Gayle Irwin's Blog, page 2

Embrace Change – Growing Through Seasons

One constant in nature’s seasons is change, at least in the area where I live. Photo credit: Unsplash

As I walked along the river with my dog, Jeremiah, I noticed the changing leaves of many cottonwood trees. Green, yellow, gold – varying shades of color dotted the walkway and the shrubs near the riverbanks. Autumn loomed. Change was on the horizon.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is noted for saying, “Change is the only constant in life.” How true those words! The past 18 months have been flooded with change, from mask-wearing to job loss, shuttered businesses to major natural disasters. But change doesn’t have to always be negative. Attending college, workshops, webinars, and classes increase our knowledge and abilities. Dating can lead to true love and marriage. Starting a business provides thrill and satisfaction as well as independence and employment for others, which in turn, benefits communities and economies. Even small, seemingly mundane changes, such as buying a home, taking a vacation, adopting a pet, can bring joy to the one making that change.

Jeremiah enjoys walking in the woods and around the neighborhood, no matter what season of the year it is. Photo credit: G Irwin

Just as seasons change, from summer to autumn, fall to winter, snow-laden months to a warmer, flower-bearing season, and from spring to summer again, we also have our seasons, and each one helps us grow. Change helps us grow.

I’ve experienced sorrow and loss recently, and I know more lies ahead. One cannot be an ostrich with its head in the sand – as older age comes upon the body, changes will take place, not only in our bodies, but in those of family and friends. Loss and sorrow are inevitable, but they seem to come more quickly as a person gets older. Sadly, sometimes the loss is not just our older family members, but also our friends, people our age and even younger. We need to grieve but not get stuck.

Change happens – embrace it. Photo credit: GIrwin

Some change we can anticipate. For example, I’m planning for my retirement from the ‘day-job’ in about 18 months as I look to make writing my full-time occupation. I have new books in the works for 2022 and I’ve lined up additional magazines in which to submit articles. I’ve paid off my car and am on track to complete other debts before next fall. I’ve also signed up for classes and workshops in order to learn more about operating a small business. Even though anything can happen in 18 months, I’m on track to fulfill my goal — an anticipated (and joyful!) change.

Just as autumn brings cooler temperatures and winter leads to snow, so will those seasons pass, and the warmth of spring and the joy of summer sunshine will again come around. Sorrow will give way to acceptance and one day joy will be experienced again. But, just as time is needed for leaves to turn golden in autumn and for flowers to appear from dormancy in spring, our life-seasons also need time.

Embrace change – grow through the season you are in and those you will face in the future. Each season has a beauty of its own.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.comPet Principle

Four elderly animals live in my house (the youngest turns 8 in a few weeks). Our pets change as they age, from playful, sometimes annoying, kittens and puppies to frustrating teen antics and then more mature adults to the slower, oftentimes health-challenging elder. We as pet parents need to be prepared for each season and the changes that come with those seasons in our pets’ lives.

Two good resources for caring for pets at their various life stages are Petfinder and the ASPCA.

Petfinder not only helps people find a perfect pet to adopt (that’s how I discovered Jeremiah), but also provides resources on animal care, from dogs and cats to rabbits and birds. Check out their helpful information here:

https://www.petfinder.com/pet-care/

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is another great go-to resource. Besides pet care information, the ASPCA offers advice on cutting the cost of pet health care and being prepared for an emergency. Find their helpful articles and guides here:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care

Speaking of guides, if you or someone you know has a dog that is blind or is going blind due to cataracts, diabetes, or a genetic disease like Progressive Retinal Atrophy, I offer a Kindle book based on my own experiences living with a blind dog. At only $1.99, this helpful guide provides tips and shares stories about helping your pet (and yourself) adjust to the change, going from sighted to blind.

Download a copy of Help! My Dog is Going Blind – Now What Do I Do? here: https://bit.ly/3l6DNju_BlindDogGuide

Short Stories Can Make Big Impacts

Writers and readers come together through stories. Photo credit: Unsplash

When Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen developed the idea of a book of short stories during the early 1990s in an analogy they called Chicken Soup for the Soul, they were turned down by publishers more than 140 times. Most said such a collection wouldn’t sell. Now, nearly 30 years later, the company continues to produce best-selling books with uplifting, humorous, and heart-felt stories that entertain and inspire.

I recently submitted a story about my shih tzu, Jeremiah, for a 2022 Chicken Soup compilation about dogs. If accepted, that will be my eighth story published in one of the company’s books.

I’m also blessed to be part of recently released anthology about animals. The Animals in Our Lives: Stories of Companionship and Awe is published by Cladach Publishing, the same company that edited and published my book Walking in Trust: Lessons Learned With My Blind Dog. Animals, whether dogs, cats, horses, livestock, or wildlife, can and do impact our lives, and short stories, whether about creatures or something else, can also make big impacts on those who read them.

Newly-released collection of stories about how animals impact people.
Photo credit: Cladach Publishing

Years ago, a friend of mine wrote and published a collection of short stories. Cowboys and East Indians, created by Nina McConigley, took time to sell to an agent and even longer to find a publisher. Like Canfield and Hansen, Nina and her agent were told “Short story collections don’t sell.” Not only did her book sell, but she also received the National PEN Open Book Award for her collection.

I enjoy writing short stories. Whether as part of a collection like Chicken Soup for the Soul or The Animals in Our Lives, or a magazine or newspaper article, these 2,000 words or less creations often educate and inspire readers. In an age where attention spans are short thanks to instant everything (from coffee to news), a writer can succinctly tell an amazing story and have an audience who will read it.

