A miscellany of thoughts about dogs, cats, writing, life in the Ozarks, & occasional book reviews
According to DNA researchers, nearly half of my ethnic roots can be traced to the Scottish Highlands and the Shetland Islands. That prompted me to start my study of dog breeds there, beginning with Shetland Sheepdogs (commonly known as Shelties). I knew that, while the specific original breeds involved are unclear, it appears today’s Shelties …
Continue reading Dogs of the Scottish Highlands
On the national level, Americans are commemorating the actions of the Second Continental Congress, who ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and established the United States of America. History buffs might be interested to know that the Continental Congress was comprised of delegates from the 13 original colonies. And, like much of …
Continue reading Summertime Celebrations
Here in the United States, July 4th celebrations are fast approaching. That means picnics, parades, and pyrotechnic displays in a non-stop celebration over the next four days. As a kid, I loved fireworks celebrations. Loved the colors, the artistry, and the music that often accompanied the big events. I still enjoy the celebrations, although my …
Continue reading Keep Your Pets Safe!
Among the late bestselling author Elmore Leonard ‘s widely quoted 10 Rules of Writing is this gem: “Try to leave out all the parts readers skip.” And what, you may ask, did he believe readers tended to skip? “Thick paragraphs of prose you can see have too many words in them.” Personally, I’m one of those …
Continue reading Writing For Readers
♦ ♦ ♦ J. R. Cotner is an artist, author, and poet. See more of his work online at his website https://jackronaldcotner.com/ and on his Cotner Collection Artwork page on Pinterest. Visit his Amazon author page for descriptions and purchase links for his published books. C. J. Frick is the author of the …
Continue reading The Love of a Dog