-calling and petty vandalism perpetrated by badly-behaved young people. Her work is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Without the Walls, J's debut novel, is forthcoming from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in fall 2012.

~*~

"It's Mysterious to Me," by Lexie

2011-03-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

My name is Lexie. I’m a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the older of two Cavaliers running the house of author Linda O. Johnston. My pack-mate is Mystie, the nutcase who chases sunbeams. Me? I’m more low key, except when I want attention, which is nearly all the time. That’s when I bark to go out, so I can get a treat. Or, I demand to be lifted onto Linda’s lap to help her write or edit.

I wanted to appear here to complain. You see, Linda’s new Pet Rescue Mystery series just debuted this month with BEAGLEMANIA. It’s a spinoff series from the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery series. Both are published by Berkley Prime Crime.

The thing is, I was the star of the Kendra mysteries. Rather, my fictional counterpart, also named Lexie, was the star. The protagonist Kendra Ballantyne lives where our family lives, she’s a lawyer like Linda has been, and Kendra is owned by her tricolor Cavalier Lexie who, not coincidentally, resembles me.

In BEAGLEMANIA, although it’s clear that Lauren loves animals, she doesn’t even have a dog of her own, at least not yet. I’m definitely not the star.

Lauren is the director of HotRescues, a no-kill animal shelter. She was introduced in HOWL DEADLY, the eighth Kendra mystery, and also appeared in FELINE FATALE, the ninth. She’s pretty cool. She does save a lot of animals, even though, since her stories are also cozy mysteries, people get killed. In fact, I’m told that in the Pet Rescue Mysteries, “no-kill” means pets, not people!

BEAGLEMANIA begins with a rescue from a puppy mill. I understand that some of Lauren’s later adventures will involve an animal hoarder and a shelter that takes in unadoptable pets.

I have to admit that I like Lauren and what she does. But I’m sorry that I don’t know her well enough to have much of a role in her stories.

Oh, well. Maybe I’ll just relax about it and enjoy some down time. And learn more about pet rescue as Linda does, too. It’s definitely a worthwhile cause. I’ll just take the position with Linda that, since I’m not the star of her new series, she owes me. Big time. Lots of walks and romps in our backyard and treats, and... Hey, maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

Please come visit Linda at www.LindaOJohnston.com and at www.KillerHobbies.blogspot.com on Wednesdays. Friend me on Facebook. I’d love to hear what you think of pet rescue--and BEAGLEMANIA!

Meet Boushka, proud owner of author Mary Sharatt

2011-02-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

Woof! Welcome my special guest, Boushka! This Welsh mare lives with Mary Sharatt, author of the fascinating novel, Daughters of the Witching Hill. If you love witch stories based on real historical stuff, then this is the book for you! Be sure to check out Mary's website, as well as her Facebook page.

So tell us, Boushka, how in the world did you end up with an American author living in Lancashire, England?

I was born in Wales, the greatest place in the world and sacred homeland to all Welsh ponies and cobs, but I changed owners several times, living in Yorkshire and then in Lancashire where I did pony club stuff with teenagers. A girl has to get around, you know?

Then I moved to Pendle Forest in Lancashire where I acquired Mary who was most certainly not a teenager. When I first met her, she was writing her novel, DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL, about the Pendle Witches of 1612, so she rode me all around Pendle Forest as part of her research. Mary and I have a lot of fun adventures together. We even did a three day, long distance ride last summer, the Mary Towneley Loop, where I took Mary up and down old packhorse trails, across moors, through fields of cows who were altogether too inquisitive, and into forgotten valleys. Mary knows I’m happiest when we do long hacks and that nothing is more fun than having a good canter across a field or exploring a new trail through the woods. I am naturally curious and must investigate everything. And I’m not afraid of cows. I’m the boss of them and they know it. Don’t mess with Welsh mares!

What's with the name? Sounds Russian spy to me.

My show name is Glynnedd Caramel. One of my teenagers that I owned before Mary named me Boushka, short for Babushka, after the Kate Bush song. I think it’s a little silly since Babushka means grandmother and there’s nothing grandmotherly about me! But they say it’s unlucky to change a horse’s name, so I’m still Boushka, although I’m secretly training Mary to call me Queen Boudicca instead. If the Roman legions invaded the mares’ field, I would totally demolish them, as I am descended from great Celtic warrior queens.

Wow. I'm impressed. I understand you have a bigger wardrobe with more accessories than Mary. How did this happen?

When I first acquired Mary, I came with a whole wardrobe and set of accessories thanks to the teenager I owned before Mary. This included my beloved pink feed bucket and hay net. Of course, Mary has added to the collection so I now have five different field rugs, two stable rugs, a fly rug, a fleece cooler, countless saddle cloths, travel boots, brushing boots, two head collars and lead ropes, not to mention my Santa outfit for Christmas, which features reindeer antlers that flop around my ears and furry boots to wear on my hind legs. For Midsummer, Mary usually braids real roses in my mane, tale, and forelock. I can’t help it I’m so gorgeous!

Are there any drawbacks to owning Mary? Don't hold back now. Time to spill the beans.

Sometimes she gets a little carried away with the whole Pendle Witch theme. For Halloween, she dresses me up in a purple witch hat and hacks me out while carrying a kid’s purple glitter broom. I humour her, because I am awesome. Last year the horse behind us tried to eat the straw on the broom, which was rather amusing.

I think putting costumes on pets is humiliating. I lived the experience one Christmas, when my human tried to make me look like Santa. First and last.

Anyway, I heard Mary’s novel, DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL, is now out in paperback. Tell us more about it!

If you’re a Welsh mare who loves reading about strong women, this is the book for you. Daughters of the Witching Hill brings history to life in a vivid and wrenching account of a family caught up in the Pendle Witch trials of 1612.

Bess Southerns, an impoverished widow living in Pendle Forest, is haunted by visions and gains a reputation as a cunning woman. Drawing on the Catholic folk magic of her youth, Bess heals the sick and foretells the future. As she ages, she instructs her granddaughter, Alizon, in her craft, as well as her best friend, who ultimately turns to dark magic. When a peddler suffers a stroke after exchanging harsh words with Alizon, a local magistrate, eager to make his name as a witch finder, plays neighbors and family members against one another until suspicion and paranoia reach frenzied heights.

Mary interweaves well-researched historical details with a beautifully imagined story of strong women, family, and betrayal. Daughters of the Witching Hill is a powerful novel of intrigue and revelation.

The book has received many glowing reviews. I hope lots of people go out and buy it so Mary can get me some more pony treats and accessories! I would like a new fly rug this summer.

You seem to like accessories quite a bit. Tell your human to get you a set of Fancy Nancy books. But before I forget... Is it true you appear in Mary's book?

Yes, I make a special cameo appearance as accused witch Alice Nutter’s horse.

Wow! So, what is Mary working on now?

Her new book, tentatively titled SIBYL OF THE RHINE, is based on the dramatic life of Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th century German visionary abbess, composer, theologian, and polymath. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will publish the book in Spring 2012. I’m really excited about Mary’s new novel, but I hope she doesn’t get any funny ideas about dressing me up to look like a 12th century Benedictine nun!

You're scaring me! I hope my human won't read this interview. She might get some insane ideas.

Where can we learn more about Mary, her books, and the true history of the Pendle Witches?

Be sure to visit her website (www.marysharratt.com) and watch her six minute docudrama about the Pendle Witches, shot live on location around Pendle Hill. I, of course, appear in all my glory and am the star of the whole video. I can’t tell you how many takes we had to do to get the camera angles just right! ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT-In065-gA)

Also, you can follow my adventures with Mary on Facebook where there are many pictures of me in all my Welsh magnificence! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=695382792

Woof! Woof!

Meet Bella, owner of children's author Deborah Underwood

2011-02-06T01:43:00.000-08:00

Say a big MIAU! to Bella, proud owner of children's author Deborah Underwood. Deborah writes fun picture books, easy readers and chapter books, and also nonfiction. Check out what she's up to on her website! Don't be lazy and also check out Facebook fan page, ok? Woof!

What's up, Bella. What kind of cat are you and why are you named like that Twilight girl?

I am a beautiful brown tabby. My name was Sheyenne in the shelter, and Deborah took a few weeks to figure out my real name. She had about eight possibilities, like Shayla, Emily, and Charlotte. At one point she even wrote them all on pieces of paper and spread them all over the floor to see if I'd choose a name by sitting on it. She finally settled on Bella because it means beautiful and I am.

My name has NOTHING to do with Twilight. Twilight Bella is passive, and I am very active. Twilight Bella needs to be rescued. I am the rescuer in my home--every night I save Deborah from the foot-shaped lumps under her covers. (She is so happy when I catch them that she howls with joy.) Also, I do not fall in love with sparkly vampires. If a sparkly vampire came anywhere near me, I would rip him to shreds.

How did you come to live at Deborah's household?

She looked at lots and lots of cats in shelters all over the Bay Area before she decided on me (of course, actually I decided on her). I was living at Pets Unlimited in San Francisco. When Deborah came in the first time, she coaxed me down from my cat tree. I crawled into her lap, started purring, and fell asleep. She seemed pretty nice for a human, so I agreed to live with her.

I was very sneaky in the shelter, though. I know writers like to sleep, and that they like quiet. So I acted like a calm, quiet cat who didn't play at all. But after I got home, I started to tear up and down the hall, do death-defying leaps, and talk a lot. I totally fooled her! I should get an Oscar.

Nice work, Bella. You seem like CIA material...

Anyway, I hear she has a bunch of picture books out. Tell us all about it and how Deborah ignores you and spends her days writing all day long.

I like the picture books because they are big and nice to lie on. One is called A Balloon for Isabel and it's about a porcupine who wants a balloon. It's very colorful, but why would you write about a porcupine when you could write about a cat? Another is Granny Gomez and Jigsaw. It's about an old lady who adopts a pig. A pig?? What's wrong with a cat? And the other one is The Quiet Book. I wouldn't know much about quiet. The Loud Book is coming out on April 4th. That's more my style.

I am a hard cat to ignore. If she ignores me for too long, I sit on her arms so she can't type. Or I meow and look pathetic. I'm missing a canine tooth, and I can leverage this to look extra-pathetic if need be.

Forget about cats. What about DOGS??? Obviously your mom doesn't have any imagination...

So you're not in any of her books?

Not yet, since I just moved in with her last August. But she's planning to put me in a middle-grade novel. My character is so rich and complex that a picture book couldn't do it justice.

Does Deborah let you sit on her lap? I'd love to sit on my mom's lap, but I'd probably suffocate her.

She loves having me sit on her lap. In fact, I'm in her lap right now! And if I'm in her lap, she doesn't like to disturb me, even to go get food. Humans are silly. If she were in my lap and it were dinnertime, I'd push her right out.

Deborah also writes nonfiction, I hear. How does she manage her time and still doesn't forget to feed you? (or does she?!)

Are you kidding? I remind her to feed me regularly. For example, last night I reminded her at 3 a.m., 4:15 a.m., and 5:15 a.m. She looked kind of grumpy this morning. No idea why.

How does she manage her time? Not very well. Sometimes she goes to meetings (which means she's not home playing with me). Sometimes she goes on writers' retreats (which means she's not home playing with me). Sometimes she goes out to buy office supplies (which means she's not home playing with me). I will definitely bring all this up during her next performance review.

Leave us with some feline words of wisdom.

For cats: Choose your humans well.

For humans: Feed your cats well. And here's some advice from a human writer, Aldous Huxley: "If you want to be a psychological novelist and write about human beings, the best thing you can do is keep a pair of cats."

Cats, cats, cats. Bah! That Huxley didn't have any imagination either...

Meet Killer the Cat, proud owner of author Cara Marsi

2011-01-30T05:21:00.000-08:00

Say hello to Killer the Cat, proud owner of romantic suspense/paranormal romance author Cara Marsi. Killer shares with us what it's like living with Cara and also spills the beans on her latest books. Don't forget to connect with Killer's mom on Twitter!

Hey, Killer. What's up? How did you end up in Cara's household?

Cara's son Joey bought me as a Christmas gift in 2003 for Cara and her husband, my dad Joe. They'd recently lost their beloved 16 year old cat Happy. Mom and Joey went cat shopping together and found me at the shelter. I was 18 months old and had spent my whole life ithere. I guess no one wanted a beautiful black cat. Because I was at the shelter so long I developed the herpes virus and now have chronic upper respiratory disease. If Mom hadn't brought me home, I don't think anyone would have adopted me. But she couldn't let me stay there, knowing I might never be adopted. You can see why I love her, and also Joe and Joey. Of course, they are very lucky to have such a special cat as me.

Do you think you're beautiful?

But of course. My fur is thicker than most cats and very shiny and soft and black, with a dark brown undercoat. My tail is about half the length of other cats' tails, which makes me unique. The vet says I'm overweight, but I say I'm not overweight, I'm just large boned.

What's she like as a pet owner?

She smothers me with love, always petting me, and kissing my head. And she feeds me good food. She wishes I were a lap cat, but I'm not. But I do follow her all around the house, like a shadow. I sleep next to my mom every night, snuggled against her in bed. I don't know what she would do without me.

What about as a writer?

She works really hard at writing. Sometimes I go into her office and bother her until she stops writing and pets me. She has sold lots of short stories lately to the confession magazines, and this makes her happy. She loves to make up stories about passionate people who find love and happiness, even if they have to fight for what they want. I don't get it, but mom thinks romance novels are the best and she craves books with happy endings. She says she writes the books she wants to read. She has lots of books she doesn't have time to read and this makes her sad sometimes.

I love the title of her mystery novella, 'Murder, Mi Amore'--very evocative. What's it about?

Here's the blurb (as my mom calls it):

Lexie Cortese is in Rome to forget. The last thing she expects is to meet a sexy Interpol agent who suspects her of being part of a terrorist plot involving a stolen diamond. Suddenly thrust into a world of murders, muggings, and kidnappings, Lexie doesn’t know what to think—or who to believe.

Dominic Brioni’s assignment is simple. Befriend the American and bring her to justice. Only Lexie seems like the most unlikely terrorist Dominic has ever met. Sweet, determined, and direct, she faces life with courage and fire, a fire that sparks his protective instincts and a longing for something more—something he allowed himself to hope for only once before.

But that woman betrayed him, and his boss isn’t about to let him forget it. With his career on the line and Lexie in danger, will Dominic learn to trust his heart before they both get killed?

Most of the story is set in Rome where Mom and Dad visited in 2006. They left me home with Joey. I missed them. Mom even included a chapter set in her grandparent's hometown of Ripa Teatina. Mom says her heroine Lexie is feisty and learns to be even stronger during the story. And Mom is in love with the hero, Dominic. She hopes lots of people will read her story and enjoy reading it as much as she enjoyed writing it.

What inspires your writer mom?

She loves happy endings and heroes and heroines who fight for what they want. It doesn't hurt to throw in some mystery and a murder or two, as long as the hero and heroine find love. Mom says there's too much bad stuff in the world, and so she writes life affirming stories of love and commitment, all with happy endings, of course.

What's she working on now?

A really scary story about werewolves and demons and a kick-ass werewolf hunter.

Are you in the book?

I'm not in the book, although she's had cats in some of her other books, but they weren't black. She doesn't like to put me in books that are scary because she doesn't want her readers worrying about me. She has put me in her short stories. The first story she sold to a confession magazine was about a smart black cat, much like me, who brings two lonely people together. She also wrote another short story from the cat's point of view, a black cat. My mom is in love with me and thinks I'm the most beautiful cat in the world, even if I am a little plump. I tend to agree with her.

Why did she name you Killer?

Joey named me Killer because he's into irony. My people think I'm really sweet and timid and afraid of everything which is why Joey named me Killer. Irony, you see. But I'm not so innocent as they think. You don't spend your formative years in a shelter with 80 other cats and not learn a few things. Get my drift? But I allow my people to believe I'm sweet and scared and shy. It gets me more attention and petting. And after all, isn't that what a cat's life is all about? This has been fun, but it's time for my nap. Later.

Thanks! Woof!

Meet Sadie, proud owner of author Jennifer A. Nielsen

2011-01-15T00:11:00.000-08:00

My guest today is a SUPER CUTE ADORABLE energetic golden retriever puppy named Sadie, who has recently adopted the Nielsen family, including author Jennifer Nielsen. Jennifer has just launched her debut book, Elliot and the Goblin War, with Sourcebooks publishing. Two more are set to release in that series over the next year. She will release another series with Scholastic beginning in April 2012.
Wow, pretty COOL!

Sadie, how did you come to live with the Nielsen family?

It turns out the kids are really good negotiators. They worked out a spectacular deal where they agreed to give up ever asking for anything again in exchange for my coming. That lasted for about ten minutes before they asked for ice cream on the ride home. I got a chewing biscuit.

With a brand new book released, things must be really busy at your house.

There’s been a lot going on lately, but it’s all good things: book signings, school visits, and whatever it is she does on her computer. Luckily, I always know how to get attention if anyone gets distracted from me for too long.

What is “Elliot and the Goblin War” about? Based on the title, I’m guessing it’s not dogs.

There’s no dogs, but there are Goblins and Hags and Brownies. It’s the story of 11-year-old Elliot Penster who becomes king of the Brownies and accidentally prompts an interspecies war. But as my owner writes, “Don’t blame him. As anyone who has ever started an interspecies war will tell you, it’s not that difficult to do.”

Which character in the story are you most like?

Probably one of the Brownie kids, a girl named Patches. She and I are both smart, both love humans, but both have our ways of getting into trouble. For example, Patches finds herself at the bottom of a very deep hole with hungry Goblins at the top. In the meantime, I dug a big hole in the corner of the yard. I hope nobody finds it.

Turnip juice, chocolate cake, and pickles figure heavily into these books. What do you think about that?

Well I’m a puppy, so I’ll eat anything. Unfortunately, my people only let me read about those foods, not eat it. The food I eat probably isn’t interesting enough to write about.

Has Jennifer always had pets?

Lots of animals have owned her over the years: hamsters, fish, a cat, dogs, and a leopard-gecko lizard. But I’m her favorite, of course.

Does Jennifer have a website or blog?

Both. You can find out more about her and her books at www.jennielsen.com or at www.jenniferanielsen.blogspot.com. She hopes everyone will check out Elliot and the Goblin War. Here’s the Amazon link if it’s helpful: http://www.amazon.com/Elliot-Goblin-War-Jennifer-Nielsen/dp/1402240198

Meet Miko and Daisy, proud owners of author and writing coach Suzanne Lieurance

2011-01-04T06:55:00.000-08:00

Say WOOF! to my special guests Miko and Daisy, proud owners of author, speaker, freelance writer and coach Suzanne Lieurance (talk about busy!).

Suzanne is the founder and director of the National Writing for Children Center. She has written hundreds of articles and also over 25 books! But that's not all! She's also host of the popular Book Bites for Kids, a radio show where she interviews children's authors. My mom loves Suzanne and is always listening to her shows and teleclasses.

Listen, people, this is one lady you'll want to follow on Facebook and Twitter. So don't be shy.

Welcome, Miko and Daisy! How did you come to live with Suzanne?

Miko: Well, I'm Miko, and I'll answer that question first, since I got here first. Actually, Suzanne's younger son Tyler rescued me from some people who weren't very nice to me when I was just a puppy. They didn't feed me and they hit me a lot. Tyler convinced the people to let him have me, then he brought me home to his mom. She adopted me, even though I was supposed to be Tyler's dog.

Daisy: And, I'm Daisy. People think I look like a little black pig. But I don't think so. I mean...I don't have a curly tail like pigs do, for gosh sakes. Give me a break! And I can explain why I like to eat so much. Years ago, when I had a litter of pups, my humans were going through a divorce and they completely ignored me and all their other dogs (they had about 5 other big dogs, plus me and my puppies). They penned us up in their backyard. It got so cold, all but one of my puppies froze to death. And one of the other dogs in the pen jumped off the doghouse and accidentally hanged himself with his leash - or maybe he committed suicide like some of the other dogs in the pen thought. After all, we had it pretty rough. No one fed us, they kept us outside in the freezing cold. We all thought we were going to die until some lady rescued us. She found homes for all the other dogs except me. Nobody wanted a little black dog that looked like a pig. But then Suzanne came over to this lady's house and when she found out I needed a home she convinced her husband to let me come live with her family. I didn't like Miko at first. I mean, look at him! He's HUGE! And he thought he was the boss of the house. I had to straighten him out about that. Now we get along great! He's my big brother and he pretty much does what I say.

Miko: I do not, Daisy! You're not the boss. You just think you are!

Gosh, that's quite a story, you guys. What's wrong with some people!

Tell us more about your mom, Suzanne. I hear she's completely obsessed with children's books? What's it like living with that kind of person?

Miko: Yeah, our human loves to read, write, and talk about children's books all the time. But it's kinda cool. She dedicated one of her books to me and she called me her "four-footed little writing buddy." That's because when I was a puppy I used to lie at her feet while she wrote her books on the computer. We'd take "sunshine breaks" during the writing day and go outside and sit in the sun together. We still do that now when the weather is good.

Daisy: Yeah, I love the sunshine breaks. Sometimes we get a special snack when we go outside. Yum! Is it time for a sunshine break now? I bet it is! Let's get a snack!

Miko: Pay attention, Daisy! It's not time for a break or a snack!

Did someone mention SNACKS?

Anyway, she's written like 25 books, hasn't she? Ha! I bet success has gone to her head!

Miko: She just likes to write. She doesn't always write books, though. Sometimes she writes articles or writing courses, and she writes a bunch of stuff for children's educational publishers - test questions, reading passages, and stuff like that. She really likes to write adaptations of fairy tales and other old stories for kids. Right now, she's working on a middle grade novel. Plus, she has a bunch of picture book manuscripts she's sending out to publishers, so she stays pretty busy.

Daisy: She always remembers to feed us, though. That's the main thing! Every morning, we get our breakfast first thing, before she starts to write. Then we go outside and play for a while. Then we take a nap. It's a dog's life and we love it!