If you’re a writer, don’t negate the power of the short story. Through magazines, blog posts, newspaper articles, anthologies, and other outlets, you can find ways to share special stories that aren’t novels or memoirs. And you will have an audience for those works.

As a reader, you can find short story collections online, at your library, or in your local bookstore. From poetry collections to story anthologies and works of non-fiction, there are a plethora of incredible short writings. Absorb. Be encouraged, inspired, and educated. Smile. Enjoy.

My short story about America’s national parks appears in this edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Photo credit: Amazon.com

Here are links to two short stories/articles I’ve written should you like to read them:

“National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: https://www.chickensoup.com/book-story/195446/29-national-parks-america-s-best-idea

“Bison Return: Shoshone Tribe Works to Bring Back Iconic Species,” WREN Magazine:

https://www.wyomingrea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/0519-WREN_web.pdf

Pet Principle

August 23 was International Blind Dog Day. What has that to do with short stories? Well, just as publishers often shy away from publishing collections (as in the case with my friend Nina and the creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul), people often shy away from animals perceived as ‘not perfect,’ those with health issues like diabetes, those without all four limbs, those which are deaf or blind. International Blind Dog Day highlights the joy and ABILITY of blind dogs. When my husband and I learned our springer spaniel, Sage, would completely lose her eyesight due to a genetic disease called Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), some friends asked, “Well, you’re going to euthanize her, aren’t you? What good is a blind dog?” Sage’s ‘goodness’ showed throughout her life. Her sweet demeanor, her affection toward people, and her courage to continue running through the backyard chasing squirrels or exploring wooded trails with us showcased ‘disability doesn’t mean inability,’ in either pets or people. I am grateful for the 10+ years Sage graced our home because she also graced our lives … and taught us, and others, countless life and faith lessons.

My blind dog Sage positively impacted my life and the lives of many others, including school children. The many lessons she taught are reflected in this book, published by Cladach Publishing of Colorado.
Photo credit: Cladach

Don’t shy from the opportunity to adopt an animal others consider ‘less than’ – because they aren’t. Blind and other health-challenged animals are also worthy of love, affection, and opportunities, just like their human counterparts.

Sage and Gayle visiting a Wyoming classroom. Photo credit: G. Irwin

Learning and Growing as a Writer (or in Any Profession or Hobby)

Photo credit: Newsweek

If you’ve watched NCIS: New Orleans, especially the early seasons of the 7-year-run of that CBS procedural series, you’ve heard Special Agent Dwayne Pride tell his team “Go – learn things.”

Old or young, professional baseball player or restaurant server, a person can improve themselves by learning.

I’ve been a writer for more than 30 years; I’ve learned much during those decades. Now that I’m also an author, I continue learning, whether the craft or book marketing techniques. A writer learns from other writers, from editors, and from publishers. That education improves our skills, and such improvements benefit our readers.

There are many ways writers and authors learn.

Critique Groups

I take part in two different writers’ groups in my community. Each meets once a month. We share our current work in progress and provide feedback on other writers’ works. We do so in encouraging and constructive ways, not with visceral words or attitudes.

Some writers use online groups to receive feedback on their work. Either way, participating in a writers’ community helps you grow in your craft and discover how people react to your creations.

Some writer friends and I occasionally gather at my mountain property for a half-day retreat. We meet monthly to help one another with our works and words. Photo credit: Gayle IrwinWorkshops

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many writers’ workshops and classes were held in person, either in a special location (think ‘retreat’) or through a college, university, or special writer’s organization. After COVID hit, a new version of these courses came to light: the Zoom webinar. Many authors, publishers, editors, and organizations began providing online writing sessions, often for free or a reduced cost. That type of class continues.

I recently participated in a book marketing workshop that cost only $19, and I signed up for a 5-day Author Challenge that cost ZERO DOLLARS! We are blessed to be living in an age of strong technology, for we can watch such educational sessions online live or view the recorded sessions later (sometimes however, the upgrade to watching recorded sessions costs money, which can be minimal or spendy, depending on the WHO that’s offering the course).

Conferences

As with writing workshops, writers’ conferences went to an online platform (or cancelled) in 2020. Zoom provides the opportunity for writers to attend full conferences from the comfort of their home, saving a great deal of money because one doesn’t have to travel. Recently, Flourish Writers served up a 3-day online conference, and earlier this year, Women in Publishing did the same. So did Inkers Con and West Coast Christian Writers (I signed up for all four).

Several upcoming conferences are virtual this year, too, including the Colorado Christian Writers’ Conference, which takes place online the last weekend of August 2021. Write on the Sound, generally held live in Edmond, Washington, will also be online this year as it was in 2020; it takes place in early October.

Writers’ conferences are great for several reasons, including: (1) to learn more about the craft of writing; (2) to learn book marketing techniques; and (3) to interact with and meet agents and editors, possibly pitching your work and landing a contract. You also get to network with other writers, which can build your confidence, add to your skills, and create bonds of friendship.

Developing friendships with like-minded people benefits us in many ways.
Photo credit: UnsplashFacebook Groups

Facebook groups have grown in popularity. Spending time with like-minded people online also provides benefits. There are many different readers and writers Facebook Groups; I belong to six. These don’t have to be all about writing either. If you have a dog, for example, you can engage with other dog-lovers. Maybe it’s woodworking or photography, baking or scrapbooking. There can be groups with similar interests in your community or online. You can even make your own Facebook Group for special interests or based upon your work as a writer. Being in community with others helps us all grow in various ways.

