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The Dog Healers: A Novel
FINALLY! A truly powerful heroine.
Mark Winik's debut novel is the suspense packed story of a fierce young healer named Isabella who can breathe life into ailing dogs and turn race horses into champions.
In the tradition of Eva Peron, she ignores her Argentinian culture's ideas about female roles, plunging into the shadowy reaches of the horse racing world where thugs would turn her gift into riches. To her, money is just the means to her dream: creating a haven for all dogs, be they wretched, ill or aggressive.
Isabella wields wit and charisma among society ladies, twisting gold-braceleted arms for donations, exerting a still greater spell on men. This includes her handsome protege Carlos, who yearns for the love Isabella shares with her dogs.
But her dogs are her allies as villainous threats mount. Isabella faces the fight of her life, but when you've got dogs you're not in it alone.
Power to the Pooch!
Mark Winik's debut novel is the suspense packed story of a fierce young healer named Isabella who can breathe life into ailing dogs and turn race horses into champions.
In the tradition of Eva Peron, she ignores her Argentinian culture's ideas about female roles, plunging into the shadowy reaches of the horse racing world where thugs would turn her gift into riches. To her, money is just the means to her dream: creating a haven for all dogs, be they wretched, ill or aggressive.
Isabella wields wit and charisma among society ladies, twisting gold-braceleted arms for donations, exerting a still greater spell on men. This includes her handsome protege Carlos, who yearns for the love Isabella shares with her dogs.
But her dogs are her allies as villainous threats mount. Isabella faces the fight of her life, but when you've got dogs you're not in it alone.
Power to the Pooch!
202 pages, Paperback
Published January 23, 2016
About the author
Mark Winik
1 book12 followersTHE DOG HEALERS™ -- How I Wrote That Story
Before The Dog Healers™, I didn't think of myself as a writer. A storyteller, yes. My poor mother! How she worried! Imagine a young kid and his dog vanishing into the forest and coming home late, a muddy mess. I made up horrific stories to cover myself. She never believed me, but she was happy to see me safe.
With mom, I had to think fast, a helpful skill for a young entrepreneur .
At age 8, I fished golf balls from the ponds at Yale Golf Course, cleaned them,and sold them.
Then I learned the French restaurant nearby often ran out of frogs legs. I caught bullfrogs and sold those too, negotiating price with the chef.
I even dyed flowers and pinned them on beautiful women at the Yale Football games. Who could refuse a kid pinning a blue flower on the wife or girlfriend? Two dollars please!
Without imagination, how could you invent? Without imagination how could you create? Without imagination, how could you dream? You must imagine, imagine and imagine.
Four years ago, the idea for The Dog Healers lodged in my brain. In my wife's home city of Buenos Aires, I was enthralled by handlers walking huge packs of dogs -- especially one named Carlos, who made sick dogs well and turned brutes into fur babies.
He used a Tibetan technique called Kum Nye to put the dogs into a trance-like state. The dogs anticipated each move, partners in the healing process.
Dog lovers know all about Dog Magic, the love that heals. But the depth of the human dog connection in Kum Nye mesmerized me.
I had to write this book. I wanted readers to see and smell the story through the eyes and noses of my two and four legged characters, and share my love for Argentina's throbbing rhythms and exotic mix of cultures.
Tucked in my office cave, I banged the book out, a glass of wine at my side, forgetting to go to bed until my wife Norma reminded me. Writer's block was theoretical. When the book was 'done' I found plenty not to like and hacked away. I also asked for outside feedback. I didn't know how many writers read their work aloud to peers as they go along or stick to strict schedules.
To me, it was FUN! I got to sit back to watch, while my characters did their thing.
Carlos, my protagonist, was eclipsed by Isabella, a powerful young woman and a force in the dog and the horse worlds.
Her capacity to love dogs is unconditional, matching the love dogs feel for humans. The healing flows both ways. I could have called the book 'The Human Healers.'
Isabella takes joy in making ailing dogs well, turning injured horses into champions and transforming vicious dogs into the loving creatures nature intended.
It doesn’t take long before con-men, crooked politicians and saboteurs see Isabella's talents as a means to riches, but she dismisses them as if they were nothing. The rage she incites could cost her life. Isabella pushes the limits of love, loyalty and courage, then flies right past them, turning my story into something approaching a thriller
This made for a better book that's harder to market. Is the genre Spirituality? Suspense? Perhaps Young Adult, since Isabella's such a role model?
I'm in my home territory: the book is my startup and my brand. But there's so much to learn. We built up a following through The Dog Healers on Facebook, a dog lovers community for sharing stories, photos and videos that just surpassed 25,000 likes. If we convert some into readers, terrific. Meanwhile, they’re enjoying our content. Not long ago, I created a weekly 'Dog Healers' cartoon with artist Ivan Camilli.
