A miscellany of thoughts about dogs, cats, writing, life in the Ozarks, & occasional book reviews
In Dangerous Deeds, residents are divided by a proposed ordinance to ban what some consider "dangerous dogs" in the county. Those in favor of the ordinance believe some breeds can never be trusted, while others disagree and refuse to endorse the proposal. When asked her opinion, dog trainer and owner of Waterside Kennels Maggie Porter …
Continue reading Breed and Behavior
One of the most common questions asked of writers: "Where do you get your ideas?" As a professor and research geek, I love this question. Maybe I'm genetically wired this way; my dad was brilliant with crossword puzzles and my mother excelled in finding creative solutions to vexing problems. That's as good a reason as any to …
Continue reading Dangerous Deeds
In a previous post I mentioned the issue of breed-specific legislation is a key part of the plot in Dangerous Deeds (#2 in the Waterside Kennels mystery series). In that fictional world, community members take sides over a proposed “dangerous dog” ordinance to ban specific breeds, and the kennel staff is caught in the crossfire. For the …
Continue reading At the Crossroads (Again) of Fact & Fiction
I’m editing scenes from Dangerous Deeds in which my protagonist Maggie Porter is leading a Good Dog! class to help owners and their dog prepare for their Canine Good Citizen test. I first wrote those scenes before Sasha came into my life, so I had to rely on information from the AKC, training blogs, and YouTube videos. And …
Continue reading It’s a Dog-Meet-Dog World
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. As I edit a scene in the forthcoming Dangerous Deeds, I'm reminded that many people assume it's always the dog's fault. Even more often, people assume specific types of dogs are aggressors and push to enact breed specific legislation. Like the AKC, my character Maggie Porter will tell you that …
Continue reading Breeds & Bites