Reading

To be a good writer, you must also be an avid reader. Read books in and outside your genre and read books about the craft of writing. Blogs and articles are other opportunities to help you grow as an author or freelance writer. The blog on Reedsy.com and Jane Friedman’s blog are great places to start, as well as the articles published on WritersDigest.com. All three also offer classes – many of those on Reedsy are free.

Whether a profession, from attorney to writer, or a passion, from fly-fishing to woodworking, learning improves our skills. So, “Go – learn things!”

Pet Principle:

Our beloved animals can also learn. Whether obedience commands, fetch, or agility, our dogs and cats (and other animals) can be taught. Some are quite intelligent. I once learned of a border collie who learned more than 1,000 words. I’ve also heard of cats participating in agility. And some people teach rabbits to use a litter box.

Photo Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HfJB...

We can also learn from our pets. I’ve written a few devotion books about the life and faith lessons I’ve learned from my dogs, including my blind dog named Sage. Some of those lessons include courage, perseverance, trust, and joy. If our hearts are open to education by animal, we will discover a treasure-trove of learning opportunities that can change and re-charge our lives.

Side Note:

I’m blessed to have two of my pet stories as part of a forthcoming book, The Animals In Our Lives: Stories of Companionship and Awe. The anthology, a collection of 43 short stories from various authors,releases August 20, and highlights animals, wild and domestic, that have positively impacted the story writers. This anthology is available from Amazon here: https://bit.ly/2WvhY4B_AnimalsinLives_Print.

The short story collection releases August 20, 2021.

Collaborations and Partnerships With Other Writers

One of the best things about being an author is the opportunity to meet other writers. Whether through social media or in-person events, the ability to network, engage, and learn provides growth and friendship. Sometimes those connections even lead to collaboration, even partnership, in projects.

I belong to two local writer’s groups; we meet monthly to share our work, to encourage and critique, and to learn from one another. Through these sessions, I’ve grown as a writer and been encouraged to continue in my craft. I’ve also conducted booksignings with several of these Casper writers, and we’re looking to do more together soon.

Earlier this summer, I traveled to Deadwood, South Dakota, to attend Wild Deadwood Reads. I met people in person I’d only met online during the past year, and I made connections with three Wyoming writers I’d never met before. We’ve become friends and with at least one, possibly two, we may look to share booksignings in the state together, if not this year, then next.

About three years ago, I met another romance author online; in December 2019, we gathered in person, sharing coffee, ideas, and books. Her name is Casey Peeler, and since that in-person meeting, we’ve collaborated on an author video and read more of each other’s work and shared those stories with people. Now, we’re embarking upon a collaboration with other romance authors on a project bringing books and beauty to others. Hardcover Therapy is a membership project that launches in October. Anyone who would like to receive new romance book and some beauty products every month can sign up.

If you’re looking for a fun, new take on books and would like to pamper yourself a little bit each month, Hardcover Therapy is for you! Each month we will feature a romance author with a paperback, two products that go along with the story, and a surprise item. You’ll also receive membership to a Facebook community to talk each day about books & beauty!

More than 20 authors, including Casey and me, have committed. Each box is valued at more than $110, and the focus of the books are clean and wholesome, sweet, small town romance. Membership is limited to 100 individuals at launch, and all profits will go to the Nourish the Children Foundation.

If this sounds like your jam, jump onto the list by Friday, July 30, 2021! Full details will hit your inbox August 2, 2021. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/fwct6NBkHi2vmvyc9.

Joining other authors at in-person or online events, for projects like Hardcover Therapy, or to simply encourage and help one another is a joy and honor.

I’m also excited to be a part of an upcoming anthology developed by Catherine Lawton at Cladach Publishing. The Animals in Our Lives: Stories of Companionship and Awe releases next month. Within the pages, readers will find 44 short stories from various writers about animals that impacted them. These include pets, farm animals, and wild animals. The book is currently on pre-order; find more information about this compilation as well as the opportunity to pre-order here: https://bit.ly/2WvhY4B_AnimalsinLives_Print.

Collaboration and partnerships among writers provides readers the opportunity to be introduced to different authors and for those authors to meet new readers. I hope you will take time to get to know Casey Peeler, Catherine Lawton, and the other writers featured in The Animals in Our Lives book, and that you will consider joining Hardcover Therapy and ordering The Animals … book. Reading sweet and inspiring stories brings a calm to one’s life and a smile to one’s face – and don’t we need those things in our lives?

Happy reading!

Pet Principle

Pets are partners in life. Their loyalty, devotion, and companionship enrich our lives. That’s why many authors write about pets; that’s one reason I do. In a way, animals collaborate with authors and other writers (for example, those that write animal stories for magazines). If you haven’t experienced the joy of sharing life with a dog, cat, hamster, rabbit, or other animal, I hope you will consider adopting a pet. Or, if some time has passed since you did share life with a beloved companion animal, consider adopting again soon. More than 800,000 dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs, and other companion animals are still euthanized every year in the United States due to lack of adoptions at animal shelters and humane societies, and most of these are healthy and of good behavior. You can save a life (or two!) by adopting a pet from a rescue, animal shelter, or humane society. Check out Petfinder to find your next loyal animal companion! https://www.petfinder.com/

Gayle and her rescued shih tzu, Jeremiah, a former puppy mill dog.

Finding Inspiration in ‘The Last Best Place’

Sunrays after rainstorm near Reedpoint, Montana, along I-90. Gayle Irwin photo.