And I love Facebook comments. This one from Alexandra Thurman makes me feel as warm and fuzzy as my dogs Paco and Chickie: "I just finished reading the book and I cannot tell you how much it moved me and inspired me more to pursue my passion of animal rehabilitation therapy as a vet.”
My book improved someone's life! For me, that's a four star review no critic can match.
Before The Dog Healers™, I didn't think of myself as a writer. A storyteller, yes. My poor mother! How she worried! Imagine a young kid and his dog vanishing into the forest and coming home late, a muddy mess. I made up horrific stories to cover myself. She never believed me, but she was happy to see me safe.
With mom, I had to think fast, a helpful skill for a young entrepreneur .
At age 8, I fished golf balls from the ponds at Yale Golf Course, cleaned them,and sold them.
Then I learned the French restaurant nearby often ran out of frogs legs. I caught bullfrogs and sold those too, negotiating price with the chef.
I even dyed flowers and pinned them on beautiful women at the Yale Football games. Who could refuse a kid pinning a blue flower on the wife or girlfriend? Two dollars please!
Without imagination, how could you invent? Without imagination how could you create? Without imagination, how could you dream? You must imagine, imagine and imagine.
Four years ago, the idea for The Dog Healers lodged in my brain. In my wife's home city of Buenos Aires, I was enthralled by handlers walking huge packs of dogs -- especially one named Carlos, who made sick dogs well and turned brutes into fur babies.
He used a Tibetan technique called Kum Nye to put the dogs into a trance-like state. The dogs anticipated each move, partners in the healing process.
Dog lovers know all about Dog Magic, the love that heals. But the depth of the human dog connection in Kum Nye mesmerized me.
I had to write this book. I wanted readers to see and smell the story through the eyes and noses of my two and four legged characters, and share my love for Argentina's throbbing rhythms and exotic mix of cultures.
Tucked in my office cave, I banged the book out, a glass of wine at my side, forgetting to go to bed until my wife Norma reminded me. Writer's block was theoretical. When the book was 'done' I found plenty not to like and hacked away. I also asked for outside feedback. I didn't know how many writers read their work aloud to peers as they go along or stick to strict schedules.
To me, it was FUN! I got to sit back to watch, while my characters did their thing.
Carlos, my protagonist, was eclipsed by Isabella, a powerful young woman and a force in the dog and the horse worlds.
Her capacity to love dogs is unconditional, matching the love dogs feel for humans. The healing flows both ways. I could have called the book 'The Human Healers.'
Isabella takes joy in making ailing dogs well, turning injured horses into champions and transforming vicious dogs into the loving creatures nature intended.
It doesn’t take long before con-men, crooked politicians and saboteurs see Isabella's talents as a means to riches, but she dismisses them as if they were nothing. The rage she incites could cost her life. Isabella pushes the limits of love, loyalty and courage, then flies right past them, turning my story into something approaching a thriller
This made for a better book that's harder to market. Is the genre Spirituality? Suspense? Perhaps Young Adult, since Isabella's such a role model?
I'm in my home territory: the book is my startup and my brand. But there's so much to learn. We built up a following through The Dog Healers on Facebook, a dog lovers community for sharing stories, photos and videos that just surpassed 25,000 likes. If we convert some into readers, terrific. Meanwhile, they’re enjoying our content. Not long ago, I created a weekly 'Dog Healers' cartoon with artist Ivan Camilli.
And I love Facebook comments. This one from Alexandra Thurman makes me feel as warm and fuzzy as my dogs Paco and Chickie: "I just finished reading the book and I cannot tell you how much it moved me and inspired me more to pursue my passion of animal rehabilitation therapy as a vet.”
My book improved someone's life! For me, that's a four star review no critic can match.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 25, 2018
I was given a copy of The Dog Healer by Mark Winik to provide a fair review of the book. All opinions are my own.
It was a quick and easy read with an interesting storyline. The book is set in Argentina, and the unnamed narrator is fascinated by all the dog walkers he observes in Buenos Aires. His interest leads him to Carlos Demarco, the Dog Healer. Most of the book is about how Carlos came to be known as such and his complicated relationship with Isabella who showed him how to be a dog healer. The story has a little bit of everything - love, mystery, adventure, betrayal, hardship, redemption, and of course, underdogs. As a dog owner, I was certainly intrigued by some of the eastern philosophies that were being tapped into in order to perform energy healing with your animals. I began paying more attention to my animals when petting and touching them as well as trying to think about what they may be communicating to me. As a former Louisville resident and Kentucky Derby fan, I enjoyed the other storyline of horses and horse racing. Occassionally, the cadence of the dialogue and word choices felt clunky. It also felt a bit over narrated at times, and I wish Winik had let the the dialogue just flow without the extraneous descriptors. Isabella has some sort of childhood trauma that keeps affecting her relationship with Carlos, but it's never fully explained leaving me just annoyed with her. Despite areas of critique, I still found the overall book readable and interesting. I would recommend a look if you are an animal lover, racing fan, or love books set in other countries and cultures.
