A List of Dog Books

[Jeff]

For y'all's perusal. Would you add any, or remove from this list? Some on this list I had not known of before.

http://www.abebooks.com/books/famous-...

[Annemarie]

Lara's Gift by Annemarie O'Brien

[Heidi]

Akita Lovers Pictures & Stories - by Heidi White (yours truly) and B.E. Hewitt (Kindle Edition only)

http://amzn.to/16UgvCa

[Neil]

I'm pleased to announce the fifth in my golden retriever mystery series, Whom Dog Hath Joined.Reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan still gets a thrill from snooping into places online where he shouldn’t be. When his golden retriever Rochester discovers a human bone at the Friends Meeting during the Harvest Days festival, these two unlikely sleuths are plunged into another investigation.
They will uncover uncomfortable secrets about their small town’s past as they dig deep into the Vietnam War era, when local Quakers helped draft resisters move through Stewart’s Crossing on their way to Canada. Does that bone Rochester found belong to one of those young men fleeing conscription? Or to someone who knew the secrets that lurked behind those whitewashed walls?
Steve’s got other problems, too. His girlfriend Lili wants to move in with him, and his matchmaking efforts among his friends all seem to be going haywire.
Whether the death was due to natural causes, or murder, someone in the present wants to keep those secrets hidden. And Steve and Rochester may end up in the crosshairs of a very antique rifle if they can’t dig up the clues quickly enough.
Thanks!
Neil Plakcy

[A.J.]

Hi everyone! I am so pleased to be a member of this group. I will be releasing the 2nd edition of A Kid's Guide to Bella the Bichon Frise and Louie the Labrador Retriever this month. I am always looking for feedback, reviewers, and editors as I continue to release my series. I look forward to getting to know all of you.

Best,
AJ Richards

[Cynthia]

Dog days of summer? My humorous dog novel, KIBBLE TALK, will be free on Amazon for just a couple more days. I have 42 reviews (4.9 star average). Book 1 in the series, it's a great summer read for any dog lover. Thanks for looking.

http://www.amazon.com/Kibble-Talk-Cyn...

When Tawny's best friend Jenny dares her to eat dog kibble, down it goes. Little does she know how that dusty, tasteless lump will change her life. Suddenly she can hear what dogs have to say and talk back to them too! Her Great Dane named Dinky has a LOT to say. He lets her know right away that his fondest dream is to be a tiny lap dog. Tawny promises to help, and her life nearly goes to the dogs...

[Kenton]

In my sci-fi novel LOST DOGS (now on Amazon), two dogs survive the end of the human world, only to find that their struggles are just beginning. The post below introduces the major characters, as well as links to the first chapter and where you can find the book (including a discount for the softcover).

http://kentonkilgore.com/blog/2014/09...

Lost Dogs

[Nancy]

Please take a look at my latest -- Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

[Victoria]

A second recommendation for Nancy Castaldo's book, SNIFFER DOGS! I read this book last month and I'm still marveling and bragging to my friends and family about all the amazing things that dogs can sniff. (And sadly, sighing over my own dog's inability to sniff out a treat that's right in front of him!)

[Nancy]

Thanks, Victoria! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Nancy

[Barbara]

Hi! I just published my first Jane Austen variation. A light comedy involving two adorable basset hounds. I plan on continuing the series with the heroine, Elizabeth Bennet practicing as a dog psychologist. Light humor... novellas. MISTER DARCY -Series. Please take a peek. Thank you! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NP8A1BW

[Jane]

Here's one:

I'm author of a newly published book: Dogs Don't Look Both Ways: A Primer on Unintended Consequences Dogs Don't Look Both Ways was published in the spring and is "reality-based fiction" or "non-fiction: animals", take your pick. The narrator is the chocolate Lab, and as one reviewer wrote, "I do believe Jane Hanser has gotten about as far into a dog's head as any human being can go."

Check out our editorial reviews from Midwest Book Review, The Children's Book Review and Just Labs Magazine, independent reviewers and bloggers and first read winners. All ages (5th grade and up), whether you have a dog or not.

[Ag]

Flag 9: Join Bella, the Chihuahua in this nautical zombie thriller just in time for Halloween. Written by a liveaboard sailor to shake up the tired zombie genre. http://www.amazon.com/Flag-9-AG-Rives...

[Pamela]

I love this list and it brings back terrific reading memories. Perhaps you may be interested in Phoebe's Way, a novella about a Saint John Ambulance therapy dog who visits a nursing home. It is my hope that the novella promotes understanding, joy, and hope. Phoebe's Way

[Barbara]

Do we want to choose a book to read in December? Anyone have a suggestion for a holiday themed story?

[Colin]

Great suggestion - lets get this Club going again! While not a Holiday themed dog book, I found this new book that was published last month. Rain Reign

It looks interesting and may be a good place for us to start. On another note, I am looking to connect with like-minded people here who like both fiction and non-fiction books about animals, especially dogs. I will happily accept any friend requests! Thanks!