As I drove Interstate 90 west past Billings toward Bozeman, a major rainstorm formed over the highway. Drenching rain poured across the pavement and upon the nearby fields and hillsides. The gusher lasted less than 10 minutes. As I rounded a curve in the road, I glanced in my rearview and side mirrors and gaped. A jaw-dropping bright, large rainbow filled my sight-path. I felt as though this stunning sight welcomed me home.

Nearly 14 years of my younger life was spent in Montana, affectionately know as ‘The Big Sky State.’ About 560 miles from east to west, the state boasts mountains, forests, hills, and plains. It is home for numerous wildlife species, including many large mammals such as elk, moose, bighorn sheep, cougars, and wolves. Montana’s history includes travels by Lewis and Clark, paintings by the western artist Charlie Russell, and multiple Native American cultures including the Blackfeet, Salish, and Crow. The Nez Perce traveled through Montana during their flight toward Canada in 1877, and Custer had his last stand near the Little Bighorn River the year before. From bison jumps created by Natives to copper king mansions such as the Daly in Hamilton, history abounds in this state … so does spectacular scenery.

Rainbow along I-90 near Reedpoint, Montana, June 2021. Gayle Irwin photo.The Last Best Place

History and scenery draw people to Montana, which has also been termed ‘The Last Best Place.’ According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montana’s population has increased from about 887,000 in the year 2000 to more than 1 million in 2020. Needless to say, the state has been ‘discovered’ by this generation’s Lewises and Clarks.

Lakes, rivers, and streams beckon boaters and fisherpersons. Wilderness areas call to backpackers, and forest trails whisper to hikers and horseback riders. Montana is home to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks as well as numerous state parks, all of which are experiencing significant visitor numbers this year. The opportunity to see mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black and grizzly bears, elk, and moose abound in these and other places of the state, and numerous types of birds, despite their shrinking numbers in the past five decades, claim the grasslands and prairies of eastern Montana. Wildlife watching and nature photography opportunities abound in the Last Best Place.

Bighorn sheep with lamb in western Montana. Gayle Irwin photo.

I took such occasions several times. My heart ballooned with joy as I returned to places where I once lived and snapped several photos during my 10-day stay. I reconnected with people I had not seen in years, including former colleagues and fellow writers. I conducted two booksignings to benefit Montana pet rescue groups, and as I drove through areas that once sparked my creativity as a journalist and freelance writer, I again found inspiration. New stories have taken root in my head and heart to add to my collection of articles and books.

A Lady Called Montana

I set my Pet Rescue Romance books in this area. During last month’s trip, I gazed upon mountains I patterned in Rescue Road and My Montana Love, and I felt the same sense of joy when I lived near Bozeman and West Yellowstone. I watched horses in green pastures graze and run, and I remembered writing similar scenes in My Montana Love. I may no longer live in Montana, but as my singer/songwriter friend Rob Quist sings in his ballad A Lady Called Montana,  “… she’s a lady called Montana … she keeps calling me back home … for this lady called Montana, she’ll steal your heart away.”

Whether you can or can’t visit this majestic place, you will find vivid descriptions of Montana in my books Rescue Road and My Montana Love. Here is an excerpt from Rescue Road:

Rhiann stood on the porch of the mid-century ranch house. Cup of coffee in hand, she watched the blazing orange sunrise. Streamers of light cascaded on the mountains west of the property, casting a rosy glow on the rocks and patches of snow upon the higher elevation. October’s morning danced with the browning grasses of the nearby pastures as touches of frost shimmered upon tan sprigs surrounding the house. Overhead, a flock of Canada geese in traditional V formation honked as they winged their way south.

Rhiann observed them and whispered, “We have something in common. We’re starting over.”

Her body shivered, from autumn’s chill coupled with a wave of nervousness. She sighed as her gaze returned to her surroundings.

 “Sure wish you were here, Grams,” she said, her voice still low. “This was our dream, to come here together and to make the sanctuary a reality. Now, it’s just me, starting over again.”

Bridger Mountains near Bozeman, Montana, another source of inspiration. Gayle Irwin photo

As I wrote those paragraphs, I envisioned the Tobacco Root Mountains west of Bozeman and the area known as the Madison Valley. While traveling through the area last month, I recalled writing this scene, and I smiled. The Bridger Mountains east of town and the valley below, as well as the picturesque drive between Bozeman and Livingston, inspire me as well. I can take readers to places they may never visit, areas that I cherish, and that brings me joy.

This summer sit back with an entertaining and engaging story about romantic love and compassion for critters and find yourself in ‘The Last Best Place” with one of my books! They are available in print or e-book format from Amazon or via Barnes and Noble and other platforms in e-book form. Take yourself to Montana without leaving your chair!

Two of my Pet Rescue Romance books are set in southwestern Montana. Available in print and e-book formats. AllAuthor graphic.Pet Principle:

No matter where I travel, at least one of my dogs goes with me. I not only overpack for myself, but I tend to over-pack for my pets. But that’s okay – it’s better to have more than you need for your beloved furry friend than to be in need. Food and water, dishes for those things, some blankets, ID and rabies tags, medication, toys – all these things are vital when traveling with a pet. Also knowing where you can and can’t take your dog or cat is helpful before embarking on a trip. Many places have become pet-friendly over the years, and one of the best resources to view ahead of time is BringFido.com. Here you will discover not only lodging that accepts pets, but you’ll also learn about restaurants and activities that are pet-friendly. I use this website frequently.

