Brooks' Books- How to Cause Mischief

Brooks here! I've got an awesome book for you today. It's not going to take you a long time to read. It's full of pictures of dogs doing lots of cute things. And, if you're a dog like me, you're going to learn something really valuable! How to cause mischief. What's not to love?

 Here's Mom with the review:










 One of the all-time cutest dogs in Blogville might also be one of the most mischievous. How do I know? Because he wrote the book! If you haven't yet read the book Mischief Master Class by Snoopy and Annette Vivian, then you should hurry right now and get a copy, because it's most likely the cutest book you'll ever read!

*Image courtesy of Snoopy's Dog Blog.

Snoopy (left) is a 2 year old Bearded Collie therapy dog and Master of Mischief. He wants all dogs to listen to that little voice, the Mischief Whsiperer, and to know that you don't have to grow out of mischief when you grow up.

Here are some of Snoopy's rules:

* Look cute when you get busted
* Hide the evidence
*Get a good accomplice




Snoopy even lined up help from his friends to tell their mischief tales
Freddy
Leroy and Sherman
Bert
Baily
Dakota
Sugar
Sampson
Daisy
Jasmine
and more!
And full disclosure, Kelly has a story in there too about her mischief chasing ducks, and there's even a story in there about my mom's black labs Topper and Chief and how they ate an entire chocolate cake and hid the evidence.

Full of 100 color photos of Snoopy and friends caught in the act! In the end, you get your own certificate of mischief! And, 50% of the proceeds of the book benefits therapy dogs.
Don't forget to check out Snoopy's Monday Mischief hop on his blog!

In honor of Snoopy's Mischief Master Class, leave a comment sharing something mischievous your dog's done!

*I was provided with a copy of the book for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Wednesday Pet Roundup- Two I Like, Two I Dont, and Two More

Wednesday Pet Roundup today is rounding up more great dog books! Today, I'd like to discuss Oprah's list of 17 Great Books for Dog Lovers.

Two Books on Oprah's List I Liked the Best:

* You Had Me At Woof by Julie Klam. Anyone who is involved in dog rescue, or has considered fostering a dog, must read this. Julie writes with such a wonderful friendly style, and she is so funny! Even if nothing happened, Ms. Klam could write about it in a way that makes it heartfelt and interesting to read. But plenty happens!

* Through a Dog's Eyes by Jennifer Arnold.  I think, when you get everything down to its basic elements, dogs just want to be understood. All dogs. The good dogs. The misbehaving dogs. The frightened dogs. And if we can understand them, then we can help them and give them what they need. Jennifer Arnold is one person who understands dogs. And, by reading her book, you'll begin to see through a dog's eyes, too. A must-read.





Two Books on Oprah's List I Didn't Agree With:

* I really wanted to like Katie up and Down the Hall by Glenn Paskin. The theme --a cocker spaniel uniting the multigenerational gang in her NYC apartment complex-- definitely appeals to me, but I just didn't feel it. The writing was stiff, reporter-like, and nothing seemed to happen. I skipped past pages of dog potty training and macaroni and cheese dinners trying to get to the good stuff. There was scenes of the devastating 9-11, but it still felt like just recounting the details.

* Nose Up, Eyes Down by Merill Markoe. I seem to remember that Ms. Markoe was a writer for David Letterman, and very funny. But I didn't enjoy her book. I never did relate to Jimmy the dog or Gil the man. Maybe it's more of a guy's book. I don't know. sorry. 








Two Books on Oprah's List I Haven't Read But Would Like To:

* The Dog Who Couldn't Stop Loving by Jeffrey Mousseaieff Masson.  I guess it's that picture that does it. And the title. A dog. A boy. Love. I'm there.

* Sophie by Emma Pearse. Oh my gosh, this little Australian cattle dog fell overboard, swam the Great Barrier Reef, and made her way in a wildlife reserve. She's had more adventures than I've ever dreamed of. I just hope it has a happy ending.








What about you? Which books on the list are your favorites? (See the complete list here) Which do you disagree with? Which would you add to her list, if you could?

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Brooks Books- A Fistful of Collars

Book:  A Fistful of Collars
by Spencer Quinn
Atria Books (c) 2012

BROOKS:  I LOVE Chet the dog, hero of A Fistful of Collars, fifth in the fabulous Chet and Bernie Mystery Series. Seriously, I wish Chet and I were bros. I want to tag along with him on all his adventures. For those of you who don't know, Chet is the canine partner of detective Bernie Little. Honestly, I don't know where Bernie would be without Chet. How could that mixed-up two-legger fight crime and find the bad guys without my boy Chet? Speaking of which, if you wonder what kind of dog Chet is, he's a mixed breed. I'd like to think he has a little golden retriever, like me, in him. That would just make him even more awesome!

I'm a huge fan of this series, and A Fistful of Collars is no exception. I hang on every word Chet barks. Yup, he's the narrator, and boy does he have a story to tell. So do yourself a favor and pick up A Fistful of Collars, and if you don't have the rest of the series, don't forget to get The Dog Who Knew Too Much, To Fetch a Thief, Thereby Hangs a Tail, and Dog On It as well! 

Me: A Fistful of Collars is like taking a wild, crazy romp with a dog you love, letting your dog take the lead and never knowing where he's going to take you! With Chet the Dog guiding (or dragging) you along, you are sure to be in for a little mystery, a little drama, and a fistful of fun!

Here's Brooks with the book, and his own fistful of collars.

Quinn's canine tone is spot on, with his engaging style grabs you and never lets go--kind of like Brooks and his tennis ball. In A Fistful of Collars, Bernie and Chet are hired to keep bad boy movie star, Thad Perry, out of trouble. Of course, nothing is as easy or obvious as it seems, and they're soon involved in a mystery that will leave you in suspense, while at the same time laughing out loud. For you cat lovers, there's even a cat, Brando, in the mix. Hmmm, do you think he's a good guy or a bad guy?

This book has everything going for it. I'm already sitting up and begging for the next book in the series.
Check out my review of the fourth in the series, The Dog Who Knew too Much.

Connect with Chet the Dog
Chet the Dog website
Chet the Dog on Facebook
Twitter @chetthedog





*Full disclosure: I was provided a review copy of this book. The opinions are 100% my own. 

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Brooks Books- Jimmy Mender and his Miracle Dog

This week is book review week, so please come back every day to read about another great dog or pet book! Today I'm reviewing Jimmy Mender and his Miracle Dog by Leland Dirks and Angelo Dirks. Read on for a chance to win a copy of your own!

 BROOKS: Miracle Dog? Now that's a dog I'd like to meet in real life! And that is what really drew me into this book. The best parts were about Phannie, the miracle dog. We first meet her when she's traipsing along the road, and she has someplace to go.

"Along a highway in northeastern Nevada, a sort of shadow moved. A dog with a purpose ran at night to avoid the heat of day. She knew where she was going. She just didn't know how long it would take to get there. 
         In the daytime, when she slept, she got glimpses of the man she was pursuing. She had to hurry."

 I like reading about other dogs, especially ones on a special mission. I won't tell you what Phannie's mission turns out to be, you'll have to read for yourself. But of course, true to dog nature, she ends up helping the man. Good dog!

ME: Leland's writing is strong and his imagination vivid in this engaging story of Paul Young and his trek of discovery. The story takes you along on a journey of love and loss that will tug at your heart. As always, Leland's at his best when describing man's relationship with dog. I love the protagonist Paul's intuitive connection with border collie Phannie.

A little adventure, a little magic, a little dog story, a little love, a little "what might have been"...Jimmy Mender and His Miracle Dog is a book you won't want to put down. You can get the book on Kindle or paperback on Amazon.

GIVEAWAY!!!  And now, here's a chance to win a copy of your own! Just leave a comment below answering the question: What is one miracle you'd like to see a dog perform? For extra entries, "like" Leland Dirks on FB, "like" my page on FB,  and if you haven't already, follow this blog. (leave an extra comment saying you've done so.) Contest winner will be selected by random draw. Sorry, U.S. residents only. Contest closes Tuesday 9/25. Winner announced on Wednesday Pet Roundup 9/26.

What is one miracle you'd like to see a dog perform?



*Full disclosure: I was provided a review copy of this book. The opinions are 100% my own.

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Brooks Books- Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service

Brooks here: Today I'm reviewing The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service by Beth Kendrick. (NAL Trade Paperback 2012) The best thing about this book is that there are a lot of dogs! And, a really kind woman who rescues dogs, hates puppy mills and helps us dogs find homes. Oh, and the dogs were naughty too. I like that! Now here's mom with some more.