Is it true she also mentors other writers? I hear she teaches online courses and has a club for children's authors.

Miko: Yeah, our "mom" is a former classroom teacher, so she seems to think she has to help everybody learn stuff. She started the Children's Writers' Coaching Club so she could help other people become published children's book authors. People can find out more about it at www.cwcoachingclub.com. The club has weekly teleclasses about writing for children and people who are in the club can get their stories professionally critiqued each week - whatever that means. I don't read, so I'm not sure what a critique is. I just know Suzanne reads a bunch of stuff when she's doing critiques.

My mom is a member of the Children's Writers Coaching Club and can't stop raving about Suzanne. What's so darn special about her, anyway?

Daisy: Uh, I think she's special because she feeds us good stuff! Hey....do you give snacks for these interviews?

Miko: Cut it out, Daisy. You don't need a snack. Back to the question - I think Suzanne is special because she likes to teach and help people as much as she likes to write. That's good for those other people. But sometimes it takes away from Suzanne's writing time. And I don't like to be around when that happens because she gets grouchy. I like it when she's working on a book because she takes us for walks during the day so she can figure out what happens next in the story.

Daisy: I don't like it when she can't write either. When she's grouchy we don't get snacks!

I bet she doesn't have anytime left for you too. Shameful!

Miko: Yeah, sometimes she gets so busy she forgets about our walks. But, like I said, if she's working on a story that's giving her trouble, we walk a LOT! I guess I shouldn't say this, but I like it when she has trouble with her stories cause we get to go to the park a bunch of times during the week and see all the other dogs and people there. Daisy and I LOVE that!

Daisy: Yeah, walks are really, really fun. But, really, all I need is my food. As long as she doesn't ever forget that, I don't have any complaints. I'm good. Are you sure we don't get a snack for doing this interview? Do I smell bacon?

So what's with that radio show, Book Bites for Kids? I don't like it. Every time my mom listens to one of those shows, it's 30 minutes she's not playing with me!

Miko: Yeah, we have to be quiet and not bark when she's doing that show. She talks to other children's book authors about their books and stuff like that.

Daisy: Yeah, but she does the show during our nap time, so it usually isn't a problem. Sniff! Sniff! I know I smell bacon!

What do you love most about Suzanne?

Miko: I like her hugs and tummy rubs. And the walks.

Daisy: The food! Definitely the meals and the snacks! And we LOVE bacon! Sniff! Sniff!

Thanks for stopping by this side of the woods, Miko and Daisy. You're so lucky you have Suzanne as a mom now. She sounds like a darn fine human!

Hey, readers, if you like this, why don't you share it on Twitter and Facebook... please, pretty please?

Meet Blanco, owner of children's author Kai Strand

2010-12-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

Today we have an unusual gust on Pets & Their Authors... a dragon!

I hope you'll enjoy his guest post.

See my spikes? I’m fierce. Ask any cricket! My name is Blanco. I’m a bearded dragon. Kai Strand is my author. Kai and I go way back to the Christmas of 2008 when I joined the family. I was just a little tyke then, hadn’t fully grown into my fierceness. I’m what they call a pale dragon. My color is lighter than many others, hence the name Blanco (meaning white). I’m actually named after a villain from one of Kai’s middle grade novels (this one hasn’t sold…yet). Yep, the creepy villain of the story sends shivers up your spine like I do when I spread myself wide and hiss.

Kai has a laptop, so she will sometimes tuck her feet up under her on the couch next to my vivarium (cage) and write. I like it when she does that because the clicking sound of the keys sounds like a murder of crickets climbing over each other to get away from my razor sharp teeth. It often lulls me to sleep.

As a matter of fact, I ended up going into an extended state of hibernation (what we refer to in my beardie world as brumation) last winter when she was working on final edits of her tween book, The Weaver. The Weaver is about a young girl, Mary, who lives in a town of storytellers. Mary’s mother is the most revered story weaver around, but poor Mary is suffering through her third year of novice word weaving. Mary meets a strange little gnome-elf who grants her one wish, but instead of weaving a better story, she suddenly is weaving strange little yarn charms to accompany her still pathetic tales. Because of my state of brumation, I never did hear if Mary resolved her problem. Maybe one of you can let me know. Feel free to contact me through Kai. You can read more about her and her writing at www.kaistrand.com. Or stay up-to-date on book info on her Facebook page.

Five cats spill the beans on children's author Lisa Cottrell Bentley

2010-12-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

I apologize to my canine friends for having FIVE guest cats on my blog today (as if just one wasn't enough!). Anyway...

Say hello to Connor, Bronwyn, Astrid, Fiona, and Finnegan!

Q: So, hello, kitties. Who are you and who is your human?

A: We are Lisa Cottrell-Bentley's five adorable cats: Connor, age 15, gorgeous orange tabby cat...

Bronwyn, age 1, fluffy white cat who looks and acts exactly like
"Marie" from the Aristocats movie...

Astrid, age 13, sleek and prestigious black cat...

Fiona, age 2.5, skittish tortico who, while our largest, believes she is our smallest and she is scared of all the others...

Finnegan, age 1, soccer loving, sleek pure white cat with the world's fluffiest tail, littermate to Bronwyn, also known as "Finnegan Snowflake Albus Brian Sleek Spock Cottrell Bentley" or "Captain Fluffytail"...

Lisa is the author of the Wright on Time series. She also owns Do Life Right, Inc., an independent publishing company that specializes in children's and YA books about realistic homeschoolers of today.

"Wright on Time" is about an RV-living, homeschooling family who travels the USA. Each book is set in a different state with a different fun and educational theme. So long as Lisa doesn't actually take me on her adventures, I'm good. I don't want to live in an RV. In fact, I don't want to leave the house--ever.

Q: Really Finnegan, did you have to say so much about Lisa right from the start? I was just going to ask about her books to Fiona. So, Fiona, what type of books does your human mom write?

Fiona: Lisa writes? I thought that thing on her lap was just an inadequate lap warmer for when I wasn't around. I do a much better job at keeping her warm.

Finnegan: Action! Adventure! The best kind there are! There aren't nearly enough balls in her stories though... I think I'll go and remind her of the fun of balls. I like to give her presents.

Q: Of all your mom's books, which one is your favorite? Why?

Connor: I like them all, so long as Lisa feeds me. I have been told, however, that there is a minor character (Aidan's best friend) who was named after me. I sort of like this.

Bronwyn: Astrid: I really like "Wright on Time: Utah, Book 2". I particularly like when the Wright family learns how to clean and preserve dinosaur bones. I like to clean things.

Fiona: I love "Wright on Time: Arizona, Book 1". I want tochase those bats!

Finnegan: Definitely "Wright on Time: Wyoming, Book 3". I love the constant playing and going to new places in that book. I'd even love the airplane ride and golf cart excursion.

Q: Have you actually read them?

Connor: No, but I've tried to eat them. They aren't very tasty. Lisa should really work on that.

Bronwyn: I haven't learned how to read yet, but Teagan (my 10 year old) likes to read to me.

Astrid: I have. I've read them at every stage of their development. Lisa doesn't realize it, but I go and read everything on her computer every night after she goes to sleep. Why do you think I sleep all day?

Fiona: I would, except they are kind of hard to keep open with my paws. She keeps telling me that she's having audio versions made. I'm waiting for those.

Finnegan: I hear her pacing and talking out loud all the time. It's great fun to follow her while she does this. Plus, I like the stories, especially the little boy Aidan. I could have so much fun playing ball with him.

Q: Are they any good?

Connor: I already answered this question. They taste awful! Maybe if they were catnip flavored or something...

Bronwyn: I certainly like how the humans I find reading them stay still for a long time. It gives me a chance to really get cozy. So, I'm wanting Lisa to write more so that more humans will let their cats be cozy.

Astrid: My analytical mind says yes. The book series has everything I've seen lacking in children's fiction today. They have homeschooled kids, like the kids who live in my house. The kids love their parents and vice versa, like the people who live in my house. They all learn from life, and enjoy traveling. They are wonderful, wholesome books for kids and parents.

Fiona: Well, honestly, the family shouldn't be so adventurous. Living in an RV? They're nuts! Plus they are always doing crazy things like going into caves, flying in strange airplanes, and otherwise getting into trouble. I'd use caution with having kids read these, because I think kids
should just sit quietly in the corner and grow without going anywhere. It's safer that way.

Finnegan: Oh, yes! How could a book with a seven-year old like Aidan, who loves sports and jokes, be anything but good?

Q: Who is your favorite character in Lisa's books?

Connor: Well, the Connor character, of course, but he hasn't actually shown up in any of the books yet. So, I'll have to go with Nadia, the eleven year old, or Harrison, the dad. Harrison is a gourmet cook, so I know he and I would get along famously. I love food. Nadia would be fun to
snuggle with while she does her researching in books and on her computer. I love to snuggle.

Bronwyn: I like Prince Pumpkin the Third, the cute little turtle of the Wrights. He is cute and little and quiet, just like me.

Astrid: Hmm. This one is tough. I'll have to say my favorites are the various tour guides, and "Bob-characters" (as Lisa calls them). They are all a lot different from each other, but they are all experts at whatever the Wrights are learning about. I like smart people.

Fiona: The mom, Stephanie, is my favorite. She's cautious and careful and doesn't jump into things without thinking and considering the ramifications. She's the most like me. I really don't understand why anyone would jump into anything without thinking it through.

Finnegan: Aidan, the seven year old. He and I are so much alike it's crazy. I really hope to meet him someday. We could have so much fun batting around balls, racing each other, and jumping on things.

Q: What do you do for amusement while Lisa writes and ignores you?

Connor: She ignores me? I don't think so. I'd never let her. If I'm feeling like I haven't been fed sufficiently, I have no problem letting her know. I also enjoy spending that time licking the condensation off the side of her water glasses. I don't know why, but she doesn't really like it if I
try to drink her actual water. She's welcome to mine whenever she'd like. I'm all for sharing.

Bronwyn: What? Did you say my name?

Astrid: I spend that time napping in the bathroom sink. It's lovely and cool in this desert heat.

Fiona: I go and hide out in the loft, where the other cats will leave me alone.

Finnegan: She doesn't mind one bit when I go and sit on top of her hands.

Q: Does Lisa ever ask you for advice when she's stuck? Does she listen to your advice?

Connor: She's always rattling on about something, but I pretty much only hear, "Food, breakfast, snack, hungry." If she's saying those words, then I always wholeheartedly agree.

Bronwyn: Huh? What? Oh, I don't really have an opinion, but I'm fine whenever Lisa wants to pet me.

Astrid: Yes, all the time. In fact, all those good bits in the story--all mine. I don't mind that she is getting the credit, but since you asked I thought I'd let the truth be known.

Fiona: I'm always telling her to stop putting her characters in danger, but she never listens.

Finnegan: When Lisa paces, I like to reach out and grab her as she walks past me. It makes her realize I'm thinking of her. I also encourage her to add action and adventure. A story isn't good until the characters are running or playing a sport.

Q: Where can Lisa's books be found?

Connor: Underneath me. I'm happy to sit on anything. While they aren't tasty, they're not too bad as a bed. I hope you are done asking me questions now thought, because I'm too distracted to answer any more since I'm starving.

Bronwyn: On the bookshelf in our library, but I can't reach them.

Astrid: Lisa sells signed copies on www.WrightOnTimeBooks.com. The books can also be found at online stores such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as your local bookstores and libraries. If they don't have them, just ask them to order them for you.

Fiona: On the floor, after I've knocked them off the table or counter to make room for myself.

Finnegan: In kids' hands while they are reading them!

Guest Pet Blogger: "Cat Smarts Vs. Dog Smarts: a Cat's Perspective," by Sparkle

2010-12-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

For decades, if not longer, humans have been debating whether cats or dogs are smarter. I have found this quite enlightening, not because there are any satisfactory answers (there aren't), but because it says a lot about what humans consider "intelligence." Take the latest study by scientists at Oxford University (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/8151924/Dogs-are-smarter-than-cats.html): they claim that since dogs are more social, and their brains are bigger, they must be more intelligent than cats. So, according to these scientists, being social makes you smarter than if you are a solitary being. Hm. Tell that to writers, most of whom are not terribly social. I'm sure they are not exactly enthused by the implications of this study. From what I gather, most humans who pursue writing as a career tend to be more intelligent than other humans. Maybe not more sensible, but definitely more intelligent.

And as for brain size, wouldn't you say that it's not how big your brain is, but how you use it? While dogs are using their brains to figure out ways to please people and do their bidding, we cats use our brains to get around silly human rules such as "stay off the kitchen counter," or "don't go in the cabinet." Wouldn't you call that type of creative, industrious, authority-questioning behavior more intelligent than blind obedience?

Why don't we look at human beings from the perspective of these Oxford scientists: the most intelligent ones would be those who lived in large communal living conditions, had big brains and who were able to follow instructions really well (which really only uses a small fraction of those big brains). This means the most highly developed human beings are Army privates with big heads. And whether you humans are in the cat camp or the dog camp, you have to agree that that is a pretty wacky supposition. I think the real question should not be "Are cats smarter than dogs?" but "Are humans (especially scientists) as smart as either dogs or cats?"

About the blogger

Sparkle is an award-winning author, blogger, advice columnist and supermodel. She is also a cat – a ruddy Somali of champion lineage, in fact, whose father, GC Tajhara’s Miles Davis, was twice on the cover of Cat Fancy. Sparkle’s first book, Dear Sparkle: Advice from One Cat to Another, won the Wild Card category at the 2007 Hollywood Book Festival and honorable mentions in several other contests. She also recently came home with the Pettie Award — the pet blogging equivalent of an Oscar — for Best Cat Blog. Sparkle lives in Los Angeles with two humans, two feline roommates (both rescue cats), and (unfortunately) a dog.

Dear Sparkle: Cat-to-Cat Advice from the World’s Foremost Feline Columnist (Adams Media) is her second book.

You can visit Sparkle’s blog at http://www.sparklecat.com.

Guest post by Giggles and Boots, proud owners of Cheryl Malandrinos

2010-11-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

Please say hello to Giggles and Boots!

These two feline critters live with freelance writer and editor Cheryl Malandrinos. Cheryl's first children's book, The Little Shepherd, just came out by Guardian Angel Publishing. Be sure to check it out here. It's a Christmas book, people, so keep it in mind for gifts. It would make a great stocking filler! Woof! I LOVE stocking fillers!

Anyway, what was I saying??? Oh yes--Cheryl! She's also a tour coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer and a blogger. Talk about busy!

Meet Giggles and Boots!

Giggles: I have to admit, I like Cheryl. She pretty much feeds me whenever I cry long enough, she keeps my litter box clean, and she plays with me during the day.

Boots: Humph. That’s because you’re her favorite.

Giggles: I am not. I just don’t go after her feet when she’s sleeping or tear up the edges of the carpet the way you do, sister.

Boots: Whatever.

Giggles: Yeah, well if she has to replace the carpet in Sarah’s bedroom she’ll end up replacing you too.

Boots: Katherine wouldn’t let her do that.

Giggles: That girl has it for you bad. The way she carries you to bed with her each night, then brings you into the bathroom and sits you on the counter while she’s brushing her teeth, she’s teaching Sarah all kinds of bad tricks. Now she picks me up on the counter each morning and it is cold.

Boots: Well, at least she doesn’t paint your face with makeup like Katherine does.

Giggles: (Snickers) That touch of pink on your cheeks brings out the amber of your eyes.

Boots: Keep it up and I’ll make sure you get locked in the basement overnight.

Giggles: We’re supposed to be talking about Cheryl.

Boots: You’re the one who started talking about the girls.

Giggles: Fair enough. What do you think of those Giggles and Boots stories she makes up every night for bedtime?

Boots: Some are just plain silly. I mean, can you see us flying a hot air balloon or getting dressed up and going trick or treating? Why the kids love those crazy stories is beyond me.

Giggles: Lighten up, they’re kids.

Boots: Well, you and I are kids too, but you don’t see us acting all crazy.

Giggles: Uhem.

Boots: Okay, maybe a little crazy. But Cheryl is the craziest out of the bunch.

Giggles: I know. Can you believe she adopted us when she already had three other cats?

Boots: And her with those bad allergies.

Giggles: She must really love us.

Boots: Well, she loves you anyway.

Giggles: Stop it. Aren’t you the one she calls Bootie-rat?

Boots: She calls you Giggy-rat.

Giggles: Yeah, but she pets you more than she pets me.

Boots: That’s because I actually purr. You remember cats are supposed to do that, right?

Giggles: I like being different.

Boots: You’re different all right.

Giggles: What’s that supposed to mean?

Boots: (Looks around the room) Oh, nothing.

Giggles: So, what do you think about Cheryl’s writing?

Boots: Don’t you think she could have worked a cat into her first book, Little Shepherd? I mean, she’s got a cow, a donkey, and a sheep. Would it have been so hard to add a cat?

Giggles: I think you’re going to have to depend on Katherine for that. She’s the one who writes cat poetry and stories.

Boots: They say the apple doesn’t fall from the tree.

Giggles: I think you fell out of tree and onto your head.

Boots: You didn’t just say that.

Giggles: Yes, I did.

Boots: (Waves a paw in Giggles’ face) Oh, no you didn’t.

Giggles: Did….

Boots: Didn’t….

And the winners are...

2010-11-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

Drumroll, please....

The winners of 30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog, by Tamar Geller, are...

Carolee
Melissa
Victoria
Kathy Skempe
Deana
Terri Donna
Suzanne Marion
Suzanne Lieurance
Jessica Kennedy
Rebecca Camarena
Teresa Dovalpage
Janet Ann Collins
Admin
Bellavida
Beverly McClure
Fran
Thelma Reyna
Linda Faulkner
Cheryl Malandrinos

Congrats to the winners!!! But darn, I see not everyone posted their email address in the comment, so it'll probably take me a couple of days to contact everybody.

I hope your doggies become better behaved from now on... Woof!

Pet Interview & SUPER Giveaway!

2010-10-11T07:43:00.001-07:00

Meet Clyde, proud owner of author and famous dog trainer Tamar Geller!

Is this cool or what? Famous dog-trainer Tamar Geller is giving away 20 copies of her NEW book, 30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog, to Pets & Their Authors for a SUPER GIVEAWAY!

All you have to do to be eligible is become a Follower and leave a comment! Please leave contact info so I can contact you if you win. The 20 winners will be announced next Sunday, October 31--yep, on Halloween! You have until then to vote. Woof! Woof!

Only people who live in the US are eligible (sorry about that, but international postage is painful, you guys--nothing personal!)

Tamar is a bestselling author and amazing dog trainer. She has done dog coaching to the stars. Among them are Oprah Winfrey, Ben Affleck Courteney Cox-Arquette, Owen Wilson, Natalie Portman, and Larry King.

Here to give us the inside scoop is her companion of 13 years, Clyde.

Hey, Clyde! When did you first find out your human mom, Tamar, was a dog trainer?

She took me hiking on our first date & then played games with me that she somehow knew they were my favorite games. I realized that she understood the wolf in me!!!!

Tamar is famous! I mean, she's been on Oprah Has this gone to her head?

If it were me, it would have gone to my belly.

But seriously my mom takes things into her heart not her head.

So I hear she has a new book out, 30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog. Is
this true? Just 30 days? Isn't that being a bit too idealistic?

Dogs are smarter than most people give them credit for.... We need people to make it fun for us to kearn and it takes us no time to be their willing partners. When we feel empowered and heard you’ll be surprised what we will do

Where is the book available?

The book is available at book stores and online book retailers everywhere! In my opinion, it should be available at dog parks as well!

I'm a reasonably well-behaved golden retriever. I think my only bad habit is to stare longingly at my humans when they eat. I also bark of pure joy when we're ready to go out, which is twice a day. My mom wants to know how to stop this. (Okay, she forced me to ask this question!)

Tell your mom that when she's eating she need to give you a chew toy that you are especially fond of, one that isn’t always available to you. A nice uncooked marrow (soup bone) will do the trick. Now when it comes to barking before your walk, tell your mom you are a expressing pure joy and excitement for life. Tell her that I think it's cute to be so excited about such a simple thing.

I saw on your mom's website something about Operation Heroes + Hounds.
What's that about?

Operation Heroes & Hounds is a non-profit program to assist my canine buddies in the shelter as well as the brave men and women who have served our country in the military. They help each other to overcome anybad experience that they had in their past.

What do you love most about Tamar?

She cooks “real food” for me on a daily basis and everyday she takes me on at least one exciting excursion. I love to go to her friends who have dogs. But she also lets me know about 20x’s a day how much she loves me. I hear her say to me “I love my Clydie”. She plays ball with me too. I love that. I need that. Guess, I’m a loved dog, huh?

Did she take you to see Oprah?

Many times & btw…. I love playing with Oprah’s dogs. They are so much fun!

Okay, leave us with some words of canine wisdom………

As dogs we like nothing more than to know that our relationship with our human family is one of partnership and teamwork. We don’t want to be dominated by… or submissive to… the humans we love so much. We just want to be understood. We’ve got seven basic needs, ya know? (pssst…. read the book). And btw the way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach! Woof!

Thanks, Clyde! Send a BIG kiss to your mom. I think I have fallen in love (don't tell my mom!)

Special Feature: The Lost Dogs

2010-10-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

Woof! I want to feature a special book this week, THE LOST DOGS. Listen, people, this is important. This really happened. What's wrong with some humans? Why would they want to do something like this to dogs?

Thankfully, there are angels in the world like Jim Gorant, and for these dogs, there was a happy ending.

Basically, this is the story:

On April 26th, 2007, law enforcement officials descended on a sprawling white-brick house at 1915 Moonlight Road in Smithfield, Virginia. The home belonged to Michael Vick, who was the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and one of the highest paid players in the NFL. Although the police were there on a drug search, they quickly found evidence of what appeared to be a large, well-financed dog fighting operation.