For more information on best travel practices when making a road trip with your pet, visit this web page: https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/how-to-travel-with-your-dog#1

My Shih Tzu, Jeremiah, often travels with me. He loves to explore! Gayle Irwin photo.

Building and Sustaining Positive Relationships

Connection with friends and business associates is critical to human existence. We need cheerleaders, encouragers, partners, helpers with whom we confide in, laugh with, work alongside, and share experiences. We need people we can trust. (Unsplash photo)

I recently attended Wild Deadwood Reads, a major author/reader event in Deadwood, South Dakota. This was the fourth installment of the summer event, but my first time attending. As an author, I enjoy meeting potential readers and other writers; I love to engage in conversations not just about my books, but what others enjoy reading and writing. The event was inspiring and fun; I intend to return in 2022 and hope to bring other Casper, Wyoming authors along as well.

Meeting writers and authors and learning about their works and processes helps me grow as a writer. I also make new friends, not just professionally, but sometimes on a more personal level. We discover what we have in common and often that leads to life-long friendships, not just because we share a love for writing, but we may discover other commonalities.

Taking part in a multi-author booksigning helps strengthen the bond between writers and can introduce us to new works, new ideas, and new pathways. (courtesy photo)

For example, a writer I met more than a decade ago at a booksigning in Montana remains a close friend today. Our mutual love for dogs, our common struggles as businesswomen (and as women in general), our enjoyment of nature and the outdoors, helped us quickly bond and remain close friends. She and I have shared booksignings when I’ve returned to central Montana; we have met for a long weekend writing retreat; and we’ve planned to attend writing conferences together. We are each other’s cheerleaders as we work on our respective books. I always look forward to seeing her whenever time permits.

Additionally, a high school friend remains a dear friend today, more than 40 years later. We rarely see each other as we live thousands of miles away. However, our emails and phone calls continue to keep us close, and we often talk of a reunion, especially as I look to make writing my fulltime occupation … and to travel her way one day.

Some friendships fade while others hold fast. Like a garden, relationships take time and nurturing.

As I write this, I’m preparing for my summer vacation, which includes two book events. I’ll be traveling throughout Montana; the first stop is Gallatin County and the Bozeman area. I’m visiting with friends I worked with and spent time with when I resided in the area during the late 1980s and early 1990s. I don’t see these people often, but whenever I return, there’s a group of about four women with whom I get in touch and try to see. These ladies were a big part of my life as a young, working woman, and now, 30 year later, we still enjoy spending time with one another, especially since we don’t see each but maybe once every two or three years.

I’m also participating in a book event which benefits an organization for whom I worked during my residency in Gallatin County. Although no one remains from my time there, I still feel a strong connection to that animal rescue and adoption organization, as two pets I adopted in those days came from that group. Additionally, two of my Pet Rescue Romance books are set in that region, a beautiful area that holds a special spot in my heart.

Bridger Mountain near Bozeman, Montana, a place I used to live.

Relationships are vital, not just professionally but personally. Humans need to be connected, and even if, as we grow older, we withdraw a bit more and cherish solitude time, there remains the need to connect. Whether I participate in a business/book event or visit someone I worked with 30 years ago or spend time with a childhood friend, connection with others is critical to my life; those relationships nourish me and help me grow, as a writer and as a human being.

As summer unfolds, I hope you have many opportunities to reconnect with people who are important to you. Who are some of those people? Whom haven’t you spent time with in a few years that you’d like see again?

I adopted these two animals, Sam, a cocker spaniel, and Ama, a longhaired orange tabby cat, from the Bozeman Humane Society in 1989 and 1990 respectively. They were my companions for many years; Ama lived to be nearly 18 years old. (Irwin photo)Pet Principle:

Loyalty is a lesson we can learn from our pets. Animals who are rescued and adopted, be they horses, cats, dogs, or another creature, seem especially loyal to their humans. The dog I adopted from what was known as the Bozeman Humane Society back in 1989 was my companion for ten years before he passed from cancer. He was my co-pilot when we traveled, my greeter when I returned home from work, and my comfort when sadness or sickness enveloped me. He also acted as my protector. I share a story about Sam in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That! I so appreciate the years we shared, and I’m grateful for the many moments with other rescued pets. Loyalty is a fading trait among humans; thankfully, we can still find devotion within our pets.

A story about my dog Sam is published in this Chicken Soup book, which is available from book retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Cherish Our Healthy Relationships

Laughter and fun with friends bring joy to our lives. Unsplash photo.

Chris and Dan came into our lives more than a decade ago. Chris and I met when I worked part-time for the Casper Humane Society; she was a teacher, and I assisted the animal shelter with events and public relations. Chris and I connected over animals, and her husband, Dan, and my husband, Greg, connected over outdoor adventures and the Coast Guard. We shared many dinners together, including a few Thanksgivings, and we shared time at our respective mountain cabins, laughing, telling stories, and roasting marshmallows over an open campfire. Chris and I even took our dogs through training as therapy animals, sharing the joy of delighting people in senior homes and at libraries. We even collaborated on a children’s book, BobCat Goes to School.

Chris and Dan moved from our Wyoming community to be closer to their kids, who were having kids; now they live in Idaho. They recently returned for a weekend visit, and Greg and I spent two evenings with them. Our connection remains strong, and the time we shared zipped by way too fast. I’m thankful for their friendship and our strong connection, despite the miles that separate us.