* Read on for your chance to win a copy of the book!

Peggy: In the first chapter it seems like the main character, Lara, is making matches between men and women. Then we make the charming discovery that she is matching people with dogs. I thought this book would be mainly about the matches and the interesting people and dogs Lara puts together. It turns out, however, that there is not so much matchmaking as I thought. In fact, it seems she does more dog training than matchmaking. Even so, her situations are not only entertaining, but also contain some useful tips for pet parents.

Hey Brooks, I can read books too!

The book also deals with Lara's relationship with her detached mother--which felt genuine and touching-- and her boyfriend, who was frustrated by Lara's zealous overcommitment to dogs and rescue. My favorite scene was when her boyfriend did something unforgivable with her needy rescue dog's only toy, and Lara had to choose between her distraught rescue dog and the man in her life.


















I think you'll enjoy this book and cheer on Lara as she advocates for dogs everywhere!

Brooks gives The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service 4 out of 5 wags!

Okay, now for the giveaway! Leave a comment below telling about how you and your dog were matched up...or, if you prefer, what you think your perfect canine match would be. One winner will be selected at random, except where prohibited, and announced Friday. Contest open until Thursday 8/9/12 at 11:59pm. Good luck!

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How to Publish Your Dog's Story

So, your dog has a story to tell? Well you've come to the right place!
First of all, jump over to Kol's Notes today, where I have a guest post about How to Write Your Dog's Story. 
Then, check back here for tips on how to get that story published! Okay, ready?

How to Publish Your Dog's Story

1. Dog Magazines-  If you've written a shorter piece, try submitting it to a magazine such as Dog Fancy, Fido Friendly, or Modern Dog. Other consumer magazines love dog stories too. Many of my dog stories appear in Guideposts magazine, an inspirational magazine. Although many articles in magazines are staff written, usually they offer a column for readers' stories. BEST TIP: Study the magazines for style and themes of stories and make sure your story fits their needs. If they don't publish fiction, don't send them your short story. Follow the guidelines found on the magazines websites.

2. Contests- Many magazines also offer contests which will result in publication, such as AKC Family Dog's Fiction Contest.  BEST TIP: Don't jot off the most obvious idea, dig deeper to stand out.

3. Chicken Soup for the Soul- I have stories in dozens of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and they are always coming up with new titles, and need new stories! Check out the Chicken Soup for the Soul website to see what new books are coming out and if your dog story might fit. The submission process is right there online and couldn't be easier! BEST TIP: Tell a true story from the heart.

4. Traditional Book Publishing- If you've written a book length piece and want to get it published traditionally, you should first land an agent. Most larger publishers won't accept submissions without representation. BEST TIP: Build your platform before querying agents. Gather publishing credits in newspapers, magazines and online sites, build a large and active audience online, accept speaking engagements, etc.  Here's a great post from author Nathan Bransford on How to find a literary agent.

5. Self Publishing - Work with a self publishing company to produce your book. You retain control of what you want to say, and the process is much quicker than traditional publishing. This involves a cost to you, which ranges from affordable to thousands of dollars. Print on demand options may be less expensive. When your book is finished, you will still have to market and publicize it yourself in order to sell your book. BEST TIP: Be sure you understand all the financial small print before signing a self publishing deal.

6. e-books- Write your book in Microsoft Word or Pages for Mac, then format your book, create a cover, and upload to Kindle Direct Publishing. Okay, that makes it sound really simple, but it's a popular option. BEST TIP: If you're hopelessly lost at formatting, hire someone to do it for you.

So there you go! I hope I'll be reading YOUR dogs's stories soon!

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Brooks Books

Welcome to our new feature, Brooks Books--with comments from editor, Kelly. Brooks will be here regularly to tell you about dog and pet books, offer reviews and giveaways, and more.

Hi, Brooks here. Today I'm bringing you two great books, both by friends of my mom!

