Back in 2010, I was inspired by a very special golden retriever,
named Buddy, to describe his life as I knew it.
He wasn't the first dog that I had officially rescued, but in my adult
life, he was the first dog that my husband and I could call our own.
Shuffled within a variety of homes, we would be the last to adopt
this rambunctious, enthusiastic bubbling burst of energy and we were left to
figure out which training procedures worked best-a task that at first, proved
to be difficult.
Throughout time, with patience and practice, we grew to not only
understand the very things that made Buddy tick, but to love each and every
thing about him. We loved him as one
would love their own son, because he, in reality, was.
As many dog owners will agree, there is an unconditional,
unmatched, and incredible bond that exists between dog and human. This very bond with Buddy is the glue that
united our family and made us realize how important it is to adopt a dog.
As I wrote my first book about dogs and in general, called Finally Home: Lessons on Life from a Free-Spirited Dog, I realized just how many
lessons I did learn. Not just about what
to do and what not to do regarding training, but also about life.
There are things in life we often don't do. Perhaps it's because we're
too busy. Or, perhaps we simply
forget.
Silly things. Taking time
to play. Not worrying so much about
cleaning the house, instead, taking time to truly enjoy family. Not worrying about little things. Taking time to go for walks, enjoy the
outdoors, see things for more than a quick glance.
He taught us how important it is to adopt a dog, to rescue a dog
that no one wants, to love a dog that no one cares about. He taught us to continue rescuing dogs, even
though he's no longer here to meet them, play with them and cuddle up against
them.
Buddy, in his tiny runt-size retriever body reminded us of all
these things and that is what led me to write Finally Home. It is a book about Buddy, but it is also a
book about dogs in general as many dog owners have let me know that they can
relate.
After I finished writing it, Buddy signed it with his tiny paw
print, a black smudge that I'll cherish forever.
I then went on to write five more books about dogs, an
inspirational book and four thrillers.
I've listed them here along with their descriptions. Thanks so much for reading!
Paw Prints in the Sand
Love is a strong word signifying different things to different
people. It is the relationship between
man and woman, parent and child, siblings or friends. To many, it is the
soulful bond between dog and its human.
Chelsea and Anthony were elated when they adopted Sugar and Spice,
a male and a female retriever. The
shelter attendant assured them that the female had been spayed, but the male
needed to get neutered. When Sugar went
for a checkup, they discovered otherwise; Sugar was pregnant.
So, when Sugar actually gave birth, finding the perfect owner for
each puppy was arduous, but finding an owner for the last pup was downright
heart wrenching. The last pup had just
recovered from various health issues and had been nursed back to health by
Chelsea. She had been in her care for
six months--just enough time for Chelsea and her to form a powerful bond.
Alas, it was time to find the pup her forever home. Chelsea rejected many of the pursuers. None
were good enough.
But on that warm summer afternoon, the seemingly perfect couple
fit the bill. With tears in her eyes, Chelsea handed them the pup, the one she
loved as if it were her own daughter. The one she secretly named Foxy.
Two years later, she received a phone call from the veterinarian.
A loose dog was found and the microchip led them to Chelsea. It was only then
that she discovered Foxy hadn't been given a good home after all. They had unknowingly handed her to the owners
of a puppy mill.
As if a knife had been driven through her heart, Chelsea had a
choice to make. One that would make
things right, as they should've been from the beginning. One that would change
their lives forever.
A moving love story of sorts that demonstrates the unbreakable
bond and sustainable love between dogs
and humans.
*A portion of the proceeds will be donated to animal rescue.
The
game of life. It's a challenging one-- sometimes breeding days of triumph while
other times propagating feelings of despair.
Many
have found a way to enjoy a balance-- counting their blessings when times are
good and finding comfort with loved ones when the cards are stacked against
them.
Others
are not as fortunate, taking life's trials to heart, letting them fester into
the very depths of their soul, allowing tragedy to dig seemingly irreparable
trenches in their hearts.
What
they may not realize is that there is a way to tunnel themselves out and patch
those dark holes. The picture they've painted for themselves might appear dismal
and bleak, but if they make the choice to paint with a different brush, they
have the power to change their outlook--quite often with a little help.
You
often hear stories about how people rescue dogs, but quite often, it is the
opposite that is true. For Harrison Carter, his canvas couldn't have displayed
a more dreadful future, but that was about to turn around for him. He was about
to discover one of the best kept secrets for happiness. One he never thought
could...and would change his life forever. It just so happened that it involved
a four-legged creature with a furry coat and a fluffy tail.
A
Fictional Novella.
*A
portion of the proceeds will be donated to animal rescue.
"There is a time in everyone’s life
where they have been emotionally inspired or amazed by something that was
completely unexpected. Sometimes it is
so touching, that they want to share their experience with the world and tell
their story.
This
particular story is about a precious heart along with a free-spirited little
boy who owns that heart. This little boy
has expressive brown eyes, a beautiful smile, and golden brown coat that he
never takes off. He also has a huge pinkish-brown nose and four very fast
legs. His name is Buddy. He answers to
that…when he wants to."
Buddy
was a dog that no one wanted, yet he became one of the quirkiest, friendliest,
smartest and most cherished of dogs. The reader is not only drawn into the
book, but learns from the unfortunate mistakes of others and how to think
outside of the proverbial box. It gives the reader hope that if they are going
through a similar ordeal, they can also successfully overcome any related
obstacle.
If
you are looking for a great gift for both dog lovers and even non-dog lovers,
this book is perfect. Get ready to laugh a little and perhaps even shed a few
tears.
*A portion of the proceeds from the sale of "Finally
Home" will be donated to an animal rescue group.*
After the publication of "Finally
Home," Buddy was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Once the unthinkable happened and Buddy's
precious life was cut short, his family was left heartbroken and devastated.
