Animals in Books

I never had a dog until after I was married because no one was ever home to take care of one. I did have rabbits, baby chicks, fish, and a turtle. When our girls were little, we picked Archimedes out of a litter of pups, an adorable Schnauzer we called Archie. Since then I met Abby, another Schnauzer, who had been a show dog, but we lost her too soon from giardia. After that, my husband said no more dogs because it was too hard losing them. A few years later, daughter Carla went to Oakland to see a cat she’d seen advertised, instead came home with Shilo. She asked us to take her because she had several cats. Cliff said no but eventually he came around. That was seven years ago. Who could resist this cutie?

I love books with animals, particular horses and dogs, but seldom have I seen dogs in mysteries that aren’t cozies, except for police dogs. I introduced Niki, a chocolate lab, in Sour Grapes, the second book in my Shakespeare in the Vineyard series, at the suggestion of my niece’s husband who in real life owns Niki. I’m happy to say book three, Vineyard Prey, will be released October 21, and on the cover is Niki. I suggested he be there because he discovers a crucial piece of evidence, although some readers might think this book is a cozy. Take a look. . .

I wrote a short cozy last year as part of an anthology, called The Glass Birdhouse. That dog’s purpose was to notify neighbors that there had been a murder. Dogs add a soft touch to a story of murder and mayhem and to some characters’ hardened demeanor.

Comments

[Michael A. Black]

It looks like Shilo's ready to get to work proofreading your work, Carole. She's a cutie, all right.

[Michael A. Black]

It looks like Shilo's ready to get to work proofreading your work, Carole. She's a cutie, all right.