[Victoria]

I would love to read Rain Reign! Great suggestion!

[Barbara]

I'm in for Rain Reign. Anybody else?

[Michael]

Just finished A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me by Jon Katz. Excellent little book about the love of dogs. I highly recommend it.

[Colin]

Nice, thanks for sharing - will check it out!

[Victoria]

Has anyone else finished RAIN REIGN? I loved it. I adored Rose's unique point of view as a kid on the Autism spectrum and how her love for Rain was both emotional and logical. A really unusual girl/dog story for sure. Curious to know what others thought.

[Victoria]

Has anybody read A DOG'S LIFE by Peter Mayle? I just started it and I absolutely LOVE it! Wickedly delightful.

[Jeff]

Rain Reign? Not familiar with that book? Will check it out.

A Dog'sLife is a fun read. Mayle is indeed a witty writer. All his books are good reads.

[Michael]

Victoria wrote: "Has anybody read A DOG'S LIFE by Peter Mayle? I just started it and I absolutely LOVE it! Wickedly delightful."

Thanks! I'm going to check it out.

[Victoria]

I finished A DOG'S LIFE by Peter Mayle and laughed all the way through. So funny!

[P.J.]

I envy you guys. Since I am the author of a dog book I am reluctant to read others in case I inadvertently indulge in plagiarism. I know I'm missing out on some great books but I think I'd better stick to mysteries for now. Are any of you dog book authors having the same thought?

[Victoria]

Actually, no! While I was writing my book, I did avoid books that were written from a dog's point of view. But now that my book has been through the publication process I am not worried about that at all. In fact, I have found that I really enjoy reading other authors' take on the dog's point of view.

[P.J.]

I look forward to that day, but mine is a series, am currently writing volume II, so it will be a while. I'm making a list of the ones you like though.

[Nancy]

Since my Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World is a nonfiction middle grade, I don't have a problem reading doggie fiction. In fact, it's a lot of fun.

[C.A.]

P.J. My Dog Park Mysteries are built around dogs I know, so I don't worry about inadvertent plaigerism.

[P.J.]

Hi C.A. I'm close to finishing my first draft of volume II. That done I'll take a break and enjoy some other doggie fiction. Looking forward to it.

[C.A.]

Nice review!

[Jane]

...While I was writing my book, I did avoid books that were written from a dog's point of view. But now that my book has been through the publication process I am not worried about that ..."

While I was writing my book, everybody was saying 'OH DID YOU READ THE ART OF.... ?" so I finally did. It didn't concern me as all: What it did do is point out how easy it is to anthropomorphize a canine character - and that mine would be different. I also looked at some children's books but those didn't concern me either because they were much more childish, and the dog's voice more childish and human, than my book and dog's voice would be.

For me, I had such a clear concept of what I wanted to achieve through the book, Dogs Don't Look Both Ways and what audience I wanted to reach, and to be true to my moment of inspiration. The bigger challenge was not to copy other writers' styles but to learn to view and experience the world from a canine's perspective, and from the perspective of Joey, my own dog in particular (the narrator). I had to work very hard at that. I spent a lot of time with my eyes closed.

I think it worked because a recent review wrote: "Hanser was waging an uphill battle, trying to tell the story from the dog's point of view. The book could have gone kitschy real fast, but Hanser pulled it out of “golly gee whillakers” cuteness-overload. Correction: Hanser let Joey pull it out."

[Jane]

Gail wrote: "I didn't read other books for years for the same reason. But now that I went for 6 years straight writing, I am thoroughly enjoying reading again. I am also now able to write and only gain inspiration from others. It doesn't affect my own voice as I thought it might.. "

That's true, Gail. One of the great things is reading each of the books and seeing that each one has the stamp of its author. You can't read a Jack London book and believe that anybody else could have written that book! (Shame he died so young.) And the goal is, like you said, to draw inspiration from other writers and not lose our (in fact, to the contrary, to develop it) voice in the process!

[Jane]

Gail wrote: "Jane wrote: "...While I was writing my book, I did avoid books that were written from a dog's point of view. But now that my book has been through the publication process I am not worried about tha..."

Dogs are instinctual and it's a good thing for man that one of these instincts includes loyalty, and knowing what to do in certain emergency situations. (This latter would not include my (BF) dog: I could be falling over gasping for air and he'd have just sat there and stared!!)

I think having a dog as a character can pit humans against a certain ideal they (may) strive to reach, or it points out the limitations of the human race, which makes for a good narrative dynamic.

[Cozy]

New release
Great book for you today!!!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010XYB9P2
TRANSFORMED INTO A DOG
Tina is a person from an extra world, yet another universe. When she is inexplicably kidnapped and changed into a dog, she's thrown into an unknown world where she meets her new homeowners. Dre and Water, who rename her as Stovers.After getting lost, multiple instances, and finding connections alongside the way in which, she meet up with twelve, potent boys who all deeply care about her. But she can not keep the hide are true self forever. What occurs once they find out? Can they still accept her ?