At the same time, in another state, poor
economic conditions forced another family to give up their golden retriever.
As fate would have it, his name...was Buddy.
While they were mourning the loss of their
beloved dog, another dog was mourning the loss of his treasured family.
Brought together by misfortune, they entered
each other's lives to help put back together the pieces of their broken hearts.
This story is for both Buddys, producing the
subtitle "Buddys' Book."
*A portion of the proceeds from the sale of
this book will be donated to an animal rescue organization.
"Bark Out Loud" is a compilation of
motivational and thought-provoking quotes—some about dogs and some about life
in general—that have been inspired by my own dogs, as well as those that I've
met and those that I'll never have the opportunity to meet. Many of the quotes
are meant to motivate, some are meant to initiate a smile and others are simply
thoughts to ponder. All of the animal-related pictures in this book are either
of dogs or cats that we—or someone we know— had the opportunity to rescue. If
you enjoy goofy photographs of animals or pretty landscape pictures along with
uplifting words, then this book is for you!
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to
animal rescue organizations.
*Please note this is a short book under fifty
pages.
Are you a dog-lover? If so, you're not alone!
My Dog Does That! is a humorous, uplifting,
feel-good book about what all dog-lovers have in common: dogs and the reasons
that we love them.
Some days they make us laugh, other days they
make us crazy, but one thing is for certain; they do some interesting things
that non dog-lovers wouldn't understand.
Do you ever feel a bit awkward due to the
stunts that your dog has pulled? Do you ever feel as if you are the only one
whose dog embarrasses them at not-so-convenient times? How about those
wonderfully sweet and tender moments that you so badly want to brag about, but
are afraid others may not understand?
We dog-lovers can all relate to the everyday
occurrences when it comes to our furry friends because our dogs do that too!
Growing up with phobias that have terrified
him his entire life, Matt Brewer had finally made the decision to go to
counseling, seeking help once and for all.
He entrusted his emotions in the hands of
strangers and depended on them to help conquer his fear. What he did not count on was having his fears
become a distinct reality, leaving him fighting for his life and the lives of
those around him, including his girlfriend whom he intended to marry.
Tortured and bound, he comes face to face
with evil with no one to hear his screams.
Time is of the essence and it’s a literal race against the clock in
order to make it out alive.
*A portion of the proceeds from the sale of
this book will be donated to a dog rescue organization.
What if the life you were living was not the one you were meant to
live?
One man. One moment in time. One horrific night. That was all it
took.
Alexandra had married the man of her dreams and they had their
whole life ahead of them. They had a wonderful marriage, a beautiful house and
essentially they could not be happier. Things were falling into place as
intended, until one beautiful evening turned devastatingly tragic.
The catastrophic events that transpired ensured that none of their
lives would ever be the same. Faced with an impossible moral decision, Alex had
to make a choice that would come back to haunt her in years to come, once again
forcing her to tempt the hands of fate.
How does a random murder shatter the many lives of those within
the killer's path? How do you pick up the pieces of your life when unforeseen
circumstances alter your future forever?
Unwanted Dreams provides just the right amount of twists and
turns, leaving the reader in suspense, pondering the following question: How
strong is the bond that exists between families and how far would you be
willing to go to save your own?
*A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be
donated to a dog rescue organization.
Childhood rumors are often prevalent in a family-oriented
community. Some boast that they have
seen a UFO flying overhead while others claim to have witnessed a ghost soaring
through the trees. Some stories are so
believable that they trickle down from sibling to sibling, friend to friend;
creating a neighborhood buzz that lingers for years.
Ryan Sheffield’s neighborhood was no different. Though no one would admit it, adults and
children alike were freaked out by the eccentric woman who lived in the ghastly
corner house, but aside from that, his world as he knew it was an ordinary one.
Bizarre situations did not surface until Ryan began working at his
very first job. To his peers and
superiors, it was just a traditional office. To Ryan, it was much more than
that after a series of inexplicable occurrences haunted his every conscious
moment.
Through a bit of intense research, he uncovered the building’s
gruesome history and was led down its horrifying path. He opened the door to a hell he did not want
to live in and tried his best to avoid the evil that surrounded him. The truth revealed itself to him in more ways
than one; a truth he was better off not knowing and one that could essentially end
his life.
Jacqueline was invincible.
As a young teen, she knew what she wanted and how to achieve it. Even when she was framed and arrested for a
crime she didn’t commit, she managed to pick up the pieces of her life and move
forward.
In a world apart from hers, Montgomery Vendora carved himself a
life full of crime, deceiving those closest to him and taking chances without
regret. There would be no reason for
their lives to ever collide.
When a series of unfortunate incidents find their place in her
life, including accidentally stumbling upon incriminating key evidence,
Jacqueline’s world begins to crumble.
She is forced to avenge fate, playing a role she had never intended to
take part in, receiving help from an unexpected source.
A child should feel the safety of their parent's touch, the warmth
of their compassion and the benevolence of their soul. For Peyton Bishop, it
was quite the opposite. A victim of domestic abuse, Peyton, along with her
mother, Morgan lived under constant fear of her father.
When Morgan sustains an injury from one of the beatings, Peyton
needs to spend the night at her grandparents. As a method of enforcing her
silence, her father gets rid of her golden retriever, Teddy and makes her
believe it is her fault, showing her once again who is boss.
Once Morgan recovers, she promises that she will bring Peyton to
safety in hopes of living a normal life, but Peyton continues to suffer from
the sting of her father's words, an overwhelming guilt about losing Teddy.
A fictional story, centered around hope, love and loyalty between
a child and her dog, that depicts emotional scars left from child abuse.
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