Dog Writers of America

I've been a member of a few professional writers associations, first for romance writers, then for mystery, and later children's book writers. Recently, I joined Dog Writers of America, a group I'd been thinking about for awhile.

Once my application was processed and approved, I received my first newsletter. Wow! So many dog-loving people. I found an article about a woman writing children's books. It only mentioned the author by name and that she also helped other writers with self-publishing. I looked her up online and was surprised to see she lived in NJ, my home state. What are the odds? I emailed her, she wrote back, and we had a conversation going. Turns out her parents owned a shore home two blocks from my own home at the shore. Small world.

We met in person and talked books and dogs. I had lost my last Chihuahua in September, and she offered to help me find a new friend. Now, it's always helpful to have others aid in your dog search, but not quite everyone gets what you're looking for. Me? I'd like a service dog.

Loren, my new friend found a few potentials, but sadly none worked out. There's a long story about a Collie rescue. I'm sure she's writing that up for Ruff Drafts, the DWA newsletter, where I first read about her. Long story short--Hey, how about a Collie? Well, I'd never thought of a Collie, but she was a pretty dog. I researched Collies. Yes, there was service potential. My friend drove to MD and adopted her. If I didn't take her, she'd add her to her pack of 6 dogs. (She also has birds, bunnies, and at one time, a horse.) Well, the dog had a profound effect on her husband, who was going through some health issues, so I bowed out. Also, the woman in rescue had played up the pup's qualities. Other than being housebroken, she wouldn't make eye contact, didn't know basic commands, and seemed withdrawn. Being at Loren's house with her pack, she's getting there, but it's a slow process.

Another friend keeps sending me possible adoptions like pit bulls and other bully breeds not exactly the service dog type. Not that they couldn't do service work, but who wants people to be afraid of your service dog? I mean, these days people question whether dogs are even legitimate service dogs. And I would like to keep my dog to a sensible 40 pounds or under.

As for Dog Writers of America, it has already been a wonderful experience in getting to make a new friend. I just submitted my first article and photograph for the next newsletter. The organization offers awards to their members for articles, short stories, photographs, etc. That would be a nice addition to some of the awards I've won in other genres.

I'm working on my mystery series with renewed inspiration. I may have lost the last of my two Chihuahuas who inspired me to start the book, but thankful for the new dog people in my life.

Love my dogs, love my novel

As a mystery writer, I love writing humor. Think Seinfeld meets Mary Higgins Clark. You know there is going to be a dead body or a crime of some kind, but you'll be laughing along the way to solving it.

After many years of writing and being a dog mom, I decided to combine the two. After all, I was gifted with my first Pomeranian puppy when I was five. I grew up with a dog beside me with only one small gap of about a year or two when one dog passed and we didn't get a replacement. That emptiness was soon resolved by the appearance of a Chihuahua who one day showed up on our front porch. The little thing had swollen pads, was underweight, and not at all friendly, but could you blame her? Yet she became a loving family member who was one of the most devoted dogs we ever had. We named her Bambi since she resembled a fawn.

Bambi showed us how loving a Chihuahua could be, whether it was settling down on your lap or pawing your arm to be petted. She also liked to situate herself on the couch between my boyfriend and I, growling at him and giving him the Chihuahua eye. Never mind that she was 6 pounds and he was a 6'1" trucker. The attitude was evident. Now if that's not a funny sight.

Poor Bambi had epilepsy, which we treated with meds. We had no idea how old she was, but the vet guessed about two. We had her for seven years before she passed. Not very long for a Chihuahua, but those were happy years.

Sparky, our Shih-Tzu Pomeranian was about four weeks old when he picked us to be his family. That dog was human! A little man with fur. Scary smart. He understood the name of every toy he owned, probably twenty or more. There was Oscar the Ostrich, Lamby the Lamb, a ball, a sock, etc. If you said, "Go get Oscar," he got Oscar. But he also knew, "Go get the ostrich." He amazed people all of the time.

Then there is my little Peanut Girl, known as Sassy. She's a long-legged apple head variety of Chihuahua that we got when Sparky was almost sixteen. We knew he wouldn't be with us much longer and Sassy was such a help with the transition of losing him. She weighed about a pound and a half when we brought her home. People would say things like "For a few dollars more, you could've got a real dog." Or "My cat's bigger than her." But Sassy quickly grew into her name and became quite sassy. I also call her Missy Moo because she is black and white, with one black ear and eye and one white ear and eye.

Despite her small size, Sassy excelled in obedience class. She learned numerous tricks like playing the piano, jumping hurdles, and moving objects when told to do so. The class was in clicker training and she graduated with honors.

So she wouldn't be lonely, we got Rex, another black and white Chihuahua, only he has long hair and resembles a Papillon. It must be the ears and the mask. For the same reason, some people mistake Sassy for a fox terrier. If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me, "I didn't know they have black and white Chihuahuas", or "I didn't know there are long hair Chihuahuas", I could have bought a really nice snuggle bed for them. Which they have anyway. Sassy, being the smaller dog, decided she wanted the bigger bed, so Rex was relegated to the smaller bed. Just like husbands and wives, you know who's in charge.

So when I decided to write a humorous novel, what better way to incorporate those funny stories than by drawing on my own experience as a dog mom? I just hope the reward of writing this novel will be as rewarding as the love of all of my dogs has been for me.