It was a quick and easy read with an interesting storyline. The book is set in Argentina, and the unnamed narrator is fascinated by all the dog walkers he observes in Buenos Aires. His interest leads him to Carlos Demarco, the Dog Healer. Most of the book is about how Carlos came to be known as such and his complicated relationship with Isabella who showed him how to be a dog healer. The story has a little bit of everything - love, mystery, adventure, betrayal, hardship, redemption, and of course, underdogs. As a dog owner, I was certainly intrigued by some of the eastern philosophies that were being tapped into in order to perform energy healing with your animals. I began paying more attention to my animals when petting and touching them as well as trying to think about what they may be communicating to me. As a former Louisville resident and Kentucky Derby fan, I enjoyed the other storyline of horses and horse racing. Occassionally, the cadence of the dialogue and word choices felt clunky. It also felt a bit over narrated at times, and I wish Winik had let the the dialogue just flow without the extraneous descriptors. Isabella has some sort of childhood trauma that keeps affecting her relationship with Carlos, but it's never fully explained leaving me just annoyed with her. Despite areas of critique, I still found the overall book readable and interesting. I would recommend a look if you are an animal lover, racing fan, or love books set in other countries and cultures.
September 21, 2016
I received this heartwarming book in a Goodread's Giveaway and am happy to be able to give this book a five-star rating. Anyone who has had a dog in his or her life will appreciate this book and will agree that dogs can definitely be "healers" when loved and understood by their owners. I have a two-year old puppy, a labradoodle, who is, at this very moment, lying on the bed in the spare room where I have my computer. And as goofy as he can be at any given moment, he has been a source of companionship along with an ability to keep my aFib at bay. I laugh more and keep my stress levels down.
My husband and I belong to a photography group that introduced us to a Wolf sanctuary several years ago, and each year we go back to the same group to take pictures and go inside their cages to play with them and touch them. One of the first wolves to come to the sanctuary, was known as a healing animal. She would be able to detect abnormalities in certain people she met. She would pester them and touch certain areas until the caregiver at the facility would come up and tell the person receiving all the attention might want to go see a physician. Sadly, this particular wolf passed away before we discovered this sanctuary. Several of the still remaining wolves and wolfdogs have exhibited some of her capabilities to detect problems with her visitors; but not to the extent that Cheyenne had. If wolves can become friends with people, then surely dogs can. A bond between a dog and his "people" is a special thing and this book proves it. I knew that dogs liked to be massaged but I didn't have any idea that Tibetan massage and spirituality could play a big part in bonding with dogs that had been abused or just disposed to a certain kind of temperament.
I also enjoyed the backstory of Carlos and Isabella. The book was not just a dog story but a story of love and compassion for each other. It was one of encouraging all dog owners to really treat their dog as they would a family member. Mark Winik did a wonderful job with his writing this book.
My husband and I belong to a photography group that introduced us to a Wolf sanctuary several years ago, and each year we go back to the same group to take pictures and go inside their cages to play with them and touch them. One of the first wolves to come to the sanctuary, was known as a healing animal. She would be able to detect abnormalities in certain people she met. She would pester them and touch certain areas until the caregiver at the facility would come up and tell the person receiving all the attention might want to go see a physician. Sadly, this particular wolf passed away before we discovered this sanctuary. Several of the still remaining wolves and wolfdogs have exhibited some of her capabilities to detect problems with her visitors; but not to the extent that Cheyenne had. If wolves can become friends with people, then surely dogs can. A bond between a dog and his "people" is a special thing and this book proves it. I knew that dogs liked to be massaged but I didn't have any idea that Tibetan massage and spirituality could play a big part in bonding with dogs that had been abused or just disposed to a certain kind of temperament.
I also enjoyed the backstory of Carlos and Isabella. The book was not just a dog story but a story of love and compassion for each other. It was one of encouraging all dog owners to really treat their dog as they would a family member. Mark Winik did a wonderful job with his writing this book.
September 16, 2016
I won this book on Goodreads and was THRILLED when it arrived so quickly!
The cover intrigued me.... I literally took it out of the mailing envelope, began to look at the front and back cover, then turned to the front page and read it all in one afternoon! I just could not put it down.
Mark Winik is a wonderful storyteller and The Dog Healers is a wonderful story! I recommend this book to anyone looking for just that- a good story! I will be passing this book on to my daughter (a dog lover as well) to keep the story going...
The cover intrigued me.... I literally took it out of the mailing envelope, began to look at the front and back cover, then turned to the front page and read it all in one afternoon! I just could not put it down.
Mark Winik is a wonderful storyteller and The Dog Healers is a wonderful story! I recommend this book to anyone looking for just that- a good story! I will be passing this book on to my daughter (a dog lover as well) to keep the story going...
March 17, 2016
Loved it. You don't have to be a lover of dogs to enjoy this book. Reading flows well and ending is sweet. Wonderful first novel. Bravo Mark!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews