It's a Dog's Life

First, let me apologize for taking so long to post!! By the time I finished roaming around the country on THE WITCH IS DEAD tour, the Holidays were upon me! I’ll try and be more consistent in the future!!

Okay, now let’s talk about dogs—as some of you know, our beloved dog, Sheba, passed last March just as I was finishing up THE WITCH IS DEAD. We had her for sixteen years—she watched my children grow up, kept me company while I worked on each one of the Ophelia and Abby books, and provided me with inspiration for “Lady”. THE WITCH IS DEAD is dedicated to her. And although Sheba could never be replaced, I’ve always had dogs and known eventually I would have another dog come into my life.

So where would this dog come from? Well, I made a decision the night Sheba died that when the time was right, any dog I adopted would come from a shelter. The shelters are full of cats, kittens, and dogs of all ages, all looking for homes. Some of these dogs have come from deplorable situations—puppy mills, neglected homes. Some are literally found on the doorstep of these shelters where people have left them during the night. (To read some of these stories, check out the Hearts United website, a no-kill shelter located in Nebraska.) Many breeds have their own shelters, foster homes, and rescue operations, such as American Eskimo Dog Rescue, Boxer Rescue, Greyhound Rescue, to name three. The shelters are manned by dedicated volunteers who would like nothing better than to see all their dogs find forever homes. I had lots of places to choose from!

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been searching the Internet for the “right” dog for me. I’ve read up on the characteristics of many different breeds, checked out the listings of numerous shelters, and looked at a ton of dog pictures. Finding the right dog is harder than you think! Given that a dog’s life expectancy can be up to sixteen years, as Sheba’s was, you’re talking about a serious commitment! I didn’t want to make a mistake! I needed a dog good with children (my grandchildren are all under the age of ten), tolerated cats, smart, and had a good personality! And as I did all this research, I had a Rockwellian vision of me typing away on my keyboard as my devoted dog lay curled up at my feet!

Enter Roxy and reality! I adopted her last week from The Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Is she the perfect dog for me—ahh, probably not. She’s a six month German Shepherd/Border Collie mix. (they think…since someone found her as a tiny puppy, abandoned in a box, and turned her over to The Animal Rescue League of Iowa, her genealogy is somewhat muddied!) She does love children. She is as smart as they come; she’s already learned a couple of new commands in less than day. (an old wives’ tale—the roof of a dog’s mouth can be an indication of their intelligence. The blacker it is; the smarter they are. Roxy’s mouth is solid black!) She also has lots and lots of personality.

Oh and the cats?? Hates ‘em! And let me tell you, they aren’t too thrilled with her right now either! But to be fair to Roxy and the cats, in my ignorance, I went about introducing them in absolutely the worst way! However, after a meeting with Paula Sunday, the animal behaviorist with The Animal Rescue League, and Suzanne Tomlinson , the trainer, my fears have been allayed. Their advice and instructions have given me hope that, in time and with a lot of work, Roxy and I can overcome my mistake, and at least Roxy and the cats, if not buddies, can live in peaceful co-existence.

No doubt about it—Roxy’s a handful. She’s extremely active. Although she doesn’t like the cats, she does love their litter box. ( My favorite phrase these days is “DROP IT!”) She notices and alerts to everything—I guess that when it comes to dogs, Border Collies can be the poster child for ADD! Or as Suzanne said, “Roxy doesn’t have an ‘off’ switch!” She loves to go for car rides, but finds the windshield wipers excessively annoying and tries to snap at them. She thinks an old lawnmower in the backyard is out to get her, so she MUST chew on the tires whenever she’s outside. (Based on her reaction to the lawn mower, I’d say we’re going to have problems with the vacuum cleaner, too. But I wouldn’t know—I haven’t had time to use it since Roxy came into my life.) She also has a habit of staring at you and clacking her teeth whenever you’re not doing what she wants, which can be rather distracting.