Fifty-one pit bulls were seized from the property and they sat in local shelters for six months as the ensuing investigation played out, leading to guilty pleas from Vick and his partners in an operation known as Bad Newz Kennels. In most cases, that would have been it for the dogs. Considered a public hazard, they would have been euthanized. But a tidal wave of public outcry inspired government officials to at least consider the possibility of saving some dogs.

The startling string of events that followed included a landmark legal decision, a never-before assembled team of expert evaluators, a leap of faith and a selection of rescuers who were willing to do whatever it took to help. At the heart of it all was a group of dogs that wanted desperately to overcome what had until then been a life of violence and deprivation.

Taken together, these tales showcase a resilience, dedication and commitment that have the power to alter the way society views pit bulls and to reinforce the essential nature of the human-animal bond. The Lost Dogs, for the first time, tells the behind-the-scenes story from the day of that initial raid until today.

Buy the book on AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Dogs-Michael-Rescue-Redemption/dp/1592405509/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285188457&sr=8-1

Book website: http://www.thelostdogsbook.com/

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=939tGP4h6Sw

Clip of the book on CBS Early Show: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6884146n&tag=related%3Bphotovideo.

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Lost-Dogs/143499228996611?ref=ts

Meet Snowy, proud owner of author Linda Singleton

2010-09-29T13:29:00.001-07:00

My guest today is a white kitty--appropiately named Snowy--who shares her home with popular young adult author Linda Singleton. In her books, Linda writes about goths, psychics, mermaids, aliens, cheerleaders, clones, parallel worlds and ghosts, and all kinds of stuff that make you jump in the night. She has even won awards! Her YA series, THE SEER and DEAD GIRL, were honored as YALSA Popular Paperback/Quick Picks. Pretty cool!

Snowy has been described as skittish and not cuddly (Hmm, I wonder if this is true. What do you think, from looking at her picture?)

So tell us, Snowy, how did you end up in Linda's household?

I came from a woman who lived in the country who had over 25 cats. Molly, with whom I share my home, was purchased at an animal-welfare event.

What is it like living with a popular author like Linda? I bet all that popularity goes to her head! Ha!

Some of her books may be popular (like THE SEER series) but she's kind of boring, sitting at that computer for hours ever day. It's like she's attached to that desk. Usually I curl up nearby. Molly does NOT want to be picked up but enjoys tickles around her neck.

I hear Linda writes books for young adults... books with dead girls onthe cover? Come on, gimme a break. Your human mom has a dark streak, if you ask me.

Technically Amber in DEAD GIRL trilogy isn't dead, it's just she's not in her own body, which gets complicated as she becomes a popular girl, the college sister of her new boyfriend and then her own best friend. There's a dead guy stalking her, too, which is really creepy, especially when he tries to convince Amber to join him on the dark side in DEAD GIRL IN LOVE. Fortunately the world of cats is very simple: eat, littler-box, sleep, eat, litter-box, sleep.

Of all her books, which one is your favorite?

The new book, MAGICIAN'S MUSE, because a cat plays a very important part in this book. Lily has mismatched eyes and she is the heroine of the entire book. Yup, not Sabine the psychic or that hot-looking Dominic who can talk to animals (we really like him). But it's Lily who leads Sabine to the secret hideaway in the woods.

Does Linda have a website or blog? Tell us!

Lots of blogging. Links can be found on her website: www.LindaJoySingleton.com . She also has an author page at Facebook where she's shares the latest news: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Joy-Singleton-Author/120766461299610

Tell us something about Linda nobody knows.

Her first cat was named Pinky--and it was a boy.

Ok, so what's the best part about living with Linda? The worse?

Best is she lives in the country so we sometimes play outside. Bad thing is that there are coyotes in the country, so we have to be very careful and stay inside every night. Living with a writer rocks because she's home a lot. It's like she doesn't have a life except staring at that shiny computer screen -- and she doesn't even have a tail to chase which is just sad.

Thanks, Snowy! And give my best to Molly!

Interview with Prince Jakob, proud owner of author Sharon Kay Roberts

2010-09-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hey, long time no see! Okay, I admit it. It's been a while since I last posted, but what can I say? I've been traveling the world all summer without a laptop. Okay, it's a lie, but a WHITE lie, I swear! I don't like admiting I've been lazy!

But I'm back and this time with a great interview with a horse, Prince Jacob. His Highness shares his estate with author Sharon Kay Roberts...

So, Prince Jacob, what type of books does your human mom write?

Horse books of course. She sometimes thinks she is knowledgeable about horses. She has written one for tweens and one for teens.

Of all your mom’s books, which one is your favorite?

“Honey, A Pony’s Story, http://www.horse-books-pony-stories.com/horse-crazy.html

Why?

Because my friends and I actually wrote it. Mom loves us ponies and even The Dog, who is obnoxious at best. The cats are OK. But she really isn’t as tuned into what goes on in our minds as she likes to think. Often when she is out scratching and grooming us her thoughts are elsewhere. It took all of us working together to reach her. Even then we had to do it when she was sleeping. I think humans are the only species who are not evolved enough to use the morphogenetic fields at will. So we had to slip into hers while “her logic” was turned off.

What’s with your name? Did Sharon choose it?

Yes Mom did name me.

What has that done to your self esteem and what does that say about her?

I am Ok with my name. Prince refers to my heritage as a United Kingdom Shetland Pony, which I am very proud of. We UK Shetlands have shared the life, love and toils of our humans for many years. Mom has a grandson named Jakob so I believe it is also an honor to carry his name. At least I know that is how she meant it.

Have you read any of Sharon’s other books? Are they really as good as she thinks they are?

While we were sharing Honey’s story with Mom she was thinking of her other book “Olympic Gold for Cat and Toby.” She wrote it for teens. Toby is a fictional horse and so isn’t nearly as interesting as our story of Honey. You might need your friends in the CIA to do a cover-up there. I wouldn’t want to hurt Mom’s feeling, but she doesn’t write as good when we aren’t feeding her the story line by line. http://www.coalition-independent-authors.com/teen-horse-fiction.html

What do you do for amusement while Sharon pounds at the computer all day and ignores you?

I am fortunate to live with six other ponies. We have sixteen acres in rural Arkansas, so we have plenty to do. We have a lot of deer who come in a graze with us. They can so easily jump over the fences, so they get to eat the good grass I can’t reach.

What does your mom do besides writing?

She says she is building a CIA website. She says it is Authors Helping Authors. www.coalition-independent-authors.com

Is she a hermit or does she actually set her foot outdoors? My mom has to be dragged outside.

My Mom is a hermit in that she hates to go to town. She is happiest at home. She likes to spend time with us, take The Dog for a daily walk around the property and dig in the dirt. She plants things that aren’t good to eat, but it seems to make her happy, so I am OK with that.

Does Sharon ask your advice when she’s stuck? Yes she does. Does she even listen?

I think she tries to listen, but sometimes her own thoughts are so busy bumping into each other that she can’t hear our thoughts. I wish she could hear us better, I know she would be happier and more at peace if she did.

Thanks, Your Highness!

Hey, readers, Sharon's Corner Bookstore has horse books to entertain, educate, and enlighten you. Be sure to check it out!

www.horse-books-pony-stories.com

Interview with Jax Mundo, proud owner of Frank Mundo

2010-07-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Say hello to Jax. Jax Mundo (cool name or what?). Jax is a one year-old half shihtzu/half poodle and the proud owner for Frank Mundo, author of a very unique book called The Brubury Tales, a modern version of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Los Angeles. The entire book is written in poetry, 8,300+ lines of poetry fun--yeah, I'm NOT kidding! Thanks God Jax is here to explain how this situation came about. I mean, come on, people--if you write a book with 8,300+ lines of poetry you must be either crazy or a genius (I'm not trying to be mean, I swear! Let's just say I'm not good at poetry...)

Oh, before I forget: Frank is the LA Books Examiner, so be sure to check out his column!

No more delays! Here's the interview...

Hey, Jax Mundo. Cool name. Who gave it to you?

My humans think that it's important that my name reflects my unique qualities as a member of the Mundo family -- at least that's the official story. The truth is, my full name is Jacqueline, which is nice and all, but I don't like it very much,and I never answer to that name. I'm much morethan an LA canine and I feel I have a lot to offer the world. Not only do I have a degree in Obedience from California State University at Northridge (8 weeks of master classes), I protect our home from outside and other forces that might upset the harmony of our existence. I inspire my humans and encourage them always to be at their most creative -- not to mention my company is topnotch and I'm also an excellent singer -- as long as it's not late at night; my humans get very upset by my late-night singing, for some reason. So Jacqueline became Jackie and Jackie became just Jax, which I really liked and finally accepted as my name.

I hear you live with human writer Frank Mundo. How’s that like? (No sugar coating allowed, buddy!)

Unlike my other human, Nancy, Frank works from home. All day long he sits at the computer writing. In the morning it's tough for me. He starts his day at 5 a.m. and most days I have to lick his face a lot to get him up and working. Throughout the day he tries to pay me some attention, but I can forget all about that if he has a deadline!!! But I understand. He has to pay the mortgage and those deadlines are important. Plus he also writes about books and authors and shares with the reading community all of the cool books events occuring around town at his website -- and that's good, too. Humans should read more. Besides, I have a lot to do, too, during the day. Sometimes I wish I could go with him to his readings, but my job at the home is more important than these events.

What’s this about Frank’s book, The Brubury Tales, a modern version of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales? My mom hated those tales in college—not your human’s, but Chaucer’s!

Well, perhaps your mom hated the tales because they are 700 years old and written in an older form of English called Middle English. As bilingual dogs, we're masters of the nuances of language, and it's difficult for us to go backwards. The cool thing about Frank's Brubury Tales is, although it's an homage to Chaucer's older work, it's a modern version of the story set in Los Angeles just after the riots. All of the characters speak the modern American Englishwe're used to. And it's funny. There are seven security guards working at the Holiday Inn in Downton LA on the graveyard, and they each want the exact same vacation days (probably to spend with their dogs) that only one of them can take. So, to make things fair, they decide to have a story-telling competition for this prize, and that's where the fun begins. They each share their stories throughout the night, battling it out as they fight and get closer and we learn all about their personalities. The best part, you don't have to know anything about Chaucer or the tales to read the book -- although Frank hopes that the book might encourage readers to read the classics and share them with their dogs.

Is there a dog in the book? Then I like it!

There are 13 tales and, even though there's only one tale about a dog, I still like it and I think you will, too. It's funny, modern and the poetry makes me want to sing...Woof woof!

According to bestselling author Carolyn See of The Washington Post and LA Times, "The Brubury Tales is a landmark book, in what is going to be -- and already is -- an exceptional, distinguished literary career." Wow! I bet that went straight to your human’s head!

Yes, it's all we heard about for days -- my goodness. He went on and on and on like a cat or something! But, I guess I understand. After all, it took Frank nine years to write to this book. He worked really hard to make it modern and funny while still honoring the original works. And while he bragged about those comments from Carolyn See, a true literary legend in California writing, Frank knows that he doesn't compare to Chaucer or any of the great writers discussed in the book. No one can compete with these writers. I try to remind him of that whenever he gets a little big-headed.

Why are you essential to Frank’s success?

It's true that I didn't come along until after much of the work on this book was completed. But Frank, like a lot of writers, is a passionate (think moody) person and I know that my love and loyalty calms his nerves and betters his life. Before I came along, he was actually a cat person -- can you believe that?

But I think I've turned him and he's much wiser because of it. I think you'll see it in his newer work. He gives a lot of credit to Nancy, my other human, but really it's me.

Okay, so give us Frank’s blog and website, so we can check it out!

The Brubury Tales is available for purchase online here http://tinyurl.com/2bdxkk2 where you can read a bit of it first to see if you like it. It's also available on Amazon and soon will be available as an eBook, whatever that is. Frank's books website is http://www.examiner.com/x-5892-LA-Books-Examiner where you can read his book reviews and author interviews.

Leave us with some words of canine wisdom.

This is a message for humans. Rescue a dog and he or she will save your life. I promise you, no other friendship will be as rewarding. Can I get a woof woof for that!!

Woof! Woof! Well said!

Meet Ziggy, proud owner of Lauren Carr

2010-07-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

Woof! Please welcome my special guest Ziggy! Ziggy is the proud owner of award-winning mystery author Lauren Carr. Lauren's novels include A Small Case of Murder, A Reunion to Die For, and the just released It's Murder, My Son, her first book in her Mac Faraday series. Be sure to check out her website and blog, people.

Hey, Ziggy. How you became part of the Carr household is quite a story. Would you share it with my readers?

Yep, it is some story. Too good not to tell.

One bright Saturday morning, when I was just a little pup, my previous human put me and my five brothers and sisters into a box and took us to the park. There were a bunch of kids out on the field playing football. At half-time, my human picked me up and took me over to this little boy and asked him if he would like to hold me. To me, that question was a no-brainer. After all, how could anyone not want to hold a cute cuddly ball of fur like me? But the kid didn’t say yes right away. He looked over at this woman and asked her if he could. That was when I put on my cutest face. You know the face. I made my brown eyes as big and soulful as they could be. I may have only been five weeks old, but I already had that look down. It’s the look that lets me get away with almost anything and it did that morning. She said sure, why not? What harm can come from holding a puppy. So the kid took me into his arms and it was love at first hug for the both of us. Then, the human, my first human, told this kid, “You can keep him. He’s free.” Suddenly, my first human was gone. I mean, she was out of there! Turns out she had found homes for all of my brothers and sisters that same way.

But, hey, it worked out good for me. The kid ended up being Tristan and his mom, now mine, turned out to be Lauren Carr. She writes murder mysteries. I think that is so cool.

That's quite a story, Ziggy--and with a happy ending. My favorite kind! But let's get down to some technical details. What is your breed?

It depends on who you ask. When Mom first took me to the vet for a checkup the vet told her that I was a dachshund. Can you believe that? Look at me. Do I look like a wiener dog to you?

No, you don’t.

When I was a pup Mom told people that I was a mutant dachshund. But then as I got bigger, she started telling people that I was an Australian shepherd mix. That makes me sound more dignified. I definitely have shepherd in me because I sometimes have an uncontrollable urge to herd Beagle Bailey around. He really hates that but I can’t help it.

Who is Beagle Bailey? Your brother?

Yep. He’s a beagle. Good thing since his name is Beagle Bailey. He’s my older brother. He’s seven years old. I’m four. Bailey’s great. We love to wrestle, but we didn’t always get along so well. When Mom first brought me home, he was really mad.

Mom and Dad had promised Beagle Bailey that he would get to be an only dog. For the first couple of weeks after I moved in, Bailey kept threatening to sue our folks over breach of contract. But his lawyer said that he didn’t have any case on account that he had nothing in writing promising that he would be an only pet. Eventually, I grew on him. Tristan is his human. Beagle Bailey sleeps in his bed. Me, I keep my den under Mom and Dad’s bed. Bailey tells me I’m weird because of that. Hey, aren’t dogs supposed to like dens? My den is perfect. It’s dark, warm, and private. I think he’s jealous because he has to share his bed with Tristan.

Have you ever heard of a dog that saved his dog biscuits? Before I got here Bailey would save the dog biscuits that Mom gave him under Tristan’s mattress and eat them later at his leisure. He would actually save them! Like some day Mom would stop handing them out. Of course, when I got here I ate them all. That was when he called his lawyer. If you ask me, and you are, he’s the weird one.

Let's chat about your mom, author Lauren Carr. What is it like living with her? Is she one of those egotistical authors (like my mom)?

Lauren claims to be, but I know the truth. Would you believe that Mom is the only female in our family? She’s always taking care of everyone. Cooking and doing laundry. When she first brought me home, she was taking care of Grandpa, Tristan’s grandfather. He was great. Every evening, during his cocktail hour, he would let me climb up into his wheelchair and lick his face. Then, he would spill his brandy all over me and I’d go running and he’d cuss. Then Mom would clean it up. That’s why my coat is so soft and shiny. It was the brandy rinse. Grandpa passed away a little over a year ago.

I'm sorry to hear that, Ziggy.

Mom gets up real early in the morning to write. I like to sit at her feet on those quiet times and inspire her.

Tell us about Lauren's book. I hear one of her characters is a dog name Gnarly.

Gnarly is a German shepherd. She based him on me. His name means extreme and Mom says that’s what I am. I’m either very bad or very good, but always loveable. Gnarly is the only dog to be dishonorably discharged from the United States Army. The army refuses to talk about him. I was never in the army. So she didn’t base that part on me. But she did steal Gnarly making his den under Mac Faraday’s bed from me.

In It’s Murder, My Son, homicide detective Mac Faraday was on the brink of bankruptcy when he inherits his birth mother’s estate. It ends up she was Robin Spencer, the American version of Agatha Christie. In addition to her swanky estate in a small resort town on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, he inherits Gnarly, her German shepherd. The very first time the reader meets me—I mean Gnarly—he’s standing on Mac’s chest when he first arrives at Spencer Manor. He finds out that Robin had saved Gnarly from being put down after he almost died trying to save his mistress, the next door neighbor, from being murdered.

Sounds like a great read! So Gnarly is a witness to his mistress’s murder?

Yes, and he leads Mac Faraday to the killer. Gnarly becomes Mac Faraday’s sidekick.

You have to read it! It just came out and will be available on Mom’s website, Amazon, and anywhere you can get books.

Cool! Does Lauren have a website?

Sure does. It’s at http://laurencarr.webs.com/. She also blogs. Her blog is called Lauren’s World of Mystery Writing. You can catch that at http://writerlaurencarr.blogspot.com/

What do you do while Lauren writes and ignores you?

I often sleep at her feet and inspire her. I really like it when she puts a fire in the fireplace and I can curl up in front of the fire.

I do that when I’m not patrolling the perimeter. It’s a big responsibility keeping the squirrels out and there are a lot of squirrels here. We live on a mountain in West Virginia, which is mostly mountains. There are trees all around the place and those stupid squirrels are always trying to invade. When it’s not the squirrels, it’s the hawks and other birds invading my airspace. They come right in at eye level and mock me!

I can sympahize, brother. Only here it is the rabbits that drive me crazy!

Every now and then to break things up Bailey and I will wrestle and play around. Our favorite thing is to go tearing around the house. We have all hardwood floors here so when we get running really fast it can be like skating. I love to get going really fast and run into the living room, hit the Oriental rug at top speed and slide it all the way across the room and Wham! end with a body slam against the French doors! Then Dad comes in and finds the rug up against the doors and Bailey acts so innocent. He’s such a brown nose.

What do you love most about Lauren?

She’s a softie. If she wasn’t I wouldn’t be here. Not only that, but she has great taste in dogs.

Leave us with some canine words of wisdom.

Here’s a piece of advice that every dog should always remember. Never forget—Gotta go! Squirrels incoming off the east deck! They’ve captured the bird feeder! Grrr!

Hey, Ziggy, don't leave us guessing like that, man! That's mean! Woof!--Oops, gotta go! Rabbit alert! Rabbit alert!

Meet Deuce, proud owner of Mary Jean Kelso

2010-06-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Woof! Woof!

Say hello to my guest today: Deuce. This kitty cat lives with multi-genre author Mary Jean Kelso. She's written dozens of titles from children's books to middle grade to adult mysteries. Her picture book horse series, illustrated by Oregonian award-winning artist K.C. Snider, is quite popular. Today Deuce will be spilling the beans on Mary Jean (okay, so she's talented, but she can't be that perfect!)

So I hear you live with children's author Mary Jean Kelsey, huh? What's that like? Is she a good pet owner?

Ummmm. That's Mary Jean Kelso. It sure beats living in the shelter! There, I was in a tiny cage and here I have a big house to patrol and keep safe. What can I say? It's like having a maid to clean up after me, feed me exotic treats, keep my water fountain fresh and only interrupt a snooze to stroke my fur.

What do you do when Mary writes? Does she let you sit on her lap?

When I'm not testing my teeth on the computer equipment cords (I recently bit one of the printer cables a little too tight and caused Mary to spend an entire day tracing the trouble down) I nap or lay on the work table in the sun. Sometimes I jump up onto her cluttered desk and prowl around behind the monitor or slide off the printer top. Once, I even helped key in some words with all four of my paws. That brought her to an immediate halt when the internet company shut the system down for what they thought was SPAM. Guess I sent something to too many email addresses.

Tell us about her books and especially about her horse story series!

Oh, she works a lot on the Andy series. It's about a little boy in a wheelchair and a therapy horse called Spirit. I wish she'd write something about cats. Someday, she promises she will. But I heard the next Andy book was going to be about a dog! You might like that, Amigo. I'd rather chase a bird than read about dogs. Anyway, I digress, this Spirit is some kind of horse! Somehow she makes this little boy feel free and adventurous. Maybe, if I was big enough for someone to ride, I could do that, too.

How does Mary Jean get inspired to write all that? Do you help in that department?

No, I might help her figure things out sometimes. But, she usually gets her ideas when she is away on a book signing or out and about doing whatever she does when she leaves me home alone. (Secretly, I kind of like the quiet so I can get in a nice long nap in without being disturbed.

How come she hasn't written a story about you yet? Aren't you mad about that?

Hey! Come to think of it, she hasn't. Well, as long as she keeps bringing my canned tuna home from the store, I can't feel too bad about it. Maybe you'd like to know how I got my name? That way, there'll be something in print about me anyway. I'm a mostly white cat. My tail is black and looks like somebody tried to put a handle on a piece of pottery. You know, how it kinda connects on the bigger part of a pot like a blob? Anyway, I have a black cap and half black ears where the pink doesn't show through the white fur there. On my back are two perfectly round black spots. Guess somebody thought it made me look like one of those wooden game pieces with dots on it. So, the other people I lived with called me Domino. Seemed like my new family thought that was too much of a male name so Mary's friend called me Deuce. I like that much better. I learned it quickly and answer to it without a second thought.

Okay, so give us the gritty details. What's the name of Mary's publisher and where can we get her books?