 Charlie Bear, What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught me About Life and Second Chances by B.J. Taylor. Mom and B.J. have written for Guideposts magazine together, isn't that cool? I haven't read this book yet, but Charlie Bear is a rescue dog just like me, so it has to be good! In this book you will learn lessons about life, loss, love and of course, how special dogs are to their people. Adopting a new dog is not always easy, but BJ says that Charlie Bear eventually "sheds his headstrong ways, becomes a loving member of a family."What a happy ending! Way to go BJ!

Here's a book that's not about dogs. It's about horses! The author is also a friend of mom's who has carved out quite a niche in the horse world. She's not only an avid horsewoman, but editor for a horse magazine too! If you love horses, check out Rain Shadow by Catherine Madera. Catherine says this is inspired, in part, by a true story, and is about the healing bond between humans and horses. Hey, I know all about that! We agree!  This is Catherine's second book. Her first is a YA novel, Rodeo Dreams.




 -------------------------
Don't forget my mom's books too...Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw (Inspiring Voices, 2012) and Dieting with my Dog (Hubble and Hattie, 2011)

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Dog Speak

For the best dog-human relationship, I want to understand what my dog is telling me. To do that, I need to understand her body language. I know when her tail's wagging and her body's relaxed, she's happy. When she lies on her back with her belly exposed she feels secure. I've seen her "play bow" when she wants to play.  But I'm only brushing the surface here.

That's why I was delighted to discover this gem of a book, Dog Speak by Christiane Blenski (ISBN 978-1-845843-84-7, $19.95 US/9.99 UK, published by Hubble & Hattie.) It couldn't have come at a more opportune time, as we've been introducing Kelly to potential new dogs and I want to understand how the two dogs get along together.

The book is divided into three sections: The Polite Dog, The Aggressive Dog, The Talking Dog. Each page is full of excellent photographs of dogs reacting and interacting together to illustrate the points. I enjoyed the first section about the greeting ritual.
When a dog sees another dog, he it may sprint toward the stranger.
Then, a polite dog will approach diagonally and walk around the side, not head-on.
Then the dogs will walk around, sniff, strut, attempt to place his head on the other dog's back, etc.
During this ritual, the book suggests that the people not stare, call their dog or interfere so that the dogs can go through this ritual undisturbed.
If both dogs have decided that they like each other, you will see their bodies relax, tails wag, ears back and eyes moving side to side.
I learned more about how to tell if dogs like each other, dislike each other or are just disinterested.

One of the most common mistakes when trying to understand "dog talk" is anthropomorphism, or assuming they feel the same way as people do. When you read this book you'll get a much better understanding of what is really going on in various situations by the way the dog is holding her ears, tail, her facial expressions, whether she is panting or barking, etc. 

Dog Speak goes beyond the basics and gives you a deep-down understanding. There are sections for dogs and dogs, dogs and people, puppies and older dogs, and problem solving. This is an extremely helpful book, written in a fun, clear way. It will help you understand not only what your dog is saying, but also ways to respond in ways that will help your dog, and strengthen your bond.

I was provided with a copy of Dog Speak for review, but the opinions are 100% my own.

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Wednesday Pet Roundup

*Your dog could be on the cover of an Orvis catalog! Got a great photo? Enter the contest for cover dog. Since it is a fishing/sporting catalog, I entered this photo. Also, there is still time to enter the AAA Pet Book Photo Contest.

*Feeling a little down about your training routine with your dog? Get a new perspective with this post on Something Wagging this Way Comes.

* Kelly Preston and her dog Mr. MaGoo are doing something really special with her book, Real Dogs Don't Whisper (April 15, Kelly Preston).  A portion of the proceeds go to support FACE Foundation, an organization that helps assist in the cost of veterinary care to families in need. Bravo Kelly! Be sure to check out her book about her lovable family of high-need dogs: 2 Lhasa Apsos, a cocker spaniel and a little mixed breed.

* And now, the winner of OINK by Matt Whyman, chosen by random draw: Caroline Coleman of The Doggy Diary who suggested the names Pearl and Henry.  Congratulations Caroline! Please contact me with your mailing address and I will send out the book! Other great piggy names suggested were:
Benny and Lily
Wilbur
Frick and Frack
Pigsley Addams
Priscilla and Peter

* Weight Loss with a Wag Book Tour Stop today: Today we have TWO stops! First, adorable little Pip has a few questions about keeping fit for senior dogs.  And, Coffee with a Canine catches up from our last coffee (diet coke) break, with an update! 

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