Let's Build A Zoo

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Hey guys.

Do you have any animals in the books you've written or are writing? Maybe you have a question about your animals that you'd like to ask. Here's a place to talk it over.

Have fun and watch where you step.

[Jenna]

Dwayne, this might be the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. (At least this year. :)

I would love to hear the animals people wrote about that aren't normally domesticated. (Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, anyone?)

I have a dog that is a little furball that belongs to an eccentric member of aristocracy. (In my book, not in real life, although in this group I wasn't sure if I'd have to specify that...)
It's annoying (the dog), and as the personality has come out, I realized I should probably figure out a breed. Any suggestions on that? (I know nothing about dogs except that I like German Shepherds)
I'd love a name too, if anyone can think of an appropriate one. Preferably one that could then easily become a more ironically appropriate nickname, if that makes sense.

[Melissa]

Jenna wrote: "Dwayne, this might be the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. (At least this year. :)

I would love to hear the animals people wrote about that aren't normally domesticated. (Lyle, Lyle, Crocod..."

Sounds like a Pomeranian or a Papillon might fit the bill. Pomeranian especially as they're little furballs with a lot of attitude.

As for a name... Nugget? I don't know why but I've really been partial to some small pet of some sort being named Nugget.

[Genevieve]

Suggestion: a Bichon Frisé - cute and smart.

I have dogs in all my books except this last one, I had to resist the urge to have a dog persona but there are dogs in the settlement. And one of my books is full of Canadian Inuit dogs and Alaskan huskies. My WIP has a Labrabor in it.
:>)

[Christina]

Seconding the papillon suggestion. Those things are obnoxious.

Side note: I've used my animals as inspiration for characters of all sorts in my books. My current series has an alien critter who is something of a cat/bear. I based him on my recently departed mutt, including all of his silly personality quirks.

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Jenna wrote: "Dwayne, this might be the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. (At least this year. :)"

There goes my reputation.

Animals often wander into my books. Cliche has a cat. And another. And another... oh, so many cats.

Current work in progress is about a crew of teenagers working on farms in the summer. There's a lot of animals mentioned as being heard in the distance, especially cattle. There's a scene or two with pigs, one with a rather sickly dog, and one with a rat. There's a kitten that gets a ride on a tornado... yeah. And two Akitas that may or may not be supernatural beings. Oh, and I mustn't forget Porky, the long dead, now skeletal piglet.

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Oh, and Jenna... I have a Pomeranian. She's a little fur ball and while she is adorable, she has a huge personality. She's self-centered, demanding, feisty, and loud. And happy. She's always smiling.

[Ian]

There's a scene in my first book that features a fictional predatory bird. Based loosely on the cassowary, hokloks are pack animals and extremely dangerous. Hmmm, now I think about it I don't think I have any other animals to offer. Plenty of plant life referenced in my writing but not animals.

[Genevieve]

I said above I had refrained from having a dog in my latest book but I do have a raven. He is acting true to life. I have ravens on my wilderness home including a rescued one. Incredibly smart birds.

[Katherine]

I have two dogs, and they both have very distinct personalities. The one that I'd say can be annoying (and a little hyper) is half Yorkshire Terrier and half Maltese. I adore him, but he used to nip my toes and jump up to nip my derriere when I first met him. (He was my husband's and untrained.) He's also very fast and does twirls. Oh, and he has a Napoleon complex. Perhaps Napoleon as a name?

The one in my profile picture is a Bichon Frise. I know someone mentioned them above, but I've never met an annoying bichon. They do have their own personality, usually very smart and sweet while also being adventurous. But bichons were owned by French aristocracy until the French Revolution, so they may fit your story if it's historical. Yorkies would be more in England.

[Ian]

I don't know whether this counts, but I have highly cultured intelligent evolved raptors. With an inevitable different sport (tailball), the delights of the taste of live giant rats, and totally different courting styles, it was a lot of fun to write.

[Jenna]

I LOVE THIS!
I think it might be my new favorite group of people EVER. At least, online. :)
Ian, that totally counts. I immediately pictured you as Chris Pratt playing with his raptors.
To all those that suggested dogs for me, thank you! I really know nothing, but the Papillon or Pomeranian might be perfect for my top-lofty character's pet.
Both Napoleon and Nugget are great name ideas, and your descriptions will help me write the little guy better too, I think.
Dwayne, your animal stuff sounds...a little hilarious a little disturbing - perhaps a little Gary Larson? Either way, it motivated me to look at your books!
Genevieve - Your stuff sounds a little like Gary Paulsen. He once did a dog sled race in Alaska and ended up going through downtown Juneau....anyway, he knows his big dogs, and it's really fun.

[Michaelangela]

I... am writing a novel where men are seen as animals who are only fit to be pets and women are their owners. It's seen as bestiality for a woman to be romantically in love with her pet man... which is actually where the conflict comes in. It's weird, but if men are viewed as animals in this novel, does that count for this zoo?

[R.]

My chief spaceship designer is 59 years old, still does her own test piloting and has three collie dogs:

‘That was the tricky bit, getting it designed, built and tested in a week. I had to get the engineers at St. Barbara to go at it like the devil, or more exactly Heloise herself, was after them. Incidentally, all praise to Heloise, once I went and explained it to her, she pulled people and materials off other jobs to get it done.’
Keefe's eyes widened in surprise. ‘Are you telling me you actually went in the she-wolf's lair?’
‘I went in Heloise McAlister's office at St. Barbara. Why not? I don't see why everyone is so frightened of her.’
‘Because she keeps that slavering wolf pack in her office, that's why. I only talk to her on starline.’
‘It's not a wolf pack; it's three collies, and if you sit on the floor and talk nicely to them, they're all big softies.’

[R.]

Michaelangela wrote: "I... am writing a novel where men are seen as animals who are only fit to be pets and women are their owners. It's seen as bestiality for a woman to be romantically in love with her pet man... whic..."

In the notes for a sequel to the WIP the aliens mistake the first human they meet for a domestic animal, because they keep apes in the way we keep dogs. There is much hilarity before the mistake is sorted out.

[Felix]

I... am writing a novel where men are seen as animals who are only fit to be pets and women are their owners.

Did you said it was fiction?

[Jenna]

Still my favorite thread.

[Ann]

I'm about half done with a memoir co-written with my dog--every other chapter. It's a real challenge to get into the mind of a dog, short sentences, focus on food, daily walks, and varmints to chase.

If you want something to spur your imagination, there's a GREAT play called SILVIA about a man who adopts a stray (female) dog that follows him home from the park. Great bits you could use in your book. Just change the sex. Have FUN!!!!