THE DOGS
I'm often asked if the dogs in my stories are "real." Yes, they are very real and all hold a special place in my heart. I love dogs...love how forgiving they are, how they ask so little of us, and how they really only want to please us. I've watched my kids grow up with dogs and watched how, at times, the dog was the one they turned to in times of sadness, joy, confusion, and stress. A dog doesn't judge, just accepts. My only regret with having dogs as a part of the family is that they leave us all too soon. The heartache is almost unbearable when that day comes. But, knowing my dogs, they would never want us to cry over them, just to remember the happiness and the joy they brought.
Read below to meet the dogs that have starred in my books. Be sure to check back as I update with more stories!
RigiRigi makes her debut in Misty Lake as Sam's faithful companion. Our Rigi is much like Sam's Rigi. She, too, is named after a mountain in Switzerland because, as is the case in Misty Lake, as a puppy barely able to navigate the grass, she tried to scale the biggest rock in the yard. Rigi is a joy...spoiled beyond belief as she's been my constant companion as I deal with both kids being away at college, but a sweet, charming, if slightly demanding, friend. She loves to go on walks, chase birds, run and dig in the snow, and, above all, play in the water.
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GustoIn Book Two of the Misty Lake Series, The Inn at Misty Lake, Susan finds a Black Lab puppy on her property. Alone, dirty, and hungry, he eventually finds a home with Susan. Our Gusto joined our family in much same way after my parents found him wandering near their lake home. Gusto was just that—a bundle of energy. Gusto's favorite activities were playing hide and seek with the kids, fetching until he simply couldn't run any farther, and, "hunting" under the deck with my then three-year-old son.
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TrixieIn Misty Lake in Focus, Cassie finds a friend in Trixie when she needs one the most. Trixie is a quirky, energetic Lhasa Apso that keeps Cassie–as well as everyone else who meets the dog—entertained. Trixie was my dog when I was growing up. She was much like Cassie’s Trixie in that she was able to convince us to let her do whatever she wanted, she never learned not to chase cars (even after being hit by one), and she loved to sing! She slept curled up in my bed every night until I left for college, she drank the milk from my cereal every morning, and she was my best friend until I had to say goodbye to her after sixteen years.
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JaggerWhen Cort comes to Misty Lake, his Golden Retriever, Jagger, comes with him. Somewhat to the surprise and disappointment of my kids, it took me until book four, Anchored in Misty Lake, to write about Jagger. While they were eager to read about her, I found it too hard to write about her. Jagger was the dog the kids grew up with, the dog who entertained, comforted, and made our lives complete. We lost Jagger too soon and too quickly, just a week after learning she was sick with leukemia. The grief was crippling as we were in no way prepared to lose our heart and soul. The vet explained some dogs do a good job of hiding their discomfort and pain, almost as if they don’t want to trouble or upset their family. That was Jagger. She loved belly rubs, was a master at sneaking onto someone’s bed during the night, took the responsibility of watching for strangers on “her” path behind our house very seriously, and left an impossible void. We miss her every day.
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PeppyMy brother and I were very young when Peppy joined our family. I don't think our parents were prepared for the bundle of energy that was the supposed sweet, little cockapoo. Yes, Peppy chewed our clothes. Yes, Peppy found ways out of the fenced yard to terrorize the neighborhood. Yes, Peppy bit my brother who promptly bit him back. But yes, we loved Peppy. As does Dylan in Sunset Over Misty Lake. Dylan can't get enough of the rambunctious pup so it appears just as many adventures are headed Joe and Karen's way as were headed our way when a mass of brown and black curls with an attitude joins the family!
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Ace and IndieAce and Indie belong to my son and daughter-in-law. They first adopted Ace (lighter colored dog), who'd had a rough start to life. From the time they brought him home, he was very sweet, but couldn't handle being left alone. He got out of padlocked crates, he escaped their apartment (by opening the locked door and making his way to the apartment lobby), and he barked and cried when left alone. I guess being abandoned will do that do a dog. They decided Ace needed a companion. Enter Indie. She was also rescued from a shelter after being surrendered twice. It took a while for Indie to learn how to interact and how to relate to other dogs, but she's the sweetest, cuddliest dog who likes nothing better than to be snuggled up next to someone. The two are a team. Like Ace and Indie in Finding Home, these two chase and torment one another, they can look and act intimidating, but they have so much love to give! Oh, and yes, the real Ace hasn't met a cupboard he can't get into...he did eat an entire pan of brownies!
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