Oh, I know that one! She's always on the computer with the publisher, illustrator, or one of the people they call Angels. It is Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. If you go to their website www.guardianangelpublishing.com you can find all of her kids books up there. Seven, so far. There are a whole bunch more in queue. The Adventures of Andy and Spirit comes out later this year for tween readers. RV Mouse and Andy and Spirit Meet the Rodeo Queen just came out and the next one in the series is the one I mentioned before--Andy and Spirit in Search and Rescue. That's the one with the dog. It has a big surprise in it!

Do you get along with K.C. Snider, the illustrator of your books? The truth!

Well, I've only met her once when she was here to go to a signing in Virginia City and Reno. I was pretty shy then. I'm getting braver now. I understand she has a dog that's about the same size I am -- Jack, they say. I don't know if I'd get along with him!

What do you like most about Mary?

She considers me one of the family. Just like family, I know she would never leave me. I have a home for as long as I live. All these poor other animals that people have had to leave behind when they moved because of the economy makes me so sad. I know wherever Mary and the family go, I go, too.

Is there anything annoying about her?

Her schedule! Just when I want to play, she wants to go to sleep. I get up way before her, too. Then I have to tear through the house with someone else, whoever I can get out of bed by chewing on cords or knocking something off the bureau, whatever it takes. When I'm up, I'm up! Finally, by at least 5 o'clock I manage to get her out of bed, too.

Give us some last words of feline wisdom.

Well, Amigo, always look cute and cuddly. Try to hide the holes in the electrical cords so no one knows you've chewed them until you're out of sight. If you eat too much and have to throw up, move off the carpet onto the kitchen tile. But, you probably have learned those things already! Always help your author friend with their work so the treats will keep coming!

Hey, thanks for letting me unload all my neuroses on you! I don't talk this much usually. It felt good! Meow!

Guest Pet Blogger Jack, proud owner of award-winning Oregonian artist K.C. Snider

2010-05-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

My co-owner, illustrator K.C. Snider, doesn't have a clue. I can pull the wool over her eyes anytime I want to. I love to chew up her eyeglasses (they were only $700) and her favorite paint brushes, especially the ones that cost at least $65 each. I can snag those things off her table or desk faster than white lightening and she'll never know if someone doesn't rat on me. I guess she's a pretty good illustrator, at least that's what Lynda Burch says.

I definitely rule the roost around here. I get a treat for just about everything I do. If I go outside and bark at the donkey named Jack, as long as I come back inside when K.C. yells at me, I get a treat. Of course, I know how to pester K.C. until she gives in. My favorite treats are dried chicken and duck dog jerky, Boy, is that stuff expensive. I eat better than my other co-owner, Fred.

My name is Jack. But Fred decided when I was little that all I did was poop. My dad says that all I do is eat and un-eat. So he called me, "Little Pooper." And that sort of stuck, so now my mom calls me "Poop" and my mom's publicist calls me "Poop". I'll answer to anything as long as I get a treat.

K.C. is a really dedicated illustrator and she works at her easel until the wee small hours of the morning. Usually, I bug her as often as I can so she'll give me a treat. I'll jump up on her and make sure my claws dig in. I talk to her incessantly (just like right now). I nudge her with my cold nose. But once in a while she gets a little tired of me and puts me in my dog carrier. That's my 'doghouse'.

My mom doesn't snack while she works, unfortunately because I like to get the leftovers. In fact, sometimes she gets so absorbed, she forgets to eat. Dad has to come into the studio and complain loudly that he's hungry. Then things start to happen and pretty soon I'm licking a juicy plate. Dad says,"Well, we don't have to wash that one."

I love having visitors. I'm always a great hit with a crowd. I was definitely the life of the GAP West Coast Get-together party. Those folks (especially Lynda Burch and Susanne Batson) really made a great deal of me. Susanne even sends me gifts now. Mom won't let me have the red beanie baby dog because she says I'll rip it to shreds (I'm starring at it right now up on the window sill and everyone is very amused about that.)

My mom hopes some day that someone will write a book about me and she'll get to illustrate it. She'll really do a great job with that since she'll have me to model for her anytime she wants.

Well Amigo, I've got to go check on the dumb donkey and the rest of my territory.
Adios,
Jack

Check out K.C. Snider's links!

http://www.kcsniderart.com
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com

http://andyandthealbinohorse.blogspot.com

http://www.cafepress.com/KCSniderart

http://blog.kcsniderart.com

Interview with Molly, one of the characters in Mary Cunningham's The Magician's Castle

2010-05-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Say Woof! to my special guest today: Molly! Molly is a fictional doggy in one of Mary Cunningham's fantasy/mystery middle-grade novels, The Magician's Castle. But she's not just a fictional character. She's based on a real Molly who was very close to Mary's heart. Now she lives forever in her books!

If you've never heard of Mary Cunningham, she's a super cool author who writes exciting stories for tweens ages 9-12. My mom has read all of her books and she loves them! So be sure to check out Mary's website at http://marycunningham.wordpress.com.

Molly, I understand you're one of the characters in Mary's new book, The Magician's Castle. What type of character are you and what role do you play in the story?

Molly: Woof! My first interview! This is as exciting as taking a walk or getting a new chew toy!

In my author's book, "The Magician's Castle," I start out as a pretty unassuming little brown mutt, but do I ever change. Thanks to some pretty cool magic, I transform into the size of a Kentucky thoroughbred and save the day for Cynthia and Gus when they're threatened by a huge rock monster. I also do what doggies do best; dig up clues. When the two time-traveling best friends get stuck, I save the day with my clue-sniffing nose.

Mary told me your character is based on her beloved dog, who passed away not long ago. How does it feel to immortalize a real pet in such a way?

Molly: When I found out about how I was honoring the first Molly, I just wanted to chase my tail with joy. To be such an interesting and valuable character in a book is great, but to be able to immortalize a fellow canine that meant the world to her mom and dad, is more than I ever imagined. I knew from the start that the love and care Mary put into writing my character was not only her devotion to the series, but mainly her devotion to Molly.

What was the real Molly like? Are you any different than the real Molly?

Molly: The real Molly adopted her family when she was three years-old. Her first mom died and a neighbor took her to the Miami Animal Shelter. It was mutual love when her new dad spotted the solid brown, twenty-pound pooch with the inquisitive eyes, sitting in a pen behind two barking, obnoxious German Shepherds. She loved to run, until her knee got hurt, but even then she loved being outside helping her family with yard work and chasing squirrels. When they were inside watching TV, she had a whole loveseat all to herself. She loved to please and never made a mistake. She could sense moods and was always available for a loving pat or a tender hug. She had 13 wonderful years with her family, and I know they still miss her.

The only difference I can see between me and Molly is that, as far as I know, she never grew to horse size! But, had she been confronted with some big monster trying to hurt Cynthia and Gus, or her real family, I'm sure she would've been just as brave, even at her small size.

What is it like inside Mary's imaginative brain? Things must be pretty turbulent in there. I mean, this lady writes middle-grade fantasy, right?

Molly: Whoa! Are you sure you want to go there? Sometimes, her fingers are a blur on the keyboard. Then, other times, she grumbles about not being able to get over writers block, whatever that is. She also complains about all the stuff she has to do that has no connection with writing, but I guess that goes along with being an author. I've also heard her talk about the weird dreams she has and that she started writing "Cynthia's Attic" because of a recurring dream she had for more than 20 years.

When I dream, it's usually about chasing rabbits or squirrels. Maybe I'll write a book about that, someday!

Who is your favorite character in the story?

Molly: You mean, besides me? I like all the nice characters (there are some mean ones, too!) but the little fairy, Elly Elloway, is pretty special. She dresses in purple and is pretty cool, but talks funny! She introduced herself by saying, "Eloise Elloway, I am. But call me Elly, ye can." She helps find clues when it comes to finding a missing page in The Book of Spells. She also helps me grow to horse size so I can protect all of us from the Rock Monster.

What is your favorite part in the book?

Molly: My favorite part of the book is when Gus and Cynthia travel forward into the future and meet a very familiar pair of best friends. That's also when I first appear! The girls think I'm pretty cute, but don't consider me anything more than a nice, little pet...until later.

You must be feel pretty special, being in Mary's novel...

Molly: Arf! I sure do! Especially since my character was created because of a very special member of my author's family. I just hope Molly would like how I play her in the book. I'm identical to her in looks, and also have her independent personality, so I'm sure she'd approve.

Tell us where we can find The Magician's Castle!

Molly: Here are some links where you can buy all four "Cynthia's Attic" books. Thanks, Amigo, for inviting me to your blog!

Mary Cunningham Books
Amazon
Kindle
Fictionwise
Quake/Echelon Press

Thank you, Molly! Woof!

Chia talks about her human mom, author Smoky Trudeau

2010-04-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

Woof! Woof! Say hello to my guest Chia! She's here today to talk about her human mom, Smoky Trudeau, a talented author of both fiction and nonfiction.

Meet Chia...

Chia is a nine-year-old shepherd mix who was rescued from an animal shelter when she was a five-pound puppy. She grew quickly on a steady diet of kibble and puppy biscuits, and now tips the scales at a whopping seventy-six pounds. When not sleeping under Smoky’s desk, she enjoys playing with her squeaky vet and squeaky lamb chew toys, chasing her cat siblings, Beetlejuice and Po, around the living room, and trying to eat lizards while taking leisurely walks through the neighborhood.

(Hmm. Quick calculation here... how much is 76 pounds in kilos. Aha! 34... Darn, I'm fatter than her!)

Chia lives with her family in a ramshackle cottage in the woods overlooking the San Gabriel Valley and Mountains beyond. While she tries to maintain a low profile, the same cannot be said for her human, Smoky. You can learn more about Smoky at her Website, www.smokytrudeau.com; at her blog on Xanga (authorsmokytrudeau.xanga.com), and on Facebook. She also hosts guests on her radio show!

Okay, all this is very sweet, but let's get to the real stuff, Chia. What's with Smoky? Give us the lowdown!

Smoky is deeply connected to our Mother Earth and to all its creatures, and that connection comes through in her writing. Of course, it’s most obvious in her latest release, Observations of an Earth Mage, which is a collection of essays and poems she wrote about her connection to our planet. I helped her a lot in writing that one. I’m in at least three of the essays; we go walking together a lot, along with her male human, Scott. There’s even a cute picture of me in the book on page 73. The entire book is illustrated with more than 50 of Smoky’s beautiful nature photographs.

But her love of nature is also very evident in her two novels, Redeeming Grace and The Cabin. She describes the beauty of Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the Southern Appalachian Mountains like the true earth mage she is. I know this because I heard her read the books aloud to my human grandmother, who can’t see very well, when the books were first published.

Hmm. She sounds pretty good. But is she a good pet owner?

As a pet owner, she’s the best. My kibble dish is promptly filled at breakfast and supper time, and she takes me to the vet every six months. I have toys and two cat companions, although Beetlejuice and Po can be pretty annoying at times.

I can imagine! But really, Chia, one can't expect much from cats...

But then again, they unanimously agreed I should be Smoky’s spokesdog for this interview, so I guess they aren’t all that bad. Of course, it helps that I outweigh them both by about seventy pounds. They don’t argue with me too often.

Tell us more about Smoky's books!

I’ve already told you a little about Observations of an Earth Mage. I features stories and photos of places of beauty and wonder all across the country, from the Great Smoky Mountains of the east to the great deserts of Joshua Tree National Park and Red Rock Canyon in the west, to Yosemite National Park and the tidepools of Big Sur on the west coast. I’ve heard her friends talk about the book; they say reading her stories makes it possible for them to visit these places in their minds without having to step foot outside their front door. I’ve heard Smoky tell people her goal in writing the book was to get people to do that very thing, though: get outdoors and take a hike. I agree with her on that one. I love my walkies!

But she writes fiction, too. Redeeming Grace is her first novel. It’s about a young woman’s struggle to save her young sister from the verbal and physical abuse of their father, a zealot preacher on a downward spiral toward insanity who uses biblical verse to justify his behavior. Grace’s husband, Otto, is struggling over his guilt about an accident that claimed the life of a young woman and left his brother severely brain damaged. Tragedy strikes just as Otto’s secret is uncovered, unleashing demons that threaten to destroy the entire family. Grace has to find the strength to save them all, and in the process find her own redemption.

Redeeming Grace is pretty heavy stuff, but it’s been very popular among readers of women’s spirituality fiction and people who enjoy theological debate.

The Cabin is Smoky’s second novel. James-Cyrus Hoffmann has just inherited his grandfather’s farm in Virginia, and with it a mysterious cabin deep in the woods. When James-Cyrus enters the cabin, he is vaulted back through time to the Civil War era, where he meets Elizabeth, the brave young woman who lives in the cabin, and Malachi, a runaway slave. Cora Spellmacher, his elderly friend and neighbor, begins to unravel the secret of how he is able to make his fantastic leaps back and forth through time. In doing so, Cora begins to hope a tragic wrong from her own past can be righted, and that she can regain something precious that was lost to her many years earlier. When James-Cyrus realizes Elizabeth and Malachi are in terrible danger, he undertakes a daring plan of rescue that promises to rewrite his family history and change all their lives forever.

The Cabin is a really exciting read. People interested in Civil War history, time travel, or just a good read will like this book a lot.

Smoky also wrote two books especially for writers. Front-word, Back-word, Insight Out: Lessons on Writing the Novel Lurking Inside You From Start to Finish is a complete writing workshop in a book. Her other writing book, Left Brained, Write Brained, is 366 writing prompts and exercises to help writers stimulate their muse. Whatever a muse is...I’m not sure. I’m a dog.

What the heck! That is a LOT of stuff and in different genres! You must be proud of Smoky. Of all these books, which one is your favorite?

Well, I’d have to say Observations of an Earth Mage, because I’m in it. But she memorialized my dog sister Chance in The Cabin by naming James-Cyrus’s horse Chance; and my dog brother Chico by having James-Cyrus refer to a little chipmunk as “Little Man.” That’s what she used to call Chico. I thought that was nice of her, to make sure they lived on in her books.

So what's with your name: CHIA?

I like my name! People tend to pronounce in CHEE-a, like those silly things you see on TV. They think I’m a CHEE-a pet, which would have been a really dorky name, don’t you think? But actually, it’s pronounced with a long-I sound: CHI-a. Chia means “shadow” in the Bangladeshi language. And I am definitely Smoky’s shadow! So the name is a really good one. It fits me. And actually, Smoky didn’t name me. Her daughter Robin did. Robin was only ten years old at the time; pretty cool a ten-year-old came up with such an exotic name.

Okay, okay, no need to get defensive... jeez... I admit Shadow is a great name.
Does Smoky let you sit on her lap while she writes?

That would be kind of hard. I’m a big girl! But she lets me curl up under her desk, and she scratches my tummy with her toes while she works. That feels really good.

My mom does the same, Chia. So I can relate.

Interview with Friday, proud owner of Lou Allin

2010-04-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Meet my special guest: Friday! (talk about cute, people! Look at that face!) Friday shares her home with Canadian mystery author Lou Allin. Visit Lou and see more photos of Friday on her website. Be sure to check out her bio. This lady has some impressive credentials!

Okay, so in Friday's own words...

I was born in June of 01, which makes me a brilliant, quick-thinking, and creative Gemini going on nine. My parents were champions of course. My birth name was Chile Pepper, which is perfect for my apricot reddish hair, but I was named Friday, as in “His Girl.” My new parents, Lou and Jan, and my brother Nikon the German shepherd picked me up and took me camping that night. They put a leash on me for the first time, and I shrieked blue murder, earning nasty looks from passersby who thought a puppy was being killed. In the night Nicky got out of the tent and stepped on the remote control for the truck. The horn started beeping and woke up the campground at two in the morning. Was that an auspicious arrival or what?

Nice intro, Friday. So tell us, are you Lou Allin’s boss?

I am everyone’s boss. Let’s get that straight. Sociologists have a word for me, and it’s Alpha Bitch. I knew my destiny the minute I saw the light outside my mommy’s tummy. My bro Nicky never touched a hair on me from minute one. Having a GSD as your muscle is a great idea. When Nicky spoke up with his 120 pounds, dogs listened. Now that he’s at Rainbow Bridge, I have these dippy border collies, Shogun and Zia. Zia competes in agility competitions. Big deal. Who can’t do that? Shogun’s pretty good for scaring off bears when we walk in the clear cuts on Vancouver Island. I sleep with Lou with my own pillow. If I want to get up in the night and shake, I do. If she wakes ME from a sound sleep where I’m chasing prey, I might just growl. There are rumours about me biting when being groomed. Lies, all lies. Once she took a pair of sharp scissors to tidy up my privates and ended up sticking me. I laid fangs on her finger right to the bone. Tell me that you wouldn’t do the same. Ouch. I can still feel that nick.

Boy, and I thought I was arrogant... Tell me, Friday, has Lou immortalized you in any of her books? Did she show your real character or did she exaggerate it for the book’s purpose? Are you happy with her portrayal of you?

Lou started writing about me when I was barely four pounds and four months old. She called me “The Hunchback of Notre Dame with a Rastafarian haircut.” When I had my Anna Karenina cape on and got onto my hind feet to make a run, I look like him, all chesty with shapely legs. I posed on the cover of Dogs in Canada in this outfit, one of many custom made clothes in my closet. I even have a purple parka with my initials and pockets for handwarmers.

Lou called the book Bush Poodles are Murder. That’s because “are murder” has to be in the title. Lots of people have thought that there is a breed called bush poodles and asked her where to buy one. Humans are so dumb. Natch, I was the hero of the book. We got stuck out in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard, and it was -25 below. I’m not gonna tell you how we made it out, but I was an inspiration. The bad woman had even taken the coat from my fictional owner, Belle Palmer. But I got my hunting talents working and found a shrew. Still can’t understand why Belle didn’t want it. But the grouse she roasted tasted pretty good . The cover shows blood on my face and in the snow, but I don’t want to give any more away. In the book they called me Strudel ‘cause I was “good enough to eat.” See how silly people get about poodles?

Yeah, I noticed the blood on your lips on that cover... I was hoping that was rabbit blood. The rabbits in my garden are driving me crazy...

Anyway, have you actually read any of Lou Allin’s books? Are they really as good as she thinks they are?

I’m only in one book, so I can’t be a fair judge of this because why would I read the others? She puts all her animals in her books. Freya, her first German shepherd, has five books of her own. That’s the record. Nikon has one. A Little Learning is a Murderous Thing. It’s an academic mystery, starring him as a pup. Sounds boring to me.

Now, me as a pup is another matter. Shogun has one (And on the Surface Die), and another coming up (She Felt No Pain) in Lou’s new series set here on Vancouver Island. Aren’t those titles stupid? What the heck are they supposed to mean, anyway, from some poems in the 19th century? I keep asking, “Why can’t I be in this one, too? I have zillions of fans,” but she says that her publisher wants her to keep the characters separate.

Every night I whisper into her ear: Return of the Bush Poodle, Return of the.... You get the idea. Hope she does. People bought my book because they thought George Bush was in it. Humans, go figure!

What does Lou do besides writing? Is she a hermit or does she actually set her foot outdoors? My mom is an antisocial hermit. She sits and writes all they long. Totally disfunctional...

My mom has to be dragged outside. Lou used to teach in a college in Northern Ontario,but she retired. Now she has big responsibilities because she is a VP in the Crime Writers of Canada. She’s in charge of British Columbia and Yukon. Sometime I want to go up to Whitehorse YK to see if there are any other bush poodles. Also she takes care of membership, like finding people all over the world who want to join. She also organizes events like the Arthur Ellis Shortlist Release Event at the end of April. Arthur Ellis is the name of Canada’s last hangman. He’s an award given in six categories in crime writing. Arthur is made of wood like a puppet, and when you pull the strings, he dances like he was on the gallows. Is that weird? And people think Canadians are so polite.

What does Lou do to promote her books? Does she ask your advice at times?

I taught Lou everything she knows. I went with her when she signed my book at the big Chapters bookstore in Sudbury back home. I wound around her with my leash so many times that she kept getting tangled up. This was a ploy on my part to take her mind off her own nerves. When little kids came up, I backed off big time. You never know what they are going to do. They stick out a hand and then they pounce. Not that I’ve ever bitten anybody but Lou. That wouldn’t be good for business. She always asks people if they like to read mysteries. Half the time they don’t. If she asked them if they liked dogs, she would get a better response. Maybe someday she will learn this.

It’s been great talking to you! If you’d like my autograph or a lock of my hair, don’t be shy about asking.

You do have a lot of hair, Friday, especially around the eye area... so maybe just a little lock? Woof!

Be sure to check Friday in action on this video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/virtualdogs#p/p/CFC42A16F24B041A/0/eE5_-fu51G4

Meet Hana & Saba, proud owners of author and animal communicator Nancy Kaiser

2010-03-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

Give a warm woof to my guests today, Hana and Saba, owners of author and animal communicator Nancy Kaiser! Nancy is a very special lady. She lives in the healing Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina surrounded by her family of dogs and a horse. She is the author of Letting Go: An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Healing & Transformation, about her recovery from trauma with the help of animals and nature. Nancy operates Just Ask Communications, a practice devoted to healing the human-animal bond through enhanced communication and understanding. Nancy offers animal communication and healing consults via phone, in-person and on Skype. Visit her at: www.NancyKaiserAnimalCommunicator.com

It's great to have you here, you guys! Nancy sounds like a wonderful person. Describe her as a writer and as a pet owner.

HANA: Since I can’t read, it’s hard to comment on her talent as a writer. Nancy spends an awful lot of time pecking away at that thing on the table with the screen. I’m not sure if that means she’s good at it or terribly bad.

She’d be the first person to tell you that she doesn’t own my brother and me. She is our person, and we’re her dogs. Nancy abhors the word “owner.” We’ve been with her since leaving our mom and siblings. I think she’s great despite spending too much time pecking at that thing, but I guess whatever she’s doing is important.

She showers me with love, but I do cause her some grief at times. As she tells me, “You’re just a devil-catcher.” Apparently, it was something her father used to say. Sometimes she yells if I go too far, but she doesn’t stay angry for long.

SABA: I’m sure she’s a wonderful writer. Nancy’s happy most of the time, so I guess what she does at that table thing is satisfying to her. I know my brother and I keep her smiling and laughing too. I’m so glad I picked Nancy to be my person. She loves me too and takes great care of us. We have so many toys and bones although she’s pretty strict about our eating habits. She does give us treats and marrow bones, but not nearly as much as I’d like.

I hate it when Hana gets her upset. My brother gets in trouble much more than I do. I’m definitely more sensitive than he is. Hana’s the carefree one. I’m the thoughtful and emotional one. We share Nancy pretty well though, and she loves us equally; that is obvious.

I’m guessing your human mom chose your name... tsk, tsk, tsk. What has that done to your self esteem?

HANA: We agreed on it together. She can talk to animals, which is her other job. She explained about Hana and asked if I liked it. I told her, “Yes!” Hana is the name of a special place far away in Hawaii, wherever that is, that she visits. She loves the exceptional healing energy there. She knew that Saba and I would help heal the hole in her heart from losing the Labs that lived with her before us. They got old and returned Home.

Nancy calls me Hana Banana all the time. I really don’t care for it. What does banana mean? She says it with lots of love in her voice, so I put up with it. I love my name, but I don’t think I’m as calming & healing as she thought I’d be.

SABA: It was the same for me. She actually asked! So far she’s the only person that talks to me this way. She explained that Saba was a very special island in the Caribbean, wherever that is, that she visited several times. It is volcanic, so she chose this name for me since I’m black. She says the place Hana is volcanic too, but she thought Saba was supposed to be my name. I agreed. I am black like lava, but I don’t erupt like my brother does at times. Maybe he should have been Saba? I’m glad he’s not. She thanks me all the time for coming to live with her because I balance Hana’s mischievousness.

Has your Mom immortalized you in any of her books? Did she show your real character or did she exaggerate it for the book’s purpose? Are you happy with her portrayal of you?

SABA: I want to answer first this time. Nancy wrote a book about a painful time in her life just before we came to live with her. Hana and I arrived in her life just as she was almost over the worst of her pain. We appear towards the end of her book, Letting Go.

Nancy was pretty needy when we came to live with her. Just after we arrived she got really sick and her patience was low. She yelled at me once when I wouldn’t go out in the rain to pee, but I didn’t have to. She was outside with me and got angry when I sat by her feet under the covering thing (umbrella). I hate rain even though I adore water, especially snow!

Nancy wrote about it honestly and gave me credit for forgiving her very quickly, which made me proud. I forgave her a lot sooner than she forgave herself. People are odd that way. They worry too much about things that have already happened. I was embarrassed when she wrote about some accidents I had in the house. All in all, she tells it like it is.

HANA: Nancy doesn’t exaggerate. Why would she have to when we’re such great dogs? She wrote in her book that I’ve been in her life three other times. I don’t remember that, but I knew when I first saw her that she was my person. She writes about how much Saba and I have taught her, especially that she is worth loving. I don’t know why she would need to be taught that. She’s easy to love.

I wasn’t thrilled when she wrote about how much I whined in the car when she brought us to live with her. I wasn’t scared just confused. She had a hard time with us when she got so sick, but I think we helped her feel better. At least that’s what she kept telling us. I’m so happy Nancy found Saba and me.

What type of books does your human mom write?

HANA: Nancy’s book, Letting Go: An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Healing & Transformation, is about her life before we were born. It’s called a memoir. Something terrible happened when she moved from her horse farm in some place she calls New Jersey to where we live in the mountains of somewhere called North Carolina.

Her man, husband they call them, left her while they were building the house we should be living in. Thanks to her animals, 2 dogs, 3 cats and a horse, and her journaling, she was able to recover from her devastation.

Nancy says by writing she was able to discover lessons buried beneath all her pain. Her recovery was dependent upon her ability to learn the lessons and let go of the pain. She published her writing so that other humans that are suffering can learn from her story and let go of their pain more quickly.

I can tell every time Nancy hears from someone that her book has helped. She is filled with the most wonderful energy. I didn’t know her two dogs, Shadow and Licorice, but she has pictures of them all over. They were Black and Yellow Labs just like Saba and me. I’m thankful they took such good care of her until we were ready to take over. Nancy needs to be reminded all the time how great she is.

SABA: Hana told you about Letting Go, so I’ll tell you about her next book. Nancy’s been so busy promoting her first book that she has only just started the next one. It’s going to be about her animal communication stories. Nancy knows it will be a series, because the animals have taught her so much that humans need to know. Nancy always intended to write her animal stories, but Letting Go had to be written first.

With all the time Nancy spends pecking at that thing, I can’t believe she hasn’t written more of it, but she writes other things too. She’s had lots of online and print articles published, as well as print interviews and guest blog posts. What’s a blog? What an odd word.

Nancy writes a weekly column on Thursdays for Petsense.com called Animal Insights. Hana & I are so excited that she’s agreed to be a regular contributor to a neat, new publication, “Dogs…Naturally! Magazine.” That starts this March. Nancy’s happy about that too and also about writing for “The Infinite Field Magazine” starting in February.

What does Nancy do besides writing? Is she a hermit or does she actually set her foot outdoors?

SABA: Me first! Nancy talks to animals and helps their people deal with all sorts of problems. It is so cool. She’s been doing this for a really long time; longer than she’s been writing. I’m not exactly sure how, but Nancy helps animals overcome fears they have from many things that happen when living with humans. Not all animals are as lucky as Hana and I are which we hear all the time!

Nancy does her animal work downstairs away from that screen thing. It’s very important that we don’t bark when she’s communicating or she gets upset with us. I’m not the barker of the family though. You know who is. Nancy helps lots of animals live more happily with their people. I want to help her by keeping her happy too. She must be pretty good at it, because she’s always doing it.

HANA: Nancy takes us everywhere in the car, as long as it’s not too cold or too hot. Mostly we go to the stable where her horse, Stormy, lives. He lived with her on her farm. We have to stay in the car while she rides Stormy, but afterwards we get out and play with the two dogs that live there. I love going to the barn. It’s so much fun. Really I love going anywhere. We both do.

The other place we go to that’s so cool is what Nancy calls, “The Mountain.” We run free all over the place, and it’s big. I think it’s where we’re supposed to be living, but the man ruined that plan. We both love it since there’s no fence like at the house we live in. I can feel sadness in Nancy when we’re there. She thinks she’s let it all go, but she hasn’t. I don’t care where we live as long as we’re all together.

SABA: Hana didn’t tell you that we go hiking too. We have to have our leashes on mostly, but sometimes Nancy takes them off. That’s the best! She’s more willing to do that since we’ve gotten better at coming when she calls. Of course, I always come.

HANA: I heard that. You don’t always come. You know how our sensitive, Labrador noses interfere with our hearing. But, we are getting better at coming when Nancy calls. It’s those thousands of smells that direct us away from her shouts. Who can blame us? We have a great life with Nancy. Saba and I are lucky dogs!

Interview with Corley, Elizabeth Eagan-Cox's canine companion

2010-03-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Say Woof to my canine guest today: Corley. She's here to spill the beans about her author mom, Elizabeth Eagan-Cox. Take it away, Corley!

“I’m Corley, a half lab, half Sharpei mix. It’s a good ancestry because I have the smarts and loyalty of a Lab and the Sharpei prowess for guarding and protecting. I love to fetch. I love to make doggie angels in the snow and in summer I love to swim in the creek. And I love our bed, it’s an air mattress, I have my own sleep number, it’s 35! Another number I like is 7, ‘cause that’s my age in people years.

"I hate free-loading animals, like the raccoons that come into my yard.
Rah-erh! You better watch out coons, I’ll get ya!

(I can relate to that, Corley--I hate the rabbits in my backyard. They pretend they're so cute and fuffly. It's all an act!)

"I’m the proud dog and BFF of author Elizabeth Eagan-Cox. She’s my Mom and she writes paranormal mystery novels. Her books have dogs in them, I think this is due to my influence over her. You can learn more about us on my Mom’s Web site: http://www.ElizabethEaganCox.ne t”

So, Corley, what’s with your name? Did Elizabeth choose it? What has this done to your self-esteem and what does that say about Elizabeth?

Huh? My name? It’s an Irish name. Whadda ya mean, what’s with my name? Can’t you pronounce my name?

It’s C-O-R-L-E-Y. Here, I’ll make it easy for you. It’s CORE , like an apple core, then LEE, like, well, I don’t know, um… like the name LEE. A Long time ago, it was MacCorley.

It’s a good name, a really good name ’cause I have my very own street. Yeah, for rea,l I do! There’s a picture of the street on Elizabeth’s Web site. It’s a proud name and it makes me feel proud! ‘Cause, well, I was adopted. And my Mom (okay, you should call her Elizabeth, but to me, she’s my Mom) wanted to make me feel special, she said she gave me the name of a street named for her great-grandmother Elizabeth Corley.

I’ve got the best name ever, because I’m the best dog ever! My Mom said it was a special name for a special dog, ‘cause, well… this is a secret, I chose my mom, she didn’t choose me. You see, it happened like this…

A puppy caretaker named Zara had taken me and my sibs to this big adoption day at a mega-giant pet supply store. And I told my sibs: “Hey, look cute, put a sparkle in your eyes, this is a great opportunity to put your best paw forward!”

I knew I could pick out the best mom for me. There we were in this little pen and I looked up, and W-O-W, it was like in a dream, there she was: my mom-to-be was walking down the aisle rolling a big basket with a huge bag of puppy food in it. W-O-W! Like magic, ya know. I jumped up and almost cleared the pen, but I got stuck, that’s when she saw me. She came over and picked me up and then I heard her say to Zara: “This is Corley, I just know it is.”

The rest of the day was a blur. We went for a long ride in a JEEP, a real JEEP, and when we stopped, we were home, in a place that is another world, maybe another planet! Mountains and forest! Trees are everywhere! Yippee! I’m a mountain dog!

So…uh, about my name…it’s a legendary name and was meant to be for me, ‘cause I’m special, I know this ‘cause my Mom told me so.

That's quite a story, Corley! Tell me the truth… is Elizabeth as disciplined as she said she was in her last interview?

Yep, she sure is, and then some! She works so hard, by the end of the day, she'’s the one who’s dogged tired. That’s when I’m super appreciated. I do things to make her laugh. Like when I told her she shouldn’t feel bad for not making up our bed, because “Mom, our bed is not messy. Uh-uh! Our bed oozes with doggie-lover’s ambiance!” Or I’ll ask silly questions like: “Mom, how come you have only two boobs and I have eight?” HA! We always laugh at that question.

Does Elizabeth plot like a madwoman or just write ‘down the bones'?

My Mom plots like the dickens, she does. A madwoman, you ask? No, not at all, more like a mad dog. She gets this crazy look in her eyes and starts to foam at the mouth, a real Cujo. She reminds me of a bloodhound on the scent of a criminal. ‘Cause ya know, it’s takes that kind of determination to turn an ordinary book into a page-turning murder mystery!

This reminds me of the time I stole my mom's piece of pizza... she started foaming at the mouth too...

Psst… if you want to know the secret to my Mom’s plotting strategy, well, she uses recipe cards to keep all the twists and turns straight! People think she’s writing food recipes, when actually she figuring out how to murder someone. My Mom is sly as a fox.

My mom uses index cards!

What’s the best part of having an author as a mom? The worst part?

Well, some times during our work day, we sneak down to the bedroom, kickback on the bed, switch on the TV and watch reruns of the Sam and Dean show….uh wait, wait! That’s not the real name that’s our code name for Supernatural. Yeah, Supernatural. Mom can’t decide whom she likes best, Sam or Dean. But me…most definitely, I’m a Sam girl! WOOF! I’d do a lab dance for Sam, cause, ya know, I’m part lab.

Hmm…the worst part? Well, when we go out for walks, I get sooo annoyed when people stop us and yakity yak about a book that they’ve written and they want my Mom to read their manuscript and blah, blah, blah. Those are the times I pretend I’m a boy and I mosey up to the wannabe author and ever so slowly I lift my leg! You should see the look on their face! Mom pretends to be shocked and pulls me away and then I take the lead and we get outta there, fast! So ya see, even the worst part can have a good part.

Will you be boasting to your other pet friends about this interview? Do you think they’ll be able to take it?

Boast…uh-uh, but I will do a lot of barking. Mom promised me she would too and she said we would tweet about it on Twitter! Though, it would seem to me that Twitter is just for the birds and I don’t think birds will give a hoot for what a dog has to say. And she promised I could howl at the moon about it. In fact, she said I could bay like a banshee and she wouldn’t stop me. And, Mom said she would talk about my interview when she goes on the radio. Boy-oh-Boy, my Mom does lot of radio appearances. I’m waiting with baited breath (hmm, make that bacon breath) for my interview to hit the cyber waves.

Will my pals be able to handle my celebrity status? Oh sure, why not. Now my foes, they might get their hackles up, but I don’t care and besides, the only real foe I have is Crabby Rose (that’s not her real name, it’s really Abby Rose), the cat that lives here. She’s just a cat, and a sour puss… whadda she know, anyway! Cats drool and Dogs Rule! WOOF!

Thanks, Corley! Good talk, girl!

Interview with Teddy, proud owner of author and model L.E. Harvey

2010-03-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

My guest this week is Teddy the cat (no, he's not named after a teddy bear, you people, but after Roosevelt!). teddy shares his home with author and model L.E. Harvey, who's written a number of novels in the suspense, mainstream and romance genres. Check out her website and blog. You can also find her on twitter and facebook.

BIO: “Teddy Roosevelt” is a Maine Coon that was found homeless and dumped in Las Vegas, Nevada. His outgoing personality quickly won over the heart of contemporary fiction writer, L. E. Harvey. He is the youngest of the four felines and one canine Harvey household. Bold and outgoing, he is more than happy to discuss his life with his fellow felines, a canine, and a crazy writer.

What’s with your name? Did Lauren choose it?

Yes, Mommy Lauren named me Theodore Aloysius Satan Roosevelt Cuprillowitz Rocker, III. Ummm…As far as my self-esteem goes, I try not to let it get to me. I figure that many names must make me memorable!  What it says about her is that she has too much time on her hands if she can give me that many names. I mean, I was supposed to be Theodore Roosevelt, and she turned it into that! Clearly, she needs to get out more!

I agree! Tell us, is your mom as stable as she looks in her website photo?

No. Mommy Melinda thinks that Mommy Lauren doesn’t look stable in that picture any way. Regardless, she is anything but stable! She sings and dances around the house a lot. And she holds one-sided conversation with me and my other siblings. That’s not normal, is it?

Not if she does it hours and hours. I agree that's odd. But then most authors are weird!

Writer’s block… yeah right! The fantasies lazy writers come up with! What excuses does Lauren give for her procrastination?

She blames us a lot. She always complains about taking care of four cats, a dog, a three year old and cleaning the house takes away from her writing time. I don’t get it. I mean, all she does is feed us, clean the litter box, let Yankee (my doggie brother) in and out of the house (I still don’t understand why), pick up our fur balls, and play and feed with the little girl. That’s not much!

My mom uses similar excuses... Does Lauren let you sit on her lap while working at the computer?

No. I’m not allowed near the computer at all. Neither of my Mommies like my gifts of mouse and computer wire pieces. They say I destroy their computer equipment. I call it art.

Will you be boasting to your other pet friends about this interview? Do you think they’ll be able to take it?

Oh, I am absolutely boasting about this. I mean, I have three cat brothers, a cat sister and a dog brother and I was the one to spill the beans! My oldest cat brother, Chantico, is going to be really jealous. He thinks he rules the house. Little does he know, it’s all about me! 

That's pretty evil for a cat named Teddy... Woof!

Interview with Piglet, proud owner of Sarita Leone

2010-02-27T12:34:00.000-08:00

Say hello to my feline guest, Piglet! Strange name for a cat, huh? If you want to know how this came about, read on!

Okay, dude, describe Sarita as a writer and pet owner. No sugar coating here. Give us the real deal.

Hmm...that's a meowy hard question. The best way I can think of to describe Sarita as a writer is...well, she's like one of those cats you see who sit right outside a mouse hole and wait. She's patient, and while she wouldn't think of eating the little mouse (she's one of those vegetarians, you know!) she will sit, think and figure things out until she not only has the mousie freed from the hole but happily married to a hunky man mouse. Or, if she's writing a murder mystery, she won't back away from the hole until she finds a good way to send the fuzzy rodent to Mouse Heaven. Yeah, that's about right. She sits, thinks, then does.

Now, as a human, she's pretty much the same. She feels, thinks and does, although she rarely sits. She's always on the move, which can be tiring since I follow her around a lot--just to make sure she doesn't need my help with anything, you know? And just in case you're interested, I'm the Boss around here. No doubt!

What type of books does she write?

Oh, she's one of those switch-hitter writers.

First, she writes those mushy love stories. You know the kind where the two humans meet, fall in love, find a huge roadblock and work their way around it before they finally find a happily-ever-after ending. Me? I would love to see more mouse chases, butterfly dances and ice cream on hot days in a dropped cone on the patio in her books but I'm not the one writing them so it's pretty much out of my paws.

If Sarita's not writing romance, she's busy killing people--on the page, that is! She likes mysteries, so she's always plotting how to kill so-and-so with the whatchamacallit in a secluded spot. Me? The only mystery I want solved is where--and when--my next meal will be served. That's enough murder and mayhem for me!

Of all your mom’s books, which one is your favorite? Why?

That's easy. I like the Chincoteague Island Mysteries, Sniffing Sand and Sandswept, because they take place on Chincoteague Island in Virginia. That's where I was born, so reading those books makes me feel like I've gone back to my whisker roots. And there's loads of romance and murder in those stories so I don't mind reading them on a lazy, rainy afternoon...that is, when I'm not sleeping in the sunshine.

But Vineyard Mambo has the best cover, in my opinion. If you look closely you'll see there's a cat on the cover. It doesn't get any better than that, does it? I think all covers should have at least one animal on them, don't you?

I’m guessing it was Sarita who chose your name... tsk, tsk, tsk. What has that done to your self esteem?

Actually, I'm the one who got the best name out of the bunch!

Mom and Dad found me, my two sisters and my brother just after we were abandoned by our birth mother. The vet said we were probably so sick that the birth mom knew we wouldn't make it but I think she left because she knew we were bound for greatness.

Anyhow, Mimi, Pat, Mike and I were all bottle-fed. Mimi was the biggest, at five ounces, but I grew pretty fast. Sarita says that from the beginning I was a "love Piglet"--always looking to be held and loved. Me? I figure I knew right from the get-go that life should be enjoyed, savored and inhaled. I see what I want, and go for it, and if that makes me a Piglet than that's fine with me. Besides, Mimi, Pat and Mike are human names, aren't they? So many humans, so few names to share... I haven't yet met a human called Piglet, have you?

And my self esteem? I'm a cat--need I say more? Meow...

What does your mom do besides writing? Is she a hermit or does she actually set her foot outdoors? My mom has to be dragged outside.

Oh, that's tough. I love being outdoors, and I'm glad Sarita does, too. She actually does most of her writing early in the morning, while it's still dark (how nuts is that?!) so as far as I can tell the writing is a side gig and life with me is her full-time concern. And that's the way it should be, I think.

We live on an old farm (I'm the only animal, though--another good thing!) so we do a lot of outside stuff. We take long walks in the forest and meadow. Sarita loves to play in the dirt so I'm teaching her about gardening. I supervise her from the dock when she rows on the pond. When she sits in the gazebo and reads, I sit beside her so she doesn't get lonely. And when she takes her sketchbook and pencils to our favorite spot beneath a big, old maple tree, I go along. I watch her draw, and wonder what it would be like to have fingers.

Maybe you could buy your mom some gardening gloves or drawing pencils. That might get her outside more. Or you could visit me sometime. I'm sure Sarita wouldn't mind...she's pretty good about stuff like that.

Hey, thanks for having me today. I've had a blast chatting with you. Like I said, maybe you could come visit with me, either at the farm or on Sarita's blog, From the Heart. I'm sure we'd have a meowy good time!

Woof! Woof!

Interview with Amber, proud owner of Ingrid King

2010-02-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

Woof! My special guest today is....

"My name is Amber, and I'm the feline mewse of Ingrid King, the author of Buckley's Story - Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, a book about my sister Buckley and how she changed my mom's life in ways my mom never could have imagined. Well, I helped with the life changing a little bit, too! After all, I'm the inspurration behind my mom's blog The Conscious Cat, a site dedicated to conscious living, health and happiness for pets and their people. Wow - that's a mouthful, but my mom says that it's important that people learn about stuff like that. I sometimes get to write there, too, I have my own category called Amber's Mewsings."

Thanks for such a nice intro, Amber! Now let's get to the real deal. Describe Ingrid as a writer and as a pet owner. No sugar coating here. This blog is only read by pets, so don’t worry, Ingrid won’t find out what you say. In the event that you find yourself in trouble, I can always offer protection. I have a good connection at the CIA.

My mom is a really good writer (and no, she didn’t bribe me with treats to say this). I say that she’s a good writer because she writes mostly about cats, and how can that not be a good thing!
I can’t comment about her as a pet “owner,” because nobody owns me. I’m a cat! But as a cat mom, she’s really cool. I’ve got her well- trained to indulge my every whim without her even knowing that she’s being manipulated half the time. She loves me so much, and I’m so beautiful, and she just can’t help herself and waits on me hand and paw. The only area where she could use some improvement is when it comes to meal times. She’s good with breakfast – she always serves me my breakfast even before she has her first cup of coffee, but dinner is another story.

Humans seem to have this silly idea that dinner is supposed to be served in the evening. Can I help it that I get hungry halfway through the afternoon? So I have to usually stare holes in the back of her head while she’s on the computer, or weave in between her legs and try to trip her when she’s on her way to the kitchen to get a drink of water, to get her to understand that I’d like my dinner early, thank you very much. Most days, I can get her to cave no later than 4pm.

