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  <name><![CDATA[Ilene Fine]]></name>
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    <about><![CDATA[Ilene Fine created Brandy and Val, Real Dogs with Real    Tales serendipitously.  She was inspired to create the books for a friend’s child who lives far away from her and the dogs.  Since she could not take them for a visit, this was her way of bringing them to him.  Ilene continues to be the pups’ entertainment committee providing them with exercise and play activities. Ilene has been tutor/mentoring inner city youths and adults for over 20 years and is involved with promoting adult literacy.  Along with Brandy and Val, she participates in pet therapy programs at schools and libraries.  Her entreprenurial spirit has guided her to this new and challenging career path.  In her spare time she enjoys making functional pottery.  <br/>]]></about>
    <age></age>
    <gender>female</gender>
    <location>Palatine, IL</location>
    <website><![CDATA[http://www.BrandyandVal.com]]></website>
    <joined>08/2009</joined>
    <last_active>12/2009</last_active>
    <interests><![CDATA[Pottery, tutor/mentoring, tennis, cooking]]></interests>
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      <update type="comment">
    <action_text><![CDATA[new comment from Ilene]]></action_text>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/244212-welcome-children-s-nonfiction-authors-and-readers</link>
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    <updated_at>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:47:25 -0800</updated_at>
        
      
          <body><![CDATA[I'd like to introduce you to the world of BRANDY AND VAL, REAL DOGS WITH REAL TALES--books that entertain and delight children through simple tales about my two shelter dogs.  Real, unstaged photos of the dogs in action and brightly colored pages captivate children’s attentions as they read about how the pups spend their day, what their favorite things are and how they were adopted. So, while they technically fall into the Non-Fiction category, especially the book about Brandy and Val's adoption called BRANDY AND VAL'S SPECIAL STORY, the other two stories are true but aren't quite that serious!   Children can interact with plush toys that look like Brandy and Val as they learn about topics like friendship, caring for pets and being a family among others.  Parents can feel good knowing they are helping animal rescues through their purchase of a Brandy and Val book and toy and they have a product their children will have fun playing with.  Visit our website at <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.BrandyandVal.com">http://www.BrandyandVal.com</a> and blog with us at <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.BrandyandVal.com/blog">http://www.BrandyandVal.com/blog</a><br/>]]></body>
        
    
  </update>  
      <update type="comment">
    <action_text><![CDATA[new comment from Ilene]]></action_text>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/243915-welcome-children-s-fiction-authors-and-readers</link>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1258849870p2/26989.jpg</image_url>
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  <id type="integer">2653555</id>
  <name>Ilene Fine</name>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2653555-ilene-fine</link>
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    <updated_at>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:42:53 -0800</updated_at>
        
      
          <body><![CDATA[I'd like to introduce you to BRANDY AND VAL, REAL DOGS WITH REAL TALES--they're fun stories that entertain and delight children through simple tales about my two shelter dogs.  So, they're not really fiction as we all know it, but the first two books, BRANDY AND VAL and BRANDY AND VAL'S FAVORITE THINGS don't fall into the serious, non-fiction category as we know it either.  Real, unstaged photos of the dogs in action and brightly colored pages captivate children’s attentions as they read about how the pups spend their day, what their favorite things are and how they were adopted.  Children can interact with plush toys that look like Brandy and Val as they learn about topics like friendship, caring for pets and being a family among others.  Parents can feel good knowing they are helping animal rescues through their purchase of a Brandy and Val book and toy and they have a product their children will have fun playing with.  Visit our website:  <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.BrandyandVal.com">http://www.BrandyandVal.com</a> and our blog at <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.BrandyandVal.com/blog">http://www.BrandyandVal.com/blog</a><br/>]]></body>
        
    
  </update>  
      <update type="comment">
    <action_text><![CDATA[new comment from Ilene]]></action_text>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/247373-introduce-yourself</link>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1258849870p2/26989.jpg</image_url>
    <actor>
  <id type="integer">2653555</id>
  <name>Ilene Fine</name>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1250917446p2/2653555.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2653555-ilene-fine</link>
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    <updated_at>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:37:54 -0800</updated_at>
        
      
          <body><![CDATA[Hi everyone!  I'm here to introduce my children's board books series BRANDY AND VAL, REAL DOGS WITH REAL TALES, books that entertain and delight children through simple tales about my two shelter dogs.  Real, unstaged photos of the dogs in action and brightly colored pages captivate children’s attentions as they read about how the pups spend their day, what their favorite things are and how they were adopted.  Children can interact with plush toys that look like Brandy and Val as they learn about topics like friendship, caring for pets and being a family among others.  Parents can feel good knowing they are helping animal rescues through their purchase of a Brandy and Val book and toy and they have a product their children will have fun playing with.  So, please check out my website (and blog) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.BrandyandVal.com">http://www.BrandyandVal.com</a> and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.BrandyandVal.com/blog">http://www.BrandyandVal.com/blog</a><br/>]]></body>
        
    
  </update>  
        <update type="comment">
    <action_text><![CDATA[new comment from Ilene]]></action_text>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/235519-adopting-and-caring-for-pets</link>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1182955129p2/188.jpg</image_url>
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    <updated_at>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:55:09 -0800</updated_at>
        
      
          <body><![CDATA[Great!  Thanks.  I will check it out.  I will be starting a blog soon and many of my posts will be advocating adopting shelter dogs/strays, etc. and caring for pets. I hope to discuss various books on the subject.   I will announce when it's up and running but it should be in the next week.  Keep checking my webiste:  <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.BrandyandVal.com">http://www.BrandyandVal.com</a> to see.  ]]></body>
        
    
  </update>  
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    <action_text><![CDATA[responded to an event]]></action_text>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/62011-easter-seals-holiday-book-fair-and-author-reading</link>
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    <updated_at>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:17:32 -0800</updated_at>
        
      
        
    
  </update>  
      <update type="chapter">
    <action_text><![CDATA[wrote a story]]></action_text>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/48266.Brandy_and_Val_two_very_fortunate_pooches?chapter=1</link>
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    <updated_at>Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:13:38 -0700</updated_at>
        
      
          <body><![CDATA[&quot;August 28 marks the 4th anniversary of one of the most devastating hurricanes this country has ever &quot;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/74564?chapter=1">...more</a>]]></body>
        
    
  </update>  
        <update type="chapter">
    <action_text><![CDATA[wrote a story]]></action_text>
    <link>http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/50053.Palatine_Resident_Becomes_Accidental_Author?chapter=1</link>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1250917446p2/2653555.jpg</image_url>
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    <updated_at>Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:27:19 -0700</updated_at>
        
      
          <body><![CDATA[&quot;Four years ago, Labrador Retriever Val joined the hundreds of Louisiana residents, animal and human &quot;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/78091?chapter=1">...more</a>]]></body>
        
    
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