My household and schedule has definitely changed with Roxy around! My bedroom has a 42 inch wire crate added to the décor now. A clicker training aid is my constant companion, and I’m sure I have the aroma of liver snaps wafting around me most of the time. We go on walks twice a day and I’m working on understanding dog psychology—Roxy has to perform a command before she gets what she wants. We know “sit”, “shake,” and “down.” We’re working on “come” and “stay,” but right now, I don’t know if I’m training Roxy, or she’s training me!

But as I said, I went into this understanding the commitment. Regardless of any problems, I figure Roxy and I are in this together come what may. She’s sweet and loving and really does want to please. She loves to play and is terrific at the game of fetch. She’s just so happy when one of my kids, or some of the grandchildren, stop by! And she’s not had it easy in her short life—she’s already been adopted once by another family, but due to lifestyle changes, they had to return her to the shelter. I couldn’t do that to her again. And I know, in the long run, Roxy will be the perfect dog for me!

So if any of you out there are looking for a dog as I was—please think about a rescued dog! Their lineage might not be crystal clear, and they might be out of the “cute” puppy stage, but there are so many good dogs, like Roxy, that need homes. You can find many of these shelters on Petfinder.com, or you can do a search for rescue leagues in your state by typing “animal rescue leagues” in the search bar.

And, by the way, at this moment in time, Roxy is curled up at my feet!

Take care.

Best,
Shirley

P.S.

Pictured below are some of Roxy’s kennel mates that are available for adoption from The Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Check out their website for more information. (http://www.arl-iowa.org/)

Thirteen Questions

Joanna Campbell Slan, Interviewer


1. How did you get started writing?

When my late husband was hospitalized for several months at the Mayo Clinics in Rochester, MN. I spent a lot of time driving. It was during those long drives that I started playing with the idea of writing.

Were you always a writer?

No—I have no formal training for this career choice! Needless to say, I feel very, very lucky to have received the opportunity to create The Ophelia and Abby series!! I have always enjoyed telling stories and been an avid reader. I think those two things played a big role in my choices. Plus, I’ve always had a very “big” imagination! At times, as a child, I think my mother thought it was a little too “big!”

Does writing “run” in your family?

Yes it does—there seems to be a lot of creativity on my father’s, the Damsgaard, side of my family. My aunt, Maggie Damsgaard, began writing at the age of sixteen and didn’t stop until her death at the age of ninety-two. She had several short stories published and self-published a Young Adult novel. She weathered many rejections and never gave up. A good lesson there!

2. How did Ophelia and Abby come to be?

After a disastrous attempt at writing a romance novella, my husband suggested that I give mysteries a go. He pointed out I always ruined movies for him by telling him how they would end, so why not put that talent to a more productive use! Because my background has been a typical, small town in the Midwest, kind of a life, I knew I would need to create an amateur sleuth. But what kind? I’ve always been interested in the paranormal, so I thought giving my sleuth psychic talents would be fun. Unfortunately, several other, already published authors had the same idea, so I needed a hook. Another interest of mine has always been folk remedies, so it wasn’t a huge leap from that to folk magick—hence Ophelia and Abby were born.

What was the germ of the idea that became the books?

At the first writing conference I ever attended author Donald Harstead pointed out that every story starts out with one question, “What if…?” That started me thinking—what is it like to be a psychic? What if one felt their talent let them down at the moment they most needed it? Can one ever be who they’re meant to be if they don’t follow their destiny? Those questions were the beginning of WITCH WAY TO MURDER.

3. I know you have a “day job” as a Post Mistress. Tell me about your work habits. How do you work 40-hours a week and manage to write as much as you do?

I’ve found the most creative time for me is early in the morning, when the house is quiet. When I’m working on a manuscript, I usually begin my day about 4:30 and try to write about 5 pages before getting ready for work. On the weekends, it’s more.

What’s your schedule like?