(Hmm. If she mostly writes about cats--and not DOGS--then how can she be a great writer????) What type of books does your human mom write?

My mom published her first book, Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, last September. It’s the story of my sister Buckley and the lessons she taught about opening the heart and living a joyful life. It’s also the story of my sister’s battle with heart disease, and how mom coped with that and with ultimately losing her. Mom says she wrote it to share Buckley’s lessons with the world, and also to help others who are going through caring for a very sick pet, or who are sad about a pet that has passed on.

I’m in the book, too. Buckley wasn’t my real sister, but after some initial challenges (that were more mom’s fault than ours, but you’ll have to read the book to find out about that), she and I were so close, we might as well have been sisters. We’re still close. I miss her physical presence, but I talk to her all the time. We cats are better at understanding that nobody ever really dies, we just change form. The heart connection is eternal.

Darn, Amber! Now you made me sad...

So what’s with your name? Did Ingrid choose it? What has that done to your self esteem and what does that say about her?

I love my name! My mom chose it because I have a heart-shaped Amber colored spot on top of my head. I think it purrfectly reflects my inner and outer beauty. I loved the day she gave me my name. It made me feel so special, like I finally was part of a family.

What does Ingrid do besides writing? Is she a hermit or does she actually set her foot outdoors? My mom has to be dragged outside.

My mom helps other pets and their humans in a lot of different ways. She can do a lot of it from home, and I think she really likes working from home. I’ve heard her say that she really likes it that she’s in charge of her schedule. I don’t really know what that word means, but I think it has something to do with her still being in her jammies at lunch time some days. Hmm, she might not want people to know about that. I think it probably also means that it gives her more opportunities to serve me throughout the day.

She writes lots of articles about how to help pets live healthy lives that she publishes on her blog The Conscious Cat (which I inspired!) and in her online newsletter News for You and Your Pet. She also offers phone consultations for pet parents on how to keep pets healthy, how to mange caring for a sick pet, and how to cope with losing a pet. And she’s a Reiki Master Practitioner, which I think means she transfers healing energy to other pets (and their people, too).

What is the best part of having an author as a mom? The worst part?

The best part is having her home with me a lot. I love that! I don’t know that there really is a bad part, except maybe that I have to fight her for the computer when I want to write one of my Amber’s Mewsings columns!

Woof! Woof!

Interview with Rudy, superstar dog in Judi McCoy's Dogwalker Mystery series

2010-02-14T03:52:00.000-08:00

Today I have a very special guest. His name is Rudy and he is the star in Judi McCoy's Dogwalker Mystery series. Unfortunately, the real Rudy passed to doggie heaven a year ago... but his spirit lives on through Judi's books. The author is donating all royalties from the first book, Hounding the Pavement, to Best Friends, the largest no-kill shelter in the US (that's so generous, Judi! I'll tell my mom to buy a copy right away!) You may read an excerpt HERE. If you see the photo on the right, Rudy is the little dude in the middle.

Thanks for stopping by this side of the woods, Rudy. I understand you're the star in Judi McCoy's books. Tell us all about it!

You bet your Milkbones I'm the star. Humans will get to see how clever a canine can really be when they read the dog walker books. Of course, not all of us are genius. You'll find out when you read that some of us are a little on the 'dead air' side, just like people can be.

Your character is based on a real doggy, isn't it? Was there a 'real' Rudy in real life? Was he Judi's pet?

I am the real Rudy. Judi and me lived together for more than 13 years. She rescued me from the jail time at the ASPCA when we lived in Texas. And let me tell you, it was love at first sight. I was eight weeks old, and once she picked me out of a litter, that was it. She never wanted another dog, and I never wanted another human.

How does it feel to be immortalized in a book? You must be proud to be the fictional version of a real dog who loved Judi very much.

I've very proud. I knew she'd get around to using me in a book. She was running out of ideas, so I just sent out my positive thoughts and she finally got it. 'I need a star character. Ah, I know. I choose my Rudy.'

So what do you do in the book?

Are you kidding. I do it all. Track killers; sniff out clues; watch and dissect, connect the dots. I even have a 'sit up and give a woof!' line of lawyer jokes. Most importantly, I protect Ellie, my storybook girl. She couldn't do what she does without me.

What makes Judi's books so special?

Why me, of course. I keep the other dogs straight, noses to the ground, and all that. I'm the big Kahuna, the top dog, the leader of the pack. Without me, those other mutts wouldn't know what end was up. Ellie wouldn't either. And don't even ask me about the Doofus Detective Ellie falls for. He's totally out of it.

What's she working on now?

Besides waiting for book three, Death in Show, which will be out in June, she's finishing up book four in the series. Begging For Trouble is an interesting case about the murder of a cross-dresser. All I can say is "the shoe is the clue." Think about that one for a while.

How much control do you have over Judi's creative process?

I have all the control. My picture is right above her head when she writes, and even though I'm up here in doggy heaven, she looks to me for guidance, ideas, even ways to commit the crime. I am her muse.

Does Judi have a website?

She sure does. www.judimccoy.com

There are pictures of the dogs that live with people who are fans, a list of her appearances, and all kinds of stuff. There's even a list of her old books, but none of them are as good as MY stories.

What else would you like ot bark to our readers?

ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING: All the royalties from the sale of Hounding the Pavement, the first book in the series are going to Best Friends, the largest no-kill shelter in the US. Their in Kanab, Utah, and they have a great show on National Geographic channel called Dogtown. Anyone who is an animal lover needs to watch that show. And buy our first book so they get a
lot of money.

Thank you, Rudy!

Interview with Samsun and Luna, proud owners of editor & publicist Carol Upton

2010-02-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

Say hello to my guests, Samsun and Luna!

Samsun is a 16-year-old Russian Blue, who still catches mice, enjoys fresh catnip and roams his territory at will.

Luna is an 11-year-old Akita-Husky-Lab cross, who is alpha female at the doggie park and enjoys guarding her yard.

They share their home with writer-editor, publicist, and dream-chaser Carol Upton. Carol keeps pretty busy (oo busy to take care of her pets, I'm guessing!) and her work has appeared in numerous publications, both print and online. She helps authors and healing artists link their dreams to the world through Dreams Aloud Promotions. When not in front of the computer, she can be found playing with horses, cuddling Samsun-cat, or following Luna-dog down the beach.

No more blah blah blah... Tell us, Samsun and Luna, how did you come to live with Carol?

Samsun: I was a wee feral kitten and something happened to my mom and brothers and sisters. It was almost Christmas and very cold outside. Somehow, I broke one of my hind legs. One of Carol's other cats (Auntie Mouser) showed me the spot to hide under the house. When I got hungry I started to cry. Auntie Mouser told Carol and Kerri about me and that's when I was found.

Luna: Carol's friend owned my mom, Koko, and I was born, along with my sisters. Carol came over to visit one day and there I was, all warm and sleepy from lying by the wood stove. Carol picked me up to hold me and it was love at first sight. She visited me a few more times and after a couple of weeks, I came to live in a nice backyard with lots of spots to dig, toys to chew and a doghouse built especially for me.

Is Carol easy to live with? What type of mommy is she?

Samsun: My mom cuddles me and tells me how beautiful I am all the time. Sometimes, when she is working on her computer, I bug her to play with me and she shoos me away. I know I'll get to play another time, but it's the most fun to scratch her legs when she is trying to work! My favorite time of day is bedtime, when Carol reads books in bed and I get a nice warm spot next to her on the duvet.

Luna: My parents both take me for nice long walks every single day. It is most often Carol who takes me, since she works from home. She works in the mornings and takes me out to the beach, the woods or the doggie park for runs in the afternoons. I like the doggie park best because I have a lot of friends there and that's the place where Carol takes out the ball to throw for me! My favorite time of day is walk time, but I also like the evenings, when Carol is working, the fire is on and I can lie on my back in my bed with my toes in the air.

I hear Carol is a publicist who specializes in authors who have written animal-related books. I didn't even know publicists like this existed! How did she come up with the idea?

Samsun and Luna: Our mom used to be away from the house all day, working at other jobs while writing and teaching writing in the evenings. She said lots of people were asking her how to sell their books once they were published. She decided to take some marketing courses and start offering the service part-time. She said she put up a thing called a website and suddenly lots of authors were coming who needed help. Now she helps animal-related authors all over North America and works from home all the time, which is the part we like the best!

Sounds neat! So what does she offer authors? Tell us all about it!

Samsun and Luna: Carol works only with animal-related authors now. She will visit (either on the phone or in person) with the author once their book is published and she will write up a marketing plan for them. Then, she sends out news announcements about the book all over the world. She reviews the book and gets the review published in print and online everywhere you can imagine. If the author has written articles, she can get those published. She belongs to journalist request groups and will find radio, newspaper and blog interviews for the author, so that lots of people can hear about the book. When the author has a book-signing or a workshop coming up, Carol will spread the news far and wide. She also does something called Social Networking and Blogging on behalf of the author, if they don't have time to do it themselves.

Wow, that sounds like something my mom would be interested in. Does Carol have a newsletter or something?

Samsun and Luna: Not yet, but people can go to her website and find out more by clicking on 'Services'. They are also welcome to email her from the site and ask questions. Their initial consultation does not cost them anything and then they can figure out what to do next.

What else would you like to say about Carol?

Samsun and Luna: Carol is studying animal communication, so she takes time every day to ask us how we are feeling and what we would like to do that day. Not all humans stop their busy lives long enough to do that, so when she talks to us, we make the most of it by having lots to say! We also get combed and brushed when we need it, treats most of the time when we ask, and daily playtimes. Carol likes wild animals, too, so we have learned to respect the deer, bear, squirrels and racoons that pass through our yard in the early morning. Carol says she is thinking about rescuing another dog and we are having discussions about that right now. We really like having her all to ourselves, but we also know we have a great life and think maybe we could share our cozy home with the right someone else!

Another dog? Hmmm... I wouldn't mind a new little brother to boss around...

Interview with Tigger, proud owner of Chelle Cordero

2010-01-31T12:14:00.000-08:00

My guest today is a kitty named Tigger. He shares his home with romance and suspense author Chelle Cordero. Also with two other cats (see below right). Tigger is here today to spill the beans on Chelle...

Tell us, Tigger. How did you come to live with Chelle?

My mom, Chelle arrived at the Animal Shelter in Pomona, NY one day in September 2008 where I had just been dropped off a few days earlier. She had some 2-legged family members with her and they were quite noisy coming into the room where I was sleeping – actually I was imprisoned behind bars!
I heard them come in and began waving frantically for rescue. Chelle heard me and saw my paw signaling to her. I heard her talk with Mark (my
dad) about my age, I was three years old then, and they said I needed “saving”.

I was really thankful and made sure to cozy up to them in the
“acquaintance room”. They started the paperwork to adopt me… but before I could get them to make our great escape, they picked out two kittens to come home with us as well. (Actually I’ve grown pretty close to my new brothers.)

Why did she name you Tigger? Is she a Winnie de Pooh fan?

Tigger was the name on the cage where they found me – the people I lived with before had called me that. I was told they had to give me up because of allergies, it was a bummer. But good things came out of it and I
am very happy being here.

What's it like living with Chelle?

I think it’s pretty great living here. Chelle is “My person” and I’ve made that pretty clear to my brothers, Mario and Luigi, and the other two-legged residents here.

Mom and Dad have always had feline family members and I’ve seen lots of pictures of my past brothers and sisters – the house is fairly well broken in for comfort. We get served our meals twice a day but there’s always water and crunchies if we feel like snacking ‘round the clock. And we have our own bathroom downstairs with two litter boxes so we never have to wait. They also buy us toys and play with us a lot.

I hear she writes books... Tell us about them.

She writes a lot! Sometimes she gets so busy and I try to help her, but I get a lot of typos on the keyboard. I do send a lot of her emails though, that’s easy, I just hit the mouse on her desk for her – unfortunately I don’t always wait for her to finish typing her email.

She writes mostly romantic suspense – quite steamy! (I’m neutered so I don’t really understand about all that) I’ve heard that the love stories are very deep and a lot of people enjoy reading them. Let me see if I can remember all of the titles – Bartlett’s Rule, Forgotten, Within the Law, Courage of the Heart, Final Sin, Hostage Heart and her most recent
A Chaunce of Riches. Final Sin is a murder mystery.

Of all her books, which one is your favorite? Why?

I would feel better about her books if she had a nice cat or two in them…

I’ve changed my favorites a few times with some of her newer books. Right now I think I am partial to Hostage Heart. The hero, Ryan, is not the man that the heroine, Deanna, thinks he is, and that really makes the story interesting. Also Hostage Heart is post Katrina and Ike and Chelle did a lot of research into that since much of the action takes place down south. Just
reading it really makes me want to meow with a southern drawl. Just recently author and editor Carolyn Howard-Johnson named Bartlett’s Rule by Chelle to her Top Ten Reads list of 2009! It’s a really good book with a story that is well worth telling.

Authors are pretty busy... does she have time for you?

She always manages to make time although sometimes I want more. I think Chelle originated the attack-hug and she even purrs at me. I like it when she scratches my ears.

Since she has a home office, I try to “go to work” with her every day. Sometimes it’s a very long day and we are both so tired at the end of the day. I love the commute though!

Are you allowed to sit on her lap while she writes?

I let her type at my desk. Actually it started out as hers but I sort of took it over. I have this one favorite spot to curl up right under her desk lamp so I feel all warm and relaxed. Chelle keeps a small bowl on the desk and a bottle of water so when I get thirsty I can have a drink of
water – it helps me think when we are trying to work out a story plot.

Does she have a website and blog?

Yes, yes and yes. Chelle has a very nice website at http://ChelleCordero.com and she has an author blog at http://ChelleCordero.blogspot.com. Everyone can read about her books and all
of the other websites she is involved with. They also can see how to connect with her on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Chelle also offers a weekly online writing course available with a Kindle subscription called Living, Breathing, Writing (http://bit.ly/pILcG). She gets down to the nitty-gritty of writing and being a professional writing. Her weekly articles are full of great tips and she always offers
writing prompts and exercises – I love it when she lets me try out a writing prompt or two.

Thanks so much for letting me talk about my mom, author Chelle Cordero. I think she’s kind of purr-fect.

Thank you for spilling the beans, Tigger!

Interview with Delaney, proud owner of author Linda M. Faulkner

2010-01-24T04:41:00.000-08:00

Delaney is here today to tell us about his life with Linda M. Faulkner and his other pet companions. Linda writes novels, short stories, newspaper columns and a bunch of other things and is the host of the Author Exchange Blog, were she posts interviews, news, press releases and anything of interest to writers. Her latest book is Second Time Around, a mystery novel set in the Rocky Montains, and guess what--it's been just nominated for an EPPIE Award! Way to go, Linda!

Thanks for visiting, Delaney! So tell us, what's it like living with an author?

Hey, Amigo! Thanks for checking in with me. I’m glad to have the opportunity to chat—life’s pretty boring most days. As far as living with an author goes, I haven’t lived with anyone else, so I can’t compare authors to other humans—from a personal perspective, that is. All I can tell you is that Mom leaves the house early most days of the week and drives far, far away to a boring place called The Office. I get to go with her sometimes and, while I love the long car ride, The Office is even more boring than it is here at home. I only get to see some of the people who visit her when she’s there. She tells me that having a dog at The Office isn’t “professional” and that some people either don’t like dogs or are afraid of them. Can you believe that? I’m a lab mix, for Pete’s sake? Who in the world’s gonna dislike me or be afraid of me? Sigh. She spends most nights at her laptop after coming home from The Office --either working on her book or doing that interview stuff for her Author Exchange Blog. Who’d have thought there were so many other writers in the world? When she comes home Friday night, though, she usually stays home ‘til Monday morning and says that’s her favorite time of the week. It’s mine, too. (Although, unlike Mom, I don’t want to be a hermit when I grow up.) She spends most of her weekend at the laptop but she doesn’t seem to be able to sit still (and quiet) for more than about 50 minutes. So, I’m always around when she pops up to make a cup of tea, or do the laundry, or chat and play with me and the other critters, or accompany her outside for a walk.

What do you do while Linda writes and ignores you?

I ignore her back.

Ha! Good work!

I learned that from Dusty, the cat we used to have. But if I want her attention, I just drop my chin on her lap and she pats me, talks to me, and tells me I’m her favorite boy. Bet Dad and her human son wouldn’t like to hear that, eh?

I hear she has a book out. Tell us all about it!

It’s a really neat book—mostly because I’m in it! Only she changed my name. She called me Mac in the book and my big brother Tyson was in it too, and she called him Murph. My sister Charlotte shows up later in the book but Mom let her use her own name—I can’t figure that one out. Anyway, the book is called SECOND TIME AROUND and it’s a mystery that takes place in western Montana, where we live. Mom tells people that we puppies were the inspiration for the opening scene because the idea came to her when she and Dad took us for a walk one day. There’s three dead bodies in the book and a cool sheriff’s deputy named Jack Kendall. The ladies at the book club who invited Mom to dinner said they thought Jack Kendall was hot and Mom really liked that. But how can a human be hot, Amigo? They’re always asking us to climb into bed with them to keep them warm. I just don’t understand humans sometimes…

Does Linda show off to her friends because of her book? What about to those annoying relatives?

I don’t know how she is with her friends because she’s pretty much a hermit when she’s home. She must see and talk to them when she goes to The Office. But she talks to her sister and my grandpa and my human sibs on the phone all the time. (They live farther away even than The Office in a place called Massachusetts. I used to live there and it took days and days to drive here from there.) Not only does my Mom talk about her book all the time to her human family, she bribed them! She said she’d give them free, signed copies of her book if they promised to pass out a bunch of postcards to all their friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They thought it was great. My human sister and brother, Laurie and Mike, actually asked for refills! My other human sister, Beth, let her daughter bring the book to school for show and tell. (Bridget’s in 4th grade.) And you know what my grandpa did? He passed the postcards out at the casino in Connecticut and a couple of old guys actually bought the book! (I miss Grandpa. Haven’t seen him in the six years since we moved to Montana. He’s neat. He calls me his granddog.)

I hear you live with a few other pets. Do you get along?

I get along with Charlotte okay, even though she’s a pain. You’d think she’d grow up sometime soon; she’s 5 years old, for Pete’s sake. But then again, she’s a Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix, so you can guess what she’s like. I really miss Tyson and Patience—they both died within the past year. They’re the two Rotties Dad had before Mom rescued him seven years ago. (She rescued everyone in our house.) Tyson was twice as big as me and Patience was a baby at the time. But a couple months after they moved in with us, I stopped being afraid. Tyson stuck up for me when other dogs came around and even though Patience grew up to be almost as big as Tyson, she was the nicest dog I ever knew. Mom still cries when she looks at her picture. Anyway, Mom says I get along with everyone because I have a great ‘sposition—whatever that is. Although I don’t like it when she tells people I’m the only dog who ever liked her X--and that should have been a clue. Everyone laughs when she says that. Do you think they’re laughing at me, Amigo? Or the X, whatever that is?

What's it like living with a fat cat? That must be irritating! Or that malevolent-looking black kitty, Max?

Mom thought Dusty was terrific, but I thought he was a bigger pain than Charlotte. In more ways than one. (Please don’t tell Mom I made a “fat” joke about Dusty. She’s weird like that—doesn’t let us pick on each other or fight—at all!) When Mom brought me home almost 10 years ago, Dusty scared the heck out of me, he was so big. I was only an 8-week old baby, weighing in at 10 pounds, and he weighed 20 pounds! Once I got bigger than him, he didn’t scare me so much, and we’d wrestle all over the place. Until Mom told me I couldn’t hurt the kitty. Cripes, how could I hurt a cat? I wasn’t allowed to bite, but he could! He used to chase me all over the darned house and, when no one was looking, he used to bite my feet ‘cuz he knew I wasn’t allowed to bite back. And he thought it was funny (so did Mom—I’ll never forgive her for that). Yeah, I liked it when he got old and fat and slowed down. Now Max, he’s okay. Mom and Dad got him a few days after Dusty died. The people at the shelter said that black animals are always the last to be adopted. Even though Max is black, I don’t know why he was there for months. He’s not anything like Dusty. He rubs against me and Charlotte just like we were humans. He lays in front of the fire with us at night and hangs out with us most of the rest of time. The only thing I don’t like about him is when he jumps up at my tail and swipes at it when it’s wagging. He thinks I’m trying to play. NOT!

What about that insane parrot? I hear you were planning its murder the other night. Let me know if you need any help.

That’s a rumor about me planning to kill the parrot. But now that you’ve offered, if you and your CIA pals want to visit, we can come up with a plan. That parrot’s the scariest thing I’ve ever seen and when Dad takes her out of her cage, I take off to the other side of the room. Dad had the quiet parrot when he and Tyson and Patience moved in, but he begged and begged and begged Mom to help him rescue this Moluccan Cockatoo he met and Mom finally surrendered. Boy, is she sorry! She calls her Bitch Bird because she’s so loud. (Her real name’s Sammy and the quiet one is Angel.) Usually, Mom’s pretty patient with Sammy but I can tell she’s getting mad when she hollers, “Hey, Sammy! Keep it up and we’re having chicken for dinner tonight!” One thing that’s pretty neat about Sammy is when she imitates her former owners. They used to get in loud arguments and Sammy role plays both sides, complete with, “Whatever!” “I don’t wanna go!” and different variations of a nasty word I’m not allowed to say. (It begins with the letter “f”.)

Does your mom have a website and blog?

My Mom has all kinds of websites and blogs—only I won’t bore you with the ones from The Office. Her writing website is http://www.lindamfaulkner.com. She has two blogs; the one for her own writing is http://www.lindamfaulkner.blogspot.com and the one where she interviews writers and other writing people is the Author Exchange Blog – that’s at http://www.lindamfaulknertips.blogspot.com. Maybe you should write my mom and ask her to interview your Mom! Think we’d each get an extra treat for setting them up together?
Woof! Woof!

P.S. Mom changed my name after she married Dad. She let me keep the McHenry as a middle name, just like she did, only no one uses it. Too bad, I liked it better. It’s Irish, you know? By the way, Delaney means black in Irish Gaelic.

