What am I thankful for? First and foremost – my family. And a special part of my family is our dog, Ginger. I’m sure most of you feel the same about your pets. Your lives would be missing that extra special something without them. Ginger makes me smile when I’m down and laugh at her antics. She isn’t a show dog or the smartest dog in the world. She’s 100% mutt, and I love her dearly.It’s not just Ginger. ALL dogs are wonderful, whether they’re a big and slobbery or little and yappy. So, call me crazy, but I put a dog in every one of my books. What beleaguered heroine doesn’t need a four-legged companion to give her comfort and add a little comic relief? I’m not partial to any one breed, but all my four-legged characters have their own distinct personalities.
In Victim of Desire, my heroine has a golden retriever named Daisy who’s afraid of the water and gets car sick. With my Class of ’85 Reunion stories, I created unforgettable canines who play a central roll to the story. In Lonely Road To You, Lucy is an Irish setter, cocker spaniel, poodle mix who sleeps on the furniture, loves road trips, and never listens to her owner. Trixie is a pint sized cairn terrier who terrorizes the heroine’s dates and eats her mail in Maybe This Time.
After All These Years features two dogs. Ace is a basset hound with one eye on his food bowl and the other on the wildlife in his backyard. Sasha is a well trained German shepherd dedicated to her young mistress. When her cosmetics company is consumed by a hostile takeover, my heroine takes inspiration from her pet and starts a dog treat business.
If you’re a dog lover, I guarantee you’ll find something to make you smile in these stories. For those of you with your own dogs, here’s a recipe they’ll adore.
Ginger’s Favorite Treats
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
1 ¼ cups grated cheddar cheese
1 stick softened butter or margarine
1 clove garlic finely chopped
Pinch of salt
¼ cup milk (approx.)
Preheat oven to 375°. Mix together all ingredients except milk. Add enough milk to form a ball. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll out dough on floured board and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Bake for 15 minutes.
Today I’m giving away a PDF copy of After All These Years. All you have to do is leave a comment to be eligible to win. Do you have a pet you adore? Let’s hear about them!
My books are all available through The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other online outlets. Find buy links on my website at www.janninegallant.com.
21 comments:
Hi Jannine,
This is an interesting concept having dogs as characters in your stories. I have to admit, I am not a pet lover, but the addition of a furry friend always seems to add charm to a story.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Jannine, from one dog lover to another!
I own an ex-racing greyhound who I'm absolutely besotted by. In fact, I'm heading off this weekend to 'market' the ex-racer at our annual A&P show as amazing pets. Should be a lot of fun!
In both of my books, I've featured a greyhound and the one I'm writing at the moment also features a dog, but this time its a border collie.
I truly don't mean to put them in there, they sneak themselves in when I'm not looking! : )
I love the addition of animals in stories. They are great fun in real life and our characters deserve to share the special love only a pet can bring too don't you think? : )
Jannine,
What a great idea with the dog treats! My doggies would love that! I have three and they make me smile everyday! All These Years sounds like my kinda book! Thanks for the post!
Hi Jannine, I'm also a pet lover but prefer the calmness of cats. We have two of our own and we're fostering a kitten for my son. He's away at college and will be out of the dorms in the fall, and he'll want his cat. I fear I'll miss little Grizzly. The other two cats will not miss him at all.
We have a budgie, Frosty, and while she's got lots of personality and loves to sing, she also bites. Hard.
Our six hens like to follow me around the yard, talking constantly, waiting for me to uncover a tasty bug. During the summer if I should sit for a minute, one of the ladies climbs onto my lap and falls asleep.
Thanks for stopping by, ladies.
LaVerne,
They really do sneak in - but make your story better for their presence. I haven't featured a grayhound - next time!
Grace/Lu,
We always had cats growing up. One of these days, I'll make it a dog AND a cat in my book!
I'm a cat girl, myself, but I always love pets in stories. In an ironic twist, they seem to humanize the characters.
We've just started fostering guide dog puppies and Zorro, our first lab/retriever pup, has already stolen our hearts.
I have a special affection for stories with pets and love the idea of Trixie the terrier terrorising the heroine's dates :)
Oh my goodness, Jannine, I have a Golden Retriever named Daisy in one of my books, but I wasn't copying you, I swear!
I love stories with animal characters--I think they add so much to the story. In real life, I have a senior dog named Leonardo and a younger pit bull, Iris, who is a real sweetie and puts the lie to the "meanness" of pit bulls!
I also have four cats. They told me to make sure they get a mention, too. LOL!
Jannine,
Always enjoy your stories. Always. The four legged addition to our family is a German Shepherd named Heidi my husband rescued a few years ago. Poor dear is going blind (has a degenerative disease Pannus, unique to her breed) and hates, but accepts, the eye cream necessary twice a day. Wish she could understand why we are doing that to her.
Hi, Jannine!
Yes, dogs rule! I love putting dogs in my books, too. And they are often the source of humor, plot twists, and lots of other stuff. :-)
My two papillons and my tiny Sheltie certainly rule the roost at my house. This windy morning is making them nervous, but normally they are not the stereotypical "nervous little dogs." LOL
Great post!
Regina duke
Whenever I can, I add a dog in my stories. I love dogs and they can add something to the character and to a scene.
Now I know how to attract attention to our blog - talk about pets! LOL I sure appreciate all the comments.
Tricia,
Fostering a guide puppy sounds like an awesome thing to do, but I don't know if I'd be able to give it up afterward!
Nona,
Pit bulls certainly aren't all mean. A neighbor a couple miles away had one that use to walk through the woods to our house just to play with our dog. They were great pals.
Margo,
I sympathize. I've gone through failing health with an old dog. It breaks your heart.
Regina,
Super windy in Tahoe this morning, too. Trees down all over. Ginger wanted to crawl into bed with us!
I'll add everyone to the drawing. Check back tomorrow when I'll post the winner.
Fun post, Jannine. I love dogs but strangely have not had one in any book. I've had a cat and a chipmunk. Our dog Rusty is part of our family. He's a bit quirky so I should add him to a story somewhere.
Great post. We have a cat, Jazzie Miles Davis, who stands by his feedbowl and opens and closes his mouth repeatedly until we feed him. He also has more followers on Twitter than Calvin...what can I say?
I always use a dog in my stories. And I have a wonderful history of beloved animals to use for inspiration! I love reading stories with any kind of animal!
Dogs are a special character for me. Who else is gonna sniff out the bad guys!! Good luck, loved the blog! And the dog biscuit recipe sounds so simple even I can do that! LOL!
I can see I'm going to have to write a cat - soon! They have so much character. I loved Max in the ghost story I posted earlier this month.
My daughter makes the dog treats, Mary, and Ginger stands in the kitchen barking for them. She may have begging issues...
Hi Janinne,
I have a Pug/Terrier cross named Lou. She's my sweetheart. Maybe I'll put her into one of my stories sometime!
Jana
Hi Janinne,
I love dogs and cats.
My Lynx likes to nap on my bed while I write. Great post!
Thanks to everyone who left comments. The winner of After All These Years is Georgie Lee! Congratulations, Georgie. I hope you enjoy it!
I will have to make these treats for our two chihuahuas and my jack russell. Well, of course my daughter and g-daughter's two mix breeds will get some as well.
I love pets in stories. I don't always get them in mine, but I enjoy stories that have them.
Wonderful post. I'm copying the recipe now.
Enjoy the recipe, Calisa. Well not you personally! LOL Warning - it may turn your dogs into beggers!
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