Healthy friendships are critical for people. Surrounding oneself with those who encourage us, who help us to laugh, who share our sorrows and concerns, and who love us in spite of our faults and shortcomings, who are there to pick us up when we fall … nothing is as vital as those special people in our lives.

My friend, Chris, who collaborated on a book with me and who has been my encouraging, kind friend for more than 12 years. Irwin photo.

During the recent years, my husband and I have lost several people we cared about – and who cared about us. Former classmates who died too young; friends we lost to cancer and heart attacks; family members who died unexpectantly – sadly, this past year, our country and world have lost WAY TOO MANY to COVID-19 and other diseases. If I’ve learned nothing else from the pandemic, from the blessing of seeing Chris and Dan last weekend, and from 85-year-old father’s recent visit, it’s this: tell people you care about them, that you love and appreciate them, and treat others with kindness and respect; you never know when they will be gone from your lives permanently. Cherish your friends and family. Be thankful for your healthy, caring relationships.

In my novel, Rescue Road, my primary female character, Rhiann, reconnects with a college friend, someone she hasn’t seen in more than a decade. Rhiann and Trisha re-establish their friendship, and Trisha reminds Rhiann how important positive relationships are in life. Here’s an excerpt:

“I’ll be your right-hand assistant … I mean, left-hand.”

Trisha’s words the next day startled Rhiann. She looked at her friend, who gave her a smile.

“You have a job with Dr. Black, and you’re already helping me with the rescue,” Rhiann protested.  “I couldn’t ask …”

“You didn’t ask, I volunteered,” Trisha said. “Rhiann, this book is important. You’ve come a long way in the past few years, and you have a story to tell, an important story. I want to help.”

Rhiann reached her right arm toward Trisha. The two friends clasped hands.

“You are so good to me, Trisha. Since I moved here, your friendship has been my mainstay, just like when we were in college.”

Trisha’s eyes began to water. “I love being your friend. I love and admire what you do, and I’m so glad you came to Colter, and we found each other again.”

The first book in my Pet Rescue Romance series showcases a variety of relationships, including friendships between different characters.

Who are the positive friends in your life? With whom do you need to reconnect and re-establish a relationship? Find joy in your relationships again and build up one another – goodness knows there’s enough negativity out there, so let’s be the positive characters in the story of our world!

Pet Principle:

Our beloved animals are known for their loyalty. Dogs wait by the door or stare out the window, awaiting their favorite people to come home from work or even the 30-minute trek to the grocery store. Cats sit on laps and purr, reminding us of their love of attention. Other pets, too, can be dedicated to their caregivers. Our pets remind us of the joy of friendship and the need for connection. We need that and so do they.

Pets provide companionship and bring joy into our lives; they showcase the positivity of relationships. Unsplash photo.

Cats as Characters in Movies and Books

Cats and kittens bring people joy with their playfulness, affection, independence, and antics. No wonder they are often featured in films and books! Pixabay photo.

Cats play a special role in the lives of thousands of people – in fact, nearly 43 million households owned at least one cat in 2019. No wonder many books and stories feature felines as characters.

One of the most memorable books I read as a child was The Incredible Journey, the story of three animal friends lost in the woods who embark on the journey of going home. The story features Sassy, a precocious feline, along with two dogs. This book was first published in 1961 and was developed into a Walt Disney film two years later. Another movie version, entitled Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey released in 1993, features the voice of Sally Fields as Sassy the cat. Although I’m now 60 years old, the ending still makes me cry (in a good way!).

The Adventures of Milo and Otis is another movie featuring a cat and a dog, and a cute film to watch with kids. Other fun, family-friendly films featuring cats include Oliver and Company (with music from Billy Joel, Huey Lewis, and Bette Midler) and The Aristocats, also Disney movies.

Most children enjoy animals, therefore, books and movies about dogs, cats, and horses appeal to them. Pixabay photo.

Numerous books for children feature animals because most children enjoy stories featuring horses, dogs, cats, and other creatures. Children’s books with cats as characters include the Pete the Cat series, Splat the Cat series, the Skippyjon Jones series, The Warriors series for older kids, the board book Kitten’s First Full Moon, Amelia Bedelia and the Cat, and of course, Dr. Suess’ The Cat in the Hat. Many other books for young readers have cats as characters – find a list here: https://bookriot.com/cat-books-for-kids/

For adults, there’s also a plethora of reading material where cats are part of (even the primary character in) the story. The mystery genre seems especially packed with furry felines, including Lillian Jackson Brauns’ The Cat Who series, the Nine Lives Cozy Mystery series by Louise Clarke, the Cat Café Mystery series by Cate Conte, and Bookmobile Cat Mysteries by Laurie Cass (the latter three have 2021 releases). True stories of cats, especially rescued kitties, often hit bestseller lists, like Dewey: The Library Cat, Cleo: The Cat Who Mended a Family, A Street Cat Named Bob, Homer’s Odyssey, and Nala’s World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Around the Globe, released last year.

Romance books also make marvelous reads with pets as part of the story. Here’s a short list of romance novels with cats as part of the story:

Hemmingway’s Cats – new release by Lindsey Hooper

Cat Café series by Kris Bock

Family Affair by Debbie Macomber

The Good Ones by Jenn McKinlay

The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson

Whisper Falls – A Destiny Novel by Toni Blake

Cats and Cowboys by Ruth Hartman

Cats as characters in mystery stories are widespread, adding excitement and humor to the story at times. Unsplash photo.