It was a riot having you here, Delaney! I'll contact you off-blog so we can discuss parrot annihilation.

Interview with Midnight, proud owner of children's illustrator Kevin Scott Collier

2010-01-07T13:05:00.001-08:00

My guest today is a black cat named Midnight. He shares his home with children's book illustrator Kevin Scott Collier & family. Kevin has illustrated over 100 books--yeah, that's right! 100! He also has a fantastic blog where he teaches kids how to draw. Check it out HERE.

Welcome to my blog, Midnight! Tell us, how did you come to live in Kevin's household?

The Collier family adopted me just before Christmas last year. I can from a place called The Noah Project that finds homes for kitty like me.

How is it like to work with a MEGA workoholic illustrator like Kevin?

I watch him draw, and usually fall asleep. So, I don't know how much he actually does!

Does he have any time left for you?

He plays with me. I like playing with his pens and pencils, too. He doesn't like me sitting on his drawings.

I see you always get in the way when Kevin is working...

He says I get in the way, I'm actually helping him, making sure his art is up to par.

Is that one of your tactics to drive him crazy?

Actually, he's the one who drives me crazy. You're only getting HIS side to the story!

How many books has Kevin illustrated?

He says over 100, but I'm not allowed on the bookshelf to check the actual number. I get sprayed with a water bottle when I claw at the books.

He has a cool blog where he teaches kids how to draw, doesn't he?

I don't know. He says I'm too young to get on the internet. But, I have seem him shoot videos of how to draw stuff. I'm going to try to get on camera!

So, like, how many hours a day does Kevin work? 24?

Midnight: That's about how many hours I sleep. 24!

Is that why he named you Midnight, so you can keep him company in the middle of the night?

I had my name before I moved in with them. But, I do keep him company late at night, even if I am taking a cat nap.

What else you'd like to say about Kevin?

He needs to get me more treats and cat toys. I like being spoiled!

Thanks, Midnight!

Interview with ConneryBeagle, proud owner of Doranna Durgin

2010-01-04T01:54:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

What a great way to start the year...

My guest today is doggy blogger ConneryBeagle, faithful companion to award-winning fantasy author and wildlife illustrator Doranna Durgin. ConneryBeagle's blog can be found at http://connerybeagle.livejournal.com/ (way to go, dude!). His mom, Doranna, has published numerous books... just take a look at her website. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy the interview!

Here's a little about ConneryBeagle, in his own words...

My name is CONNERYBEAGLE.

Well maybe not. Maybe that's what mymom calls me when she says, "I love you, ConneryBeagle!" My special name is CH MACH Cedar Ridge DoubleOSeven CD RE EAC EJC CGC. That means I took a CANINE GOOD CITIZEN test, and I showed off my handsomeness in the BREED RING and now I do a little obedience, a lot of rally obedience, and a LOT of AGILITY! When I got my MACH, mymom went running around the ring like a crazy person with me, and the whole trial stopped and everyone CHEERED. And then I qualified for the 2010 AKC Nationals. BAWHSOME!

What's it like living with an award-winning author who's published over 20 novels? What do you do while she pounds at the keyboard and ignores you?

I sleep on her feet. I sleep on Belle's head. I inspect the yard for stinky things. I put squeaky toys in her lap. I put them on her KEYBOARD. I yodel at her. I sit behind her and I put my paw on her leg to remind her it is time to do TRAINING THINGS.

I can do that for a VERY LONG TIME.

I heard she won the 1995 Compton Crook/Stephen Tall award for the best first book in the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres. Did the award go to her head?

I am NOT THAT OLD. I am not that old by LOTS. So she has the same head she had when I got here. But she HUGS THAT BOOK a lot. She keeps its cover on her wall--it is the new cover from the new publisher, and it is BIG. I don't know if it went to her head but it WENT TO HER HEART.

So you're on the cover of her latest book? How did that happen? Did you threaten her at gunpoint? (that's what I did).

Mymom made the first book with DALE the veterinarian and SULLY the BEAGLE before I was here. She said it was a VERY CLEVER cover but the dog was from the wrong breeding. She looked at me and she squinted and she said, "You don't look like Sully Beagle, really. You don't have a blaze and you are almost two inches BIGGER. But you a LOT CLOSER than STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY." Then she stood on a chair with a big camera and told me to SIT and made LIFE EXCITING so we played the BAWHing game and there I am.

Tell us about your mom's mystery series with a vet and a Beagle? That sounds like something my mommy would like to read!

Mymom goes "hee hee hee!" ALL THE TIME when she writes about Dale and Sully. I think she likes them. She likes Flagstaff where the people in the books live--we lived there for most all the time I have been alive--and she likes writing with animal things. That is convenient since Dale is a vet and Sully is a BEAGLE. Sully isn't supposed to be me. "There is only ONE ConneryBeagle!" is what mymom says. But maybe we both do some BEAGLE THINGS. Sometimes when mymom writes these books I think she has a little bit of BEAGLE in her and that is why they are FUN. But she cares about the people in the books and sometimes she sniffles for them too.

Okay, so I sniffed around your mom's website and saw the photo with her LONG, LONG hair... Is it true she cut it and send it to Locks of Love? What was that about?

SHE DID THAT. It was very long. It was down past her BUTT. But Flagstaff is wind, wind, WIND. So she was sad but she cut it off, and decided it would feel better if she sent it to LOCKS OF LOVE for children who have FORGOTTEN HOW TO HAVE HAIR. And she did.

Doranna also works with horses and with other dogs. Do you ever get jealous of them?

Maybe. If I didn't know I was the MOST IMPORTANT. I might. But I am. Right?

I heard you keep a blog. Tell us all about it!

It is my LIVEJOURNAL and it is at http://connerybeagle.livejournal.com. I have ALWAYS HAD IT. I have friends there! Sometimes Belle visits. She thinks more about what mymom is doing. She giggles a lot, too.

Thanks for stopping by this side of the woods, ConneryBeagle!

Interview with Angus, proud owner of romance author Sandy Nicks

2009-12-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

Give a warm welcome to Angus, proud owner of romance author Sandy Nicks. Angus is here to talk to us a little bit about Sandy and her books, especially her latest one just released by Vanilla Heart Publishing, titled Falling for Autumn. Sandy is the editor and founder of the site, Cool Stuff 4 Writers, which was nominated by Writer's Digest as one of the Best 101 Websites for Writers in 2009! Way to go, Sandy!

Welcome to Pets & Their Authors, Angus! You must be proud of your Sandy. Tell us, how did you come to live with her?

It was Fate! Well, I believe it was Fate that intervened because I was born in 2007 to parents who couldn’t keep me and whose human owner didn’t want me. They seemed rather eager to find me a home and placed an ad in the paper. Luckily, Sandy read it and she and my dad came and adopted me.

I was only seven weeks old at the time, but I remember the ride home like it was yesterday. I felt sad and confused, but Sandy hugged me and assured me everything was going to be all right. I cried the first few nights until Sandy finally let me sleep in her bed. Yeah, I looked at her with my sad brown eyes and totally got over on her. I’m happy to report that I still sleep in her bed even though I take up the majority of it – I’ve grown a lot since then!

What? She lets you in bed? I'm not even allowed upstairs! You live with other pets. What makes you think you're your mom's favorite?

We have a house full! I have three canine sisters, two feline sisters and three feline brothers. I’m the alpha male of the household and enjoy playing with my sisters and chasing all the kitties. I would never hurt them, but it is fun and shows them I’m the boss.

I know I’m my mom’s favorite because she’s always hugging and kissing me. I mean, she does the same to the others, but I always get in between them. Plus, I’m always with her. If I wasn’t her favorite, I wouldn’t be the one on the couch when she’s reading, by her desk when she’s writing, and on the bed when she’s sleeping. It’s like she wants me with her all the time.

I have to admit, I’m the cutest of all my siblings. I’m the only one who can smile and crinkle their brow to make it look like I know what she’s thinking. Since I’m the biggest dog in the house, I believe she also favors me because I remind her of her beloved Jake who passed away in 2004. She really loved him and even dedicated her book to him. My mom has a soft spot for big dogs.

I like the part about making them all feel like you're the boss. Good work, Angus. So your mom writes romantic comedies. Tell us about her book and what makes it funny!

Falling for Autumn is the first book in the Sisters for All Seasons trilogy. Crazy Days of Summer and A New Trend for Spring will be out in 2010. She also has a time travel romance, Circle of Eternity, that will be available in February 2010. That one is funny, too!

There are a lot of things that make Falling for Autumn funny. While Autumn is trying to rebuild her life, her mom is always offering cosmic advice and insisting Autumn get an aura cleansing. Then there’s Jack who is attracted to Autumn, but he’s hiding from a hitman and doesn’t want to put Autumn in jeopardy. This leads to a series of comedic events. In addition to the characters being funny, the way Autumn handles her mom, shady boss and her attraction to Jack, is handled in a humorous way that most people can relate to.

Reflected in all my mom’s books is her belief that love and a sense of humor go hand-in-hand.

I also find it funny when my mom talks to her mom on the phone. She whines like a little baby, then prentends she's the boss around the house. What a phoney! Are there dogs in your mom's book?

Yes! The main character, Autumn, has a dog named Buddy. Autumn’s mom, Daisy, also works at a no-kill animal shelter where quite a few scenes take place. One of the shelter dogs, a Lhaso Apso named Delilah, plays a major role at the end of the story, but I’m not allowed to give it away. Delilah is based on my sister, Emma.

Sounds like my kind of book! How does Sandy go about promoting her novel?

She has a web site: www.sandynicks.com, and uses Twitter and Facebook to keep readers and friends informed about appearances and upcoming books. She also does book signings and interviews.

My dad and human siblings leave postcards everywhere they go which has really helped with sales in our community. Sandy’s publisher, Vanilla Heart Publishing, does a lot of promotion for their authors like book trailers and author pages on their web site: www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com.

I also want to mention that my mom is a participating author in a program called Operation Ebook Drop. Authors in this program donate their books in Ebook format to soldiers who are stationed in the Middle East. It’s a small but great way to show our support!

Vanilla, huh? The name names me kind of hungry. Hey, that's great--what Sandy is doing to support the troops! But to go back to her writing... Is she disciplined? Does she have any crazy author quirks?

I believe if she didn’t have deadlines, she wouldn’t be as disciplined. She loves to write, but without those deadlines, she’d probably spend more time playing with me and taking me for car rides.

Quirks? Where should I begin – Woof! I won’t embarrass her too much, but she does do some weird things. She loves sticky notes and has them all over her desk with notes on her work-in-progress. Her desk is sacred. She has candles, a rock garden, a jar of candy, Celtic crosses, and other doo-dads. No one is allowed to touch anything, but the cats do a great job of knocking stuff over. I always laugh when they get yelled at.

She also has a vision board above her desk that’s filled with inspirational sayings and pictures. She believes in visualization. She thinks that that if you see it and say it every day, all that you dream of will come to fruition. Believe it or not, some of the things have come true! She’s still waiting for the Mustang though. I think she’ll be dreaming about that car for a long time.

She loves to listen to music while she writes and sometimes I’m forced to listen to her sing. It’s painful, but I love her all the same. There are times when I think she’s singing, but she’s actually reading her work out loud. That might be her weirdest quirk, but I hear a lot of writers do the same thing. I also hear a lot of writers have pets. Is that a quirk? LOL.

Sounds way too much like my mom--with all her index cards stuck to her closet door and her daily affirmations! So, what do you do while she writes and ignores you?

I don’t let her ignore me. I always let my presence be known. When mom writes, I’m either sleeping by her chair or lying on the arm of the couch next to her desk. I’m always within an arm’s reach so she can pet me when she’s having a hard time with a scene or needs to rest her eyes.

I do the same, Angus. Feels great, doesn't it? I love to lick mommy's feet. Where is Sandy's book available?

Mom’s books are available in both print and ebook formats. You can find both formats on Amazon/Kindle, BN.com, Smashwords, All Romance, Sony and Omnilit. You can also order the print edition from your local bookstore.

Leave us with some canine wisdom.

Hmm…don’t ever play, nap, laugh, sing, bark, love your humans and fellow animals, or believe in yourself in moderation. Life is short, especially when one year is equivalent to seven, so make sure you live it to the fullest!

Thanks for this opportunity, Amigo! My mom and I love your web site and enjoy reading about the other pets and their authors!

Thanks for stopping by this side of the woods, Angus! Let us know when Sandy's second book comes out!

Listen, people: Buzz's human dad communicates with pets!

2009-12-11T10:55:00.001-08:00

I have a special treat for all my readers today. A fascinating and important interview for humans and pets of all kinds. My guest today is Buzz and he's here to talk about his human dad, Tim Link, who happens to be an animal communicator. Tim has been featured in many national newspapers, radio and TV. He helps people speak with their pets and even helps in the case of lost pets. I'm sure you'll enjoy the interview!

Buzz shares his home with his blind brother, Woody. See the photo on your right? Buzz is the doggy sitting on the right, and Woody is the one sitting on the left.

Thanks for stopping by this side of the woods, Buzz. To start with, tell us how you came to live with Tim.

About 6 years ago, my brother, Woody, and I were rescued from the county shelter by a rescue organization. Once we were washed and groomed and checked out by the vet, our pictures and profiles were posted on Petfinder.com. That’s where I was spotted by my mom, Kim. She sent the information to Tim, our dad, and they came to visit us. I immediately curled up and went to sleep in my mom’s lap. Woody took to dad immediately. After that, mom and dad took us to our new home where we’ve happily lived since.

You lucky doggies. That's great to hear! So tell us, what's it like living with a TV personality like Tim? He's been in about a zillion of newspapers, radio stations and TV channels.

I really don’t pay too much attention to this unless a TV appearance requires dad and mom to travel away from home. Then I miss them but, they always bring Bubby (a.k.a. Woody) and me a special toy or treat when they come home.

(He doesn't pay attention??? Yeah, right!) You also live with Woody. Are you good pals?

Woody and I are the best of friends. We’re brothers from the same litter. So, we’ve always been together. My brother lost his sight suddenly this year, so I help him get around without bumping into things. He does pretty well for himself most of the time, unless I get him too excited (e.g. barking at someone at the front door).

Oh, sorry about Woody! I can't imagine life without sight. He's really lucky to have you. But to go back to Tim, I have to tell you, Dude, I'm intrigued. I hear Tim is an animal communicator. What's that, exactly?

An animal communicator is someone who is able to communicate with any animal on a deeper, more intuitive level. This is great unless you’ve just done something that you shouldn’t. He always knows who did it.

Hmm. I'm not sure I'd like to meet your dad, then. He would know right away who stole the candy cane from the Christmas tree... and he would tell my mom! Can he help people who have lost their pets?

He helps to reunite a lot of pets with their families. He first communicates with the lost pet to find out if they are still alive and whether they want to come home to or not. If they are alive and want to come home, he then asks the animal for additional information that can help with their return. He also uses map dowsing in combination with animal communication to assist in locating lost animals. Dowsing has existed in various forms for thousands of years. In modern times, dowsing has been used to detect water for wells, mineral deposits and archaeological artifacts hidden in the earth. Using a map, this same practice can be used to determine the general location of the lost animal.

That is amazing! What services does Tim provide?

In addition to lost pet consultations, dad’s services include consultations to help with health and behavior concerns, Reiki energy healing sessions and consultations that assist families in dealing with the loss of a pet.

And now he also has written a book! Tell us how that came about and where the book is available.

When dad works with someone’s pet, he takes notes about the pet, what was communicated and the pet’s picture. When one of the journals was completely filled, my mom suggested that dad share the experiences with others through a book. It can be purchased through dad’s web site, www.wagging-tales.com, or through any major bookstore or online bookstore (Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, IndieBound, etc.). Dad’s book also comes in electronic format and can be viewed through any of the electronic readers or on a computer.

Does Tim have a website and blog?

He has both. Dad’s web site is www.wagging-tales.com. The blog can be viewed through the web site at: http://www.wagging-tales.com/blog/index.html

Is there a newsletter people can subscribe to?

Yes. Dad distributes a monthly newsletter. You can subscribe to it from his web site at: http://www.wagging-tales.com/contacttimnewsletter/emailnewsletter.html

What do you love most about living with Tim?

I love that he loves all of us (Woody, the rabbit, the turtle, the 8 finches and 4 fish tanks full of fish) all so much and takes really good care of us. He is the best dad ever! Plus, it also helps that if we need or want something, we can tell him and he can hear us.

Between you and me here, what can I do to communicate better with my mom? Sometimes she doesn't understand that I want pumpkin pie and not that dry old kibble!

When your mom is spending time with you, have her ask you a question verbally and then you give her the answer (telepathically, of course). Ask her to trust what she is receiving from you. The more she trusts what she receives, the more the ability to hear you will grow.

Leave us with some canine wisdom, Buzz!

I’d like to share one thought with all the people out there. That thought is for them to open their hearts and talk to the animals in their life. Trust me. They won’t hesitate to tell you exactly what is going on.

Listen to this guy--he knows what he's saying!

Interview with Gandalf the White and Dumbledore, owners of Sylvia Engdahl

2009-12-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

My guests today are two very special cats, Gandalf the White and Dumbledore (I wonder where she got the names from...). They're special because they live with a very special lady named Sylvia Engdahl. Sylvia has published many, many science fiction books (believe me, the list is long, just visit her website if you don't believe me!) With all those books, I doubt she has any time for these two feline critters... but I guess she finds a way, because they LOVE her! Follow Sylvia on Twitter and Facebook.

Read on to find out why...

Hey, Dudes. Welcome to my blog. So, how did you come to live with Sylvia?

We were six months old and were living in a nice resale shop that also serves as a temporary home for cats rescued from the pound by a group called the Shelter Animal Resource Alliance. We had lived with one of the volunteers until we were old enough to go there, so we were very eager to get into a forever home with a person of our own. When our mom, Sylvia, came in looking for a cat, I got right up on her shoulder and purred, so she couldn't put me down. They said I was part Siamese because I have blue eyes and dark orange markings on my face and ears, and Sylvia was afraid I might prove too talkative to fit into her quiet life -- but I had bever done any loud talking in the shop so she took me home anyway (and later I proved not to be Siamese, as the white fur on my back turned orange and I developed some orange tiger stripes on my sides). Mom didn't want me to be lonesome while she was busy, so she chose my brother to some along. She didn't like the names we had at the shelter so she named us after two wise wizards: Gandalf the White and Dumbledore.

Do you two get along?

We get along fine! We are brothers, at least Sylvia was told we are, though she has never been quite sure since we aren't anything alike. We were together as kittens in the pound and have never been separated. We still wrestle and chase each other sometimes even though we are 7 years old, but it's all in fun. We're too big now to fit in Mom's lap together so we take turns -- when one of us comes and looks wistfully at the lap, the occupant gets right down. Mom says it must be telepathy.

What's it like living with an an author? Is she one of those egotistical ones?

It's nice because she is home all the time and gives us nearly as much attention as we demand -- though at times her mind does appear to be on her work instead of on us, which we do our best to discourage. I, Gandalf, am particularly happy that there aren't any other people in the house because when somebody, even a familiar neighbor, knocks on the door, I go under the bed. Mom says this is strange because I saw a lot of people in the shop I came from and I wasn't shy then. My brother Dumbledore, on the other hand, would like to see more action around here. He wishes we were allowed to go outdoors.

What type of books does she write?

Sylvia says her novels have to be called science fiction because they are set in the distant future on other worlds, but she is unhappy with that label because it often means that people not looking for science fiction don't discover them. On the whole they are liked better by readers who don't read much science fiction -- or have not read any at all -- than by dedicated sci-fi fans. No background in science fiction is needed to enjoy them.

In the past, the novels she wrote were for Young Adults -- that is, for teens. One of them, Enchantress from the Stars, was a Newbery Honor book and won other awards. But although her YA books have been republished in the 21st century, it has been a long time since she did any writing for teens. Her recent novels are just for adults.

Of all her books, which one is your favorite?

We don't really know much about her YA novels, as they were written long before we were born. So our favorites are the two adult novels she wrote while we were around to help: Stewards of the Flame and its sequel Promise of the Flame.

Does your author mom have a website?

Yes, she has two of them. The main one, www.sylviaengdahl.com, is mostly about her Young Adult novels, her life (there's one page about us), and her advocacy of space colonization. The other one, www.stewardsoftheflame.com, is about her adult novels and has a video trailer plus lots of review quotes and information about the controversial topics dealt with in the book. Whichever site you visit first, there are links to the other, so you won't get lost.

Is she disciplined? What does she do all day?

She works at the computer all the time she's awake except for an hour or so watching television and a couple hours just before bedtime when she holds us and attempts to read. She says this is not a matter of being disciplined because she has physical problems that keep her from going anywhere. Usually she is not writing; her main work is editing nonfiction books for high schools, which is what she does to support herself and us.

Does she ignore you while she writes?

We don't give her a chance to ignore unless we're asleep -- if she tries to, we keep bumping against the back of her desk chair. For some reason even though says she enjoys having us with her, she is upset when one of us insists on being in her lap while she's trying to work. She says there isn't room for a 22-pound cat between her and the computer keyboard and when near a deadline she can't afford lose much time. Occasionally she even gets cross and pushes us off, although we really don't see why, since often she seems able to reach over with one hand and type with two fingers. She says it would be better if we sat with her while she's watching television, which we absolutely refuse to do; neither one of us likes the noise from the television and besides, we don't like the way it competes with us for attention.

Where are her books available?

They are all available at Amazon.com and at Sylvia's websites, and Enchantress from the Stars is also available in bookstores.

What do you like most about Sylvia?

She loves us and says we're her family. What more can we say?

Interview with Amigo!

2009-11-21T01:59:00.000-08:00

Who chose your name and what does it mean?

Choosing my name was a tough decision for the family, so they discussed the issue until late into the night. My human brother wanted to name me Homer, after The Simpsons. Finally, my genius Dad said, 'Amigo.' It flows well, it's short, and it symbolizes what doggies are all about: A man's best friend.

