Friday, January 22, 2010

Life with McDuff Book Club

I'm looking forward to the first meeting of the book club in which Life with McDuff: Lessons Learned from a Therapy Dog will be the first featured book. The Club was organized by Linda Smith and consists of Courtroom Clerks from the Clerk's Office of the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. I retired my position as Courtroom Clerk in December of 2006 to write Life with McDuff. Many of my colleagues supported and encouraged me throughout the writing process. My book launch in November was a joyous occasion shared by many friends and former colleagues. Writing is a lonely process. It helps to stay connected to positive people during the years it takes to write and publish a book.

I appreciate the fantastic feedback I've received from readers of the book. It's nice to know that Life with McDuff has touched so many people. Foreign independent bookstores worldwide have picked it up. It is one of the Top 5 Domestic & Pet Books at Borders in Melbourne, Australia, and a Featured Book at Borders.com in the United States.

Yoko of Tokyo, Japan comment after reading: "As I read page after page, I realize that the difference in nationality doesn’t matter, only individuals. I’ve learned a lot from Life with McDuff because I found a lot of common things in the story with only exception that I’ve never met a therapy dog or animals. The McDuff story is impressive, encouraging and inspiring!!"

McDuff is "still on the job."

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Judy and McDuff: Soul Mates

My story entered in the Angel Animal Network "Dogs and Women Who Love Them" True Story Contest was one of the second place winners chosen by Allen and Linda Anderson. The Grand Prize Winner was "K-9 Major, Unchained Fury" by Marilyn Walton. The other second place winners were "The Blessing of a Wheelchair-Bound Dachshund" by Barbara Techel; "Working Girl" by Teresa Ambord; "Euri, The Miracle Worker" by Bobbi Leder; "Buddha Boom!" by Sage Lewis; and "Miguel's Legacy" by Rosanne Nordstrom. It's an honor for "Judy and McDuff: Soul Mates" to be included in this winning group.