Three of my Pet Rescue Romance books feature cats as well: Montana Love, released earlier this year features feline friends Emmy and Scarlett; Rhiann’s Rescue, prequel of the series, features Rhiann and Grams’ rescued kitty, Poppy (based on a dainty Persian/Siamese cat that lives next door to me), and Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, my May 2020 release, in which the primary female character, Erin, adopts a pair of bonded cats for her daughter. Those kitties are also based on real cats I once met at Kindness Ranch, an animal rescue sanctuary in Wyoming, to which I dedicate the book. Find my books on my Author Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Gayle-M.-Irwin/e/B008J5KJSQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

So, as your summer reading commences in North America (or winter reading in other parts of the world), check out some of books I’ve listed. And perhaps pick up a movie or two with cats as primary characters and enjoy with family and friends this season!

My Pet Rescue Romance books feature pet rescue and adoption for dogs, horses, and cats. AllAuthor graphic.Pet Principle:

Although many people adopted cats, dogs, and other animals during the COVID pandemic, often emptying shelters of adoptable pets, now that businesses, travel, and other places are opening up, these animals are being returned to animal shelters and rescues. June is National Adopt-A-Cat Month. Sadly, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters in the United States every year, and nearly 860,000 are euthanized. Not only are people needed who are committed to their adoption and pet ownership responsibility, but also spaying and neutering of cats and dogs are vital procedures needed to keep the pet population down. We who love animals and have pets in our care need to do our part to lessen the number of dogs, cats, and other creatures going into animal shelters/rescues and lessen the number euthanized.

I recently transported two sets of kittens into rescue; their mamas were feral cats also rescued who were taken to a local vet for medical care and then adopted. These kittens were going to a rescue in another state, and they will eventually be adopted into loving homes … and likely spoiled!! G. Irwin photo.

Meet New Children’s Book Author Christina Dankert (Plus Free Gift for Readers at the End of This Post!)

Reading brings adventure, fun, information, and entertainment, and stories often teach positive life lessons. Pixabay photo.

The first few weeks of May are special. Not only do we celebrate Mother’s Day in the United States, but we also recognize the gift of literacy and the joy of kindness through National Children’s Book Week and Be Kind to Animals Week. It’s with honor and pleasure I introduce you to a new author I met online a few months ago through the Women in Publishing Conference; meet Christina Dankert, a new children’s author! She is my guest on the blog today. Welcome, Christina!

Thank you, Gayle, for allowing me to be a guest blogger on your site!

My name is Christina Dankert, and I am an elementary teacher with a passion for literacy. As a teacher, I use books to reinforce academic concepts as well as social-emotional behaviors and skills. I believe that picture books are a springboard for conversations and that all children should be able to find themselves in books. 

I am also a new children’s author.

I listened to the PublisherHer Podcast by Alexa Bigwarfe and really took to heart her advice on the writing and publishing journey. Following her podcast advice and making changes to my “manuscript in progress,” I eventually submitted to her children’s imprint, Purple Butterfly Press. I am thrilled to announce that my first picture book titled, The Kindness Machine will debut in 2022 with Purple Butterfly Press! My husband is the illustrator, and I am absolutely excited to collaborate with him on this important project. This book will be perfect for children ages 4-8 and will make an excellent addition to a classroom library or home bookshelf. 

Showing kindness could include helping a child read or sharing a story with a youngster. Unsplash photo.From Idea to Publication

I remember walking around campus in college as I was working on my Early Childhood Education degree and passing the beautiful campus library. I vividly remember thinking, “I want to write a children’s book and I want to see it in that library.” That was 15 years ago. At the time, I didn’t know what I wanted to write about that would be meaningful and help make a difference.  

Four years ago an idea popped into my head. Not just any idea, but THE idea. After years of reading to my students and my own children, I knew I wanted to write about kindness. You may be thinking, “Aren’t there already books published for children on kindness?” There absolutely are, but I believe that kindness is not something we can talk about one time. The idea of kindness and kind actions need to be constantly discussed as the topic begins to morph as children grow. Kindness to others, to ourselves, to the environment and animals stem from a solid foundation of understanding and practicing kindness. 

Be Kind to Animals Week falls during the month of May, but every day is a good day to remind youngsters to treat animals with kindness and compassion. Unsplash photo.

The concept should be reinforced as children grow. Think about a toddler. You may remind them to be kind by sharing a toy with a sibling or friend. You may remind a kindergartener to be kind by helping a friend clean up art supplies. You may remind a third grader to be kind by inviting another child to join them at lunch or during recess. The idea of kindness changes as a child’s development changes and their empathy grows. The idea of kindness towards others is always discussed with young children. What about the idea of kindness towards ourselves? Self-love, self-acceptance, and self-appreciation are monumental factors in our own mental health, confidence, and character. 

The Kindness Machine takes place in a second-grade classroom with an engaging and engineer-brained teacher, Mr. Wilson. He creates a large model of a kindness machine, covered in idea buttons, which he uses to help students learn ways to be kind. The theme of the book is to not only be kind to others but to be kind to ourselves as well. The idea of kindness towards ourselves is something that sets my book apart from others. If young children can hear this message early in life, I only hope that it will stick with them as they continue to grow and develop. 

Now more than ever, our world could use a kindness machine.

Christina and her husband Chad. Photo courtesy of Christina Dankert.Connect with Christina

To read more about my writing journey and stay up to date on the book’s release, I invite you to visit https://christinadankert.com.

You can also find me on social media here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Dankert-100828738822195

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.dankert/

Thanks and Free Gift!