Where do you live?

I hang out with my human family in Belgium.

Why do you blog? You're a dog.

Why let that stop me? I have special paws--very special indeed! I can't go into detail here. Suffice to say it has to do with my having worked for the CIA two years ago. Besides, my hunger for fame goes beyond opposable thumbs.

I hear you're writing a book. What makes you think you can be an author?

The same thing that made Madonna think she can be one.

What are your favorite pastimes?

Napping, eating. Napping, eating. Napping, eating.

What are your favorite foods?

Junk food of all kinds. Pizza, burgers and doner are right at the top.

Any bad habits?

I love licking feet, the smellier and sweatier, the more delectable. The best is when my human brother comes home from football. He takes his shoes and socks off and... Oh well, I call them: 'Fresh out of the oven."

How do you treat your human siblings?

I don't get away with bothering my big brother anymore. With my little sister, it's another matter. If there's no adult looking, I'll push her around and even snap at her. I'll go as far as stealing her food (blueberry muffins, especially!) if I can manage to get close enough.

What if your family get another dog? Would you welcome him or her with love and affection?

What do you think I am--stupid?

How do you handle fame?

We're best friends.

Any last words of canine wisdom?

Okay, but this is a secret: Don't get fooled by my brilliant, witty personality and gorgeous, drop-dead good looks... inside, I'm a still a little puppy at heart, who loves his human family more than anything else in the world... even more than junk food (well, or at least close to it).

Review: Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too, by Laurie Dean

2009-11-18T11:45:00.001-08:00

My mom reviewed this dog book so I thought I'd share it with you... Woof!

Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too

By Laurie Dean

Illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier

Big Tent Books

ISBN: 978-1-60131-035-4

Children’s Picture Book

Hardcover, 24 pages

www.BaronThinks.com

Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too is a cute picture book about a little dog, Baron, who, in spite of living with a loving family, feels lonely at times because he thinks he doesn’t have a best friend. Not only he has a friend, but it was staring him in the face all along!

Of course, until he ‘finds’ this friend, he goes through a series of adventures, like going to school and learning to be a good little dog. After all, even loving dogs must learn to control all that boundless energy!

The loud, brightly-colored cartoonish illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier are a blast on the page, amusing and eye-catching to young eyes. If your child loves dogs, he or she will enjoy this lighthearted story about friendship.

Meet Boboko and Laptop, proud owners of fantasy author Alma Alexander

2009-10-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

My guests this week are Laptop and Boboko, proud owners of fantasy author Alma Alexander. Alma writes the exciting Worldweaver series! Read on to find out what's it like living with a fantasy author and what these cats' names have done to their self esteem...

Laptop, since you claim to have twice the brains of your brother Boboko, I'll begin with you. Tell us, how did you two came to live at Alma's household?

She doesn't think I know this, but I do - they wanted two cats, and two of my siblings were grey striped tabbies and she originally wanted at least one of those. But both were spoken for by the time she came to look for us, and it was me who joined Boboko in the household in the end. Boboko, by the way, was ALWAYS first choice - but he's all beauty and no brains and I'm comfortable in my own place. For instance, it is only I who sleep with Alma under the covers, not the Fluffy Prince. So there.

Boboko, are Laptop's claims true? Or is this some annoying feline feminist phase she's going through?

Er, what she says. What's "phase"? Or "Feminist"?... Ooooh, look, shiny toy. 'Scuse me...

What is it like living with a fantasy author?

Laptop: A cat is all about truth and integrity...

Boboko: I thought those were dogs...

Laptop: ....never mind him. He never left kittenhood. As I was saying. A cat is all about truth and integrity, and our Mom, well, tells lies for a living.

Boboko: They're pretty lies.

Laptop: Well, that's neither here nor...

Boboko: And they keep us in kibble. That's true enough.

How did Alma come up with your names and what has that done to your self esteem?

Boboko: There was a cat called Boboko in Charles de Lint's book "Mulengro" which Mom thought was the quintessential cat - and she wanted to call a cat of her own by that name, just because. I don't remotely resemble the Boboko in the book, but I like to think that *I* am her yardstick for the name now, and not that other cat who did nothing other than inspire it...

Laptop: And I was named by Dad, because Mom got to name the Fluffy Prince. Let me tell you we get some weird looks. Laptop? A cat called Laptop? But you know what? it kinda fits, now. And it lends itself to twisting. Apparently Mom thinks I"m a chatty cathy because now and
then I get called Yaptop...

Boboko and Laptop: Of course, we have our REAL names. Which she has no clue about.
That's okay, she's only human, she isn't supposed to. We love her
anyway.

So Laptop, tell us a little about your mom's books and her writing habits? Is she one of those self centered, egotistical authors?

Nah. If anything, the opposite. It takes the concerted effort of all three of us (Dad, me, Fluffy Prince himself) to keep up her self esteem when it comes to her writing. I keep on thinking that if only she'd start writing about CATS I could do a lot more with this.

Boboko, which one of Alma's books is your favorite? Are there any cats in her books?

Well, there's a nook on the shelf of the hardcover "Jin Shei" edition where it's good to nap, so I guess those... and I'm told that there was a cat in that book, an important cat.... ooooh, shiny toy, look!

Who does Alma love the most between you two?

Laptop: There are times I think she ONLY loves FLuffy Prince. But then, in the evenings, she lets me curl up next to her and we hold paws for hours - and there's the fact that she and I are bedmates, especially in the winter, when it's nice and warm under the covers with her. And she worries so when there's something wrong with either or both of us, or when we squabble. She loves us both. We both love her.

Boboko: I know I was a Chosen One. I know that all I ever have to do is ask and what I want is usually given to me. She indulges me shamelessly; I nap inside her oversized red sweater in winter and curl up comfortably against her belly for hours and she would rather die of hunger and thirst than move and disturb me before I'm ready to wake up. She fusses with me when I demand it. She gives me treats. Yes, she loves me. Oh yeah, and she loves my sister, too, She'll make a point of fussing us both if we're in the same range of reach, But she's mine. Mine, mine, mine. MINE.

Tell us something weird about Alma nobody knows.

She can lucid dream. She can control the dreams, sometimes. We know this because we are cats and we can go freely into her dreams when she falls asleep at night.

Sometimes, she even dreams about us.

We make sure of it.

Thanks, kitties!!!

Laptop: (preening) Most welcome, I'm sure.

Boboko: Anything else we can... oooooooh! shiny toy! Scuse me!

Laptop: (quiet sigh) did you know we have our own website? go to www.worldweaversweb.com adn click on "cats" to see our portraits...

Thank you, Kitties!

Interview with Sparkles, the Fire Safety Dog, proud owner of Dayna Hilton

2009-10-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Woof! I'm excited to have as my guest this week a very special dog: Sparkles. Together with Dayna, her human writer mom who also happens to be a fire fighter, Sparkles does lots of school visits and teaches children about fire safety. That's why she's known as the Fire Safety Dog! She's been all over the country and all over the news. I'm sooooo jealous!

Hey, Sparkles, thanks for dropping by this side of the woods, girl! How did you come to live with Dayna?

Well, that’s a really interesting story. I was living in a house with 62 other dogs and was really miserable! Can you imagine living in a house with 62 other dogs? It was so crowded and I wanted to get out of there so bad!

Thank goodness I was rescued and taken to the animal shelter. From there, the folks at the Dalmatian Assistance League of Tulsa took me and my dal pals to foster homes for awhile. Boy, was it ever nice to be around people that wanted to take good care of me!

One day, my foster parents told me that I was going to meet somebody really special. I was so excited that my tail wouldn’t stop wagging! They knew that I needed to be with someone who really cared about me since they told me that I was a special dog. What does “special” mean?

Anyway, I met Dayna and I fell in love with her right away! She talked so sweet to me and gave me lots of hugs. She sealed the deal when she rubbed my tummy! I get all warm and fuzzy just thinking about that day! Best day of my life, I tell ya!

During the ride to Arkansas, I was so excited and couldn’t wait to live with my new family. That was in 2003, and I am still the happiest dog on the face of the planet! Those other icky days are now long gone and I am now doing what I was born to do, being a fire safety dog!

I hear she's a firefighter and together you teach children fire safety. How cool is that! How did that come about?

At first, I didn’t know Dayna was a firefighter. Heck, I didn’t even know what a firefighter was! When I got to her house, I saw all of her gear that she wears to keep her safe from fire. She told me all about being a firefighter and how she loved helping people. And, after meeting all of the firefighters at Johnson County RFD #1, I knew I wanted to help keep people safe too!

One day (now this is REALLY funny!), mom asked me to crawl low. What mom didn’t know is that I already knew how to crawl low. I crawled low the first time that she asked me to and she was so excited that she started jumping up and down all over the place! How funny is that? She took a video of me, but what I needed to do was take a video of HER! She looked so silly, but I could tell that she was happy, so I tried really hard not to laugh.

Then, Mom and I drove three hours round trip for eight weeks while I took a basic obedience class. Heck, I could have done the course in three weeks, but I just wanted to make sure that mom got her money’s worth! : )

I still needed more training to become a full fledged fire safety dog and mom was lucky to meet Kari who was taking classes at the local university and who also happened to be a professional dog trainer. BONUS!!!! Oh boy, was mom super happy about that! Kari spent time with me teaching me all sorts of cool things and I became educated in the ways of a fire safety dog.

One day, Mom put a shiny gold badge with my name on it on my work vest, and I was officially a fire safety dog for her fire department. Another very special day!

So tell us about Dayna's book!

If I have heard this story once, I have heard it a MILLION times! Mom tells it all the time! But, for you Amigo, I will share the story. : )

Mom always wanted to write a children’s book, but she didn’t’ know what she wanted to write about. One day, as she was putting on my red work vest… BAM!!!!!!!! The idea for the book hit her like a bolt of lightening! All I was doing was wagging my tail in excitement to go to work and see the kids, and next thing I knew, she’s writing a book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, a story about me and my love for helping teach fire safety!

Now this next part is kinda funny, but it stressed mom out, so maybe it’s not so funny (sorry mom!). I’ve never told this story before, and I promised you a scoop, so here goes!

Mom and I were selected to be in a video by Oklahoma State University’s Fire Protection Publication’s to help other fire safety educators. Mom and I were known for having a really good fire safety reading program and they said that they needed a children’s fire safety book FAST. Mom, being the quick thinker that she was, said, “I have a book, but it’s raw and it’s not finished yet.” Do you know that mom finished her book in two days and read the book for the very first time in front of a kindergarten class and a camera crew? No pressure! Me, I had a ball and loved her book! I just sat there with my tail wagging and knew that we had something special.

Mom also has a Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog audio book. What’s really cool about the audio book is that it was made by three generations of firefighters: my Grandpa Glenn, my mom, and my brother, Michael. Spanner (my sister dal, also a rescue) and I also got to participate. The audio book even has cool sound effects, like the sound of a fire truck! So much fun!

How do you teach kids about fire safety? Don't they get distracted by wanting to pet you?

Mom’s really clever! She hides me while she and the firefighters talk about fire safety. That way, the children really listen to the important fire safety messages! It’s really important that the children know and understand the importance of fire safety. I help her, hmmmm, what’s that she calls it? Oh ya, I help her “reinforce” the fire safety message.

To reinforce the “Get low and go” fire safety message, I get in my bed and pretend to be asleep. When I hear, “Beep, beep, beep!”, I know it’s the sound of the smoke alarm and that it is telling me to “Get out! Get out!” I get out of bed and crawl low and go to my meeting place, which is a mailbox http://www.motionbox.com/videos/309ddfb21e1ee6c1be).

Speaking of meeting places, where’s your meeting place, Amigo? I hope you have one! It’s important that you have one so that your family can meet there if there’s a fire. That way, the firefighters will know that everyone is safe and they won’t have to risk there lives to go find you if they don’t have to.

Anyway, since I am hidden most of the time, the children don’t get distracted, but when I come out, that’s a whole different story all together! Mom shares with them that if they sit still and listen, that each of them will get to pet me and get a special Sparkles’ sticker! That usually does the trick and you could hear a pin drop!

What's the most important fire safety tip you'd give to kids?

I have so many fire safety tips, but the one that is most important is that everyone has working smoke alarms. Test your smoke alarms once a month and change your batteries twice a year!

When you hear the sound of a smoke alarm, it is telling you to “Get out! Get out!” Get low to the ground (the air is cleaner and cooler there) and crawl low on your hands and knees and go to your meeting place. Your meeting place can be a tree, a fence, or even a mailbox, just like my meeting place!

Make an escape map with your family and practice your home escape drill at least two times a year. You can even include your pets! Firefighter Dayna and I want everyone to be safe!

How can parents and educators learn more about your work?

I have an awesome fire safety website for kids, parents and educators (www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com). What’s cool about this site is that there are fire safety tips, videos, coloring pages and all sorts of free downloadable stuff on there! You can even see that video of me crawling low for the first time!

Looking for a fire safety blog? I have that too (http://www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.blogspot.com)! And don’t forget my twitter page (www.twitter.com/sparklestfsd) and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkles-the-Fire-Safety-Dog/58302653884). If you sign up on my Facebook page as a fan, we have drawings to win a copy of my, I mean, Firefighter Dayna’s book!

Another exciting project that I just started is helping my good friends, Wendy and her dog Cappy, on their A Dog’s Voyage Around the World blog. I’m Cappy’s fire safety friend and travel with him on his voyage, helping keep everyone safe (http://adogsvoyagearoundtheworld.blogspot.com/).

I’m also sharing really cool fire and other safety tips on Wendy’s Animal Talk Blog (www.wendysanimaltalk.blogpost.com). Mom just got through writing a post about people making an emergency disaster kit for their pets. How cool is that? And, I better mention mom’s blog too (www.childrensbookauthordaynahilton.blogspot.com). You can follow mom and me as we spread fire safety all over the country!

Mom loves it when people put our fire safety links on their webpages and blogs. If you want to help us spread the fire safety message, please link to us! Here is a page with most of our links http://www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com/sparkles_favorite_links.html!

That would make me and my mom so happy, and, you would be helping us keep people fire safe!

Are there more books in the works?

Mom’s next book is called, Sparkles Goes to Boston. Last year, mom and I spent three weeks taking pictures of our friends, Firefighter Jim Peltier, Chief John Mauro, and all of their friends at the Southborough Fire Department, which is just outside of Boston. Did we ever have big fun taking pictures for our book! We hope the book will come out in the spring.

I also heard mom and her friend Wendy on the phone the other day and they are already sharing ideas for their next two books. Mom has at least six more fire safety books about me in her head! Makes me wish that I had thumbs so that I could help her write!

What the best part of living with a fire fighter author?

Hmmmmm. The best part? That’s a tough one!

The best part of living with a firefighter author is when we hear good news. In February we heard that our book helped save the lives of two children and their families (www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com/saves). Mom was so happy that day when she found out! It makes all of that hard work that we do worth it. We are so thankful that the two families are safe and it makes us want to work even harder!

Are your doggy friends jealous of your stardom? How do you handle fame?

Gotta admit it, being on FOX and Friends (http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0a99dbb01c19e1c287) and on PBS KIDS Sprout on Demand and the Sprout webpage (www.sproutonline.com/firesafety) is way cool cause it’s a great way to share the fire safety message!

Being mentioned on the floor of Congress (www.firehousedogpublishing.com) and at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing (http://www.motionbox.com/videos/ee9ed8b61c1be164) was also pretty cool, but we keep things in check. My dog friends aren’t jealous cause they know that we are helping keep people safe and they really like that!

How do I handle fame? To me, it’s not about being famous, it’s about keeping children and their caregivers fire safe. For me and mom, it’s our job. : )

Thanks, Sparkles! You're doing an important job, girl!

Interview with Basil, Douglas Quinn's fictional cat

2009-10-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Woof! Please welcome my guest, Basil the Cat. Now, Basil is not your regular kitty cat. For one thing, he's a fictional cat based on a real-life cat that died years ago, and he's a character in Douglas Quinn's mystery novels... Basil is here to talk about the fictional world he lives in and about the book's protagonist, Webb Sawyer.

Now, the author responsible for these creations, Douglas Quinn, is also an editor and book reviewer. You can find him at Gather. He loves writing for adults but also for children. In fact, his first children's book will come out before Christmas!

Sounds complicated? Just read the interview to find out!

Hi there, Basil! To begin with, where are you from?

Well, I was the last survivor of a litter living in and around the British Cemetery in Ocracoke Village on Ocracoke Island. That’s part of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Every now and again I’d see this lady in a wheelchair go by. The first time she actually saw me, I was peeking out from behind a tombstone. She called to me and I bounded over to her, through the wrought iron fence and jumped up on her lap. I rode with her all the way to the grocery store and back to her house. I didn’t even think twice about going back into that creepy cemetery. The lady’s name was Blythe Parsons.

Tell us how you came to live with Webb Sawyer.

Oddly enough, Blythe was allergic to cats, so I wondered why she let me come live with her. As it turned out, she kept me out on her deck for a few weeks. Then one day we got into her van, which was converted for wheelchair-bound people, and made a several-hour trip up Ocracoke Island, across the ferry to Hatteras, then all the way up to Nags Head. She dropped me off with a man named Brant Cloninger, who took me on a skiff from his bait and tackle shop to a stilt house at Blue Heron Marsh.

I wasn’t sure what was up, but when the man named Webb Sawyer came home, I knew I had found the person I was meant to be with. Oh, he wasn’t too sure at first, but I soon charmed him into loving me–no problem.

Just who is this Webb Sawyer and what does he do?

Webb Sawyer was created by author Douglas Quinn. Webb’s a retired army sergeant–well, he was kind of forced out because he shot a captured Serbian death-squad leader in the face. But that’s another story. At any rate, he’s a little bit of a loner, although he has a few really good friends. He likes to fish and he takes me out with him when he fishes in the marsh. At first, he just fed me the scraps, but now I get to share some of the good parts.

As for what he does besides fish? Well, he seems to get himself mixed up with not-so-nice people who bother his friends. For instance, some Colombian guy was bothering Nehi, a girl who works for Webb’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Nan–by the way, I like Nan. At any rate, Webb broke the guy’s finger and, in turn, this guy and three of his friends came in the middle of the night by boat and tried to kill Webb and burn our house down. I hid until the next day. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but when it was all over, one guy was dead in the marsh water and the other three got back in their boat and sped off. There was a lot of shooting. I was really scared.

What kind of fictional world do you live in? Describe it a bit.

I love it here at Blue Heron Marsh. Webb’s house sits up ten feet out of the water on stilts. It originally was a fishing house, but was remodeled into a real home with all the conveniences. It’s got a closed in front porch that faces the Roanoke Sound. Webb calls it the back porch because he doesn’t like the idea of the front of his house facing any direction people might be traveling by, even if by boat. His real back porch is open but roofed and faces the marshes. Sometimes we fish right off the porch. Underneath the house is a landing dock and a raised area where Webb keeps a freezer with extra fish. He stored a body in there once. It was one of the bad guys. It’s a great place for a cat to live.

I like to sit in the window facing the causeway that runs between Nags Head and Roanoke Island and watch for anyone coming out to the house. Usually it’s Nan. It was there that I heard the bad guys coming and woke up Webb to warn him.

Do you get to take part in adventures in the book, or are you mainly a watcher?

Oh, Webb takes me some places, but so far I haven’t really gotten into the action. That’s probably for the best. I subscribe to the old saying, “Make love, not war.” I heard Webb say that once. Funny, since he was in the army and, as I said before, gets himself wrapped up in some violent situations. He really is an easy-going man. He just won’t put up with evil or corrupt people who bother him or his friends. He wants to make things right. That seems to get him into troublesome situations.

I hear Webb is a beer snob. Is that true?

He only likes Grolsch. I guess it’s a taste bud thing. If in a pickle, he might condescend to drink Heineken. He drank an Oranjeboom once but wasn’t happy about it. Besides that, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him go outside the Dutch brews. His friend, Ben Straker, from the Uwharries region of North Carolina, drinks Bass Ale. Webb calls it Panther Piss–if you will excuse my language. Me, I don’t see how humans can drink that stuff. Now, coffee, that’s a different story.

Who is your favorite character in the story? Why?

I presume you mean in Pelican Point. In Blue Heron Marsh, I didn’t show up until the epilogue, so I missed all the characters and the fun in that one. In Pelican Point I’ve got to say that Preston’s (Webb’s son’s) girlfriend, Sunshine Bledsoe, is my favorite. When I met her she seemed kinda shy and meek but I heard that at the end of the story she turned out to be a real spitfire. Also, while I still like Nan Ftorek, she and Webb seem to be currently on the outs, and I have taken a liking to a new lady in Webb’s life named Clarky Ayers. She likes to fish and is good at it, too.

Where can readers find Pelican Point and the other Douglas Quinn books?

All the major online booksellers carry them. Amazon is the best as they deliver the quickest. Also it can be ordered by any local bookstore through the distributor, Ingram. By the way, I’ve asked the author if I can have a really exciting scene in Swan’s Landing, the next Webb Sawyer Mystery, and he promised me I would. “Hurrah for my side!” I learned that one from Webb.

How does it feel to be a fictional cat?

I don’t know about other fictional cats but I have a great friend in Webb Sawyer, a great place to live, get to go fishing all the time, have plenty of food and drink and get to go places in his old Ford pickup he calls Trusty Rusty. What more could a cat ask for? Come to think of it, maybe Webb could find a girlfriend with a female feline. Hee-hee!

Give us some fictional feline advice.

As a well-known cat once said, “Truth may be stranger than fiction, but fiction is truer.”

Thanks for the interview, Basil!

Note: The Character, Basil, is based on the author’s cat who, as a neighbor’s kitten, came to visit, decided he liked it better at Douglas Quinn’s house and, when the neighbors moved, stayed. A couple of years later, he was found dead, killed, it is believed, by a local gray fox. He was extremely friendly and trusting. That’s probably what led to his demise.