A miscellany of thoughts about dogs, cats, writing, life in the Ozarks, & occasional book reviews
For many fans of long-running mystery series, there's usually some kind of "hook" that captures their interest and spurs them to read more. It might be the time period or locale; for example Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series is set in Egypt the late 1800s through the early 1920s. Or Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee …
Continue reading Crime Fiction You’ll Want to Read
In-depth research is a habit of mine, carried over from my years in academia to my work writing the Waterside Kennels mystery fiction. That's why I spend a lot of time online and face-to-face with kennel owners, dog trainers, groomers, veterinarians, and rescue groups. Now, after adopting a 14-week-old puppy from the local animal shelter, …
Continue reading Puppy Chronicles
Our Sheltie, Sasha, wouldn't pick up food that had fallen to the floor without permission first. At the other end of the behavior spectrum, we have Penny Puppy (who probably thinks her name is No Leave-it Drop-it Off Down and variations thereof since joining the family last week). Penny believes anything on the floor is …
Continue reading Holiday Foods & Pets
In the world of mystery fiction, you’ll find a varied collection of amateur sleuths—characters whose careers seldom fall within the scope of traditional law enforcement. Browse the library or bookstore shelves, and you’ll find these sleuths tend to have personal or professional reasons—sometimes both—for investigating all manner of crime. When those crimes occur at a …
Continue reading Mystery Past and Present
Today's post comes from Kathleen Donnelly, who writes the National Forest K-9 series. *** For nearly twenty years, I've had the honor of partnering with the best co-workers in the world—my dogs. I worked for and co-owned a great company called Sherlock Hounds Detection Canines. My first dog, Sammy, was a high-energy, fun-loving black Lab. …
Continue reading Guest Post: A Dog is the Best Partner