Thanks so much for your wonderful post, Christina! Congratulations on your first children’s book; I’m so excited for you! Let us know when it comes out – I’d love to have you stop by again and tell us the news! – Gayle

READERS: Christina has graciously created a special gift for you! With May being Be Kind to Animals Week and National Children’s Book Week, you can download a FREE printable to share with young readers in your life about kindness toward animals. Visit this webpage to get the FREEBIE for your kiddos here: https://www.subscribepage.com/w3f9l0

Sharing the gift of reading with a child is a wonderful opportunity to open up new worlds and special concepts like kindness for them. What new book will you gift your favorite child this month of Children’s Book Week? Unsplash photo.

Tribute to an Author and Friend

Elizabeth Mary Martin, Wyoming author and special friend.

We leaned closer when she read. Her Scottish accent, her setting descriptions, and the plots she wove caused her audience to hunger for more. Whether the words were from her children’s books, her speculative fiction, or the love stories she composed, we loved her works. Her writing community, her family, her friends (like me), and all who loved and admired her will miss her.

Elizabeth Mary Martin, born in Dundee, Scotland in 1937. She passed away last week. This remarkable woman became a nurse, and she moved to Montana after responding to an ad for nurses she found in a magazine. She worked for a doctor in a tiny town and later married a local man. Widowed at a young age, Elizabeth raised three children … and began writing as well as continued to practice nursing. After retirement, she moved to Casper, Wyoming to be closer to one of her daughters.

A strong Catholic Christian, Elizabeth gave of her time to a Casper non-profit and her church and joined a writers’ group where she graciously hosted many monthly meetings.

I met Elizabeth when she began volunteering at the non-profit where I work part-time. When I learned of her connection to Montana and her enjoyment of reading and writing, I invited her to join a local writers’ group with which I’d become involved. Eventually unable to drive at night, our Scottish friend began hosting the meetings at her apartment complex. She’d provide bottles of water and snacks. Slowly, everyone began adding food to the selections. We’d read, provide critiques, laugh, cry, share. We so enjoyed those gatherings!

Elizabeth and I traveled together a few times, twice to writers’ conferences and once for booksignings in Montana, as I have friends and family in that state as well. Her joy at reuniting with people she knew and sharing her work in library and home settings was apparent as laughter and listening prevailed. She and I shared other signing opportunities in and around our Casper community, and people responded to her stories, verbally and in written form.

My author friend, Elizabeth Martin, and I at a booksigning after the release of her second novel in the speculative fiction series, The Valley. We shared several tables for signings during her book publishing career that began during her 70s. During some of our shared signings, Elizabeth and I were joined by other Wyoming authors, including our mutual friend and fellow Casper Writers’ Group member, Neva Bodin, pictured here during a booksigning in Douglas, WY

During the past few years, my friend experienced several health setbacks, but she’d rebound, and we’d all gather again at her location for our monthly writers’ meetings. Our group cherished those times, and the words Elizabeth shared with us.

Then came 2020. After a few falls, including a serious one, our friend entered a nursing home. Some of us sent cards or made phone calls; Elizabeth even Zoomed with us once. Then silence. Messages left on her voicemail went unanswered and did mailed cards. Our writers group learned over the weekend that our wonderful friend had passed.

I’ve shed more than a few tears these past few days. I’ve missed her this past year and I’ve thought of her often. When our group Zoomed a few months ago, we talked about Elizabeth and we continued to wonder if she was still in the nursing home or if she was living with one of her daughters. We talked about her stories and how much we enjoyed them … and her sharing them. She may have lived in America for more than 50 years, but she never lost her love for Scotland nor her Scottish brogue.

Elizabeth loved to read and drink tea. Whether a printed book or on Kindle, she absorbed books – she was a delightful person to know!

What an amazing life she led! Coming to the U.S. in response to an ad in a medical journal, leaving her home country “to travel the world” that got her as far as Big Sandy, Montana and Casper, Wyoming. Raising children in a rural area after the death of her husband, delivering mail and writing stories to earn extra money. Attending writers’ conferences and offering encouragement and editing advice to other writers. Creating fun, engaging stories for children and adults. And most of all, loving people, and loving life. So many lessons learned from this special woman.

Elizabeth’s first published book was the first in a speculative fiction trilogy called The Valley and titled Sahra’s Quest. I was honored to provide a review for the cover. She followed that series with stand-alone children’s books and romance novels. You can still order any of these delightful works from Amazon, some available in paperback or Kindle and others that are Kindle only: http://bit.ly/3sXJSjW_ElizabethBooksElizabeth composed four short romance stories and packaged them into one stand-alone book. Both historical and contemporary works are found in this book.

We will continue to miss Elizabeth at our writers’ meetings. I will miss her as my friend.

Pet Principle:

My friend Elizabeth enjoyed animals. She often spoke of her own pets that she’d had throughout her life, and whenever our writers’ group gathered at her apartment complex and a resident walked by with his/her dog, Elizabeth always spoke sweetly to the animal … and to the person. When she visited my home, she’d talked to, cuddle, and pet my dogs (and the cats if they came into the room). She was a loving person.

Pets showcase love in many fashions as well: a cat’s purr and cuddle on the bed; a dog’s head on one’s knee or lying in your lap; an excited greeting at the door when you’ve been gone 20 minutes or 8 hours. Friendship is vital to humankind’s existence, both with other people and with animals. Loyalty, love, affection, and devotion — pivotal to our lives and given when our hearts are open.

Books, community, readers, dogs — great friends, all!