As I said, up at 4:30 and write until 6:30. Then it’s off to the Post Office until 5 p.m... In the evenings, I work on marketing, updating my mailing list, responding to emails, etc., while I watch TV. I’ve found it doesn’t work well to write in the evenings—my characters are still talking when I want to go to sleep! On the weekends, I write for a few hours in the mornings and then take care of all those boring little household tasks like laundry, cleaning, and whatever else needs to be done. On Friday or Saturday night, I might go out with friends, or hang out with my youngest daughter, who’s still at home part of the time.

That’s a normal schedule—but there are times when I short staffed at work, or I’ve made plans with one of my other grown children. When that happens I need to modify!! Flexibility and balance is important if I want to accomplish everything. I also have a different kind of a schedule if I’m doing book tours. I’ve found it’s hard for me to work on a manuscript while on tour. It’s as if I’m using a different part of my brain, and it isn’t the part where the story dwells!

4.You seem like such a normal person! Why paranormal?

(Grin) Define normal, Joanna, ‘cause I’m not too sure the description fits! Seriously, I’ve always been fascinated with the paranormal. As a teenager, I read books by Ruth Montgomery and books about Edgar Cayce. Plus I’ve always loved any story with an “otherworldly” twist. Maybe it’s from reading all those fairytales as a child!!

What was the attraction?

One of my favorite quotes is “There are more things, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” I like the idea that we don’t know everything, that the world is full of mystery, that there is a little magick to be discovered.

Did you know a lot about the paranormal world when you started?

A little—but I’ve learned a lot more through research and having the opportunity to interview some very amazing people!

5. How did you research the paranormal for your books? (You can’t exactly go to the phone book and look up “paranormal,” right?)

Not in the phone book, but you sure can on the Internet! My research started with one book, AMERICAN FOLK MAGICK, by Silver Ravenwolf, which I did find listed on a website. From there, not to sound too” New Agey”, one thing has led to another, and it seems that I’ve met the people I needed to--when I needed to. Another thing that I’ve learned is not to be afraid to ask questions—as long as you approach people with respect, they’re usually more than happy to answer your questions.

Do you have any self-imposed rules? Things you refuse to include, no matter how interesting?

I don’t put actual spells in the stories—I don’t believe magick is something to play around with unless you have an understanding of how it’s supposed to work. I’m also careful about any herbs I list and their uses—just in case someone decides to try them. (Something I don’t really recommend unless you’ve checked out what you’re going to try with a health food store.) And if a character dies by poison, I don’t give the dosage that did him in!

6.Did you originally believe in the paranormal world when you began writing?

To a certain extent—I’ve always believed that there are true psychics. (I also believe that there are charlatans out there, too! In fact one psychic that I’ve gotten to know once recommended that I stay away from anyone who’s styled as “Madame So and So!” They probably aren’t for real!)

Do you believe now? Why did you change your mind, if you did?

I would say, because of the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had, I definitely think more outside of the box now!

7. What or who has been the greatest influence on your work as an author in the past? Why?

As an author, I don’t have a past! (Grin) I’ve only been writing for about six years! But I have been a reader all of my life, and I think it’s those authors that I’ve loved over the years who’ve subtly effected my style and voice. Barbara Michaels, Jude Deveraux, Harper Lee, Georgette Heyer, Carolyn Hart, the list goes on and on. These authors have brought me hours of entertainment over the years, and the greatest thrill of all is when a reader writes to tell me that Ophelia and Abby have entertained them!

Who influences your work today as you write?

My best writing buddy! (You know who I mean!!) The brainstorming that we do is absolutely invaluable to me and never fails to get me “unstuck” when I’ve painted myself into a corner! And my wonderful editor at Avon, Sarah Durand. Ophelia and Abby wouldn’t be Ophelia and Abby without her! Her instincts are always right on target and I rely on her input a great deal. And the best thing?? No matter how busy she is, she always takes the time to answer my gazillion emails!!!

8. How much is Ophelia, your main character, like you?

Hmm, good question! Well, according to my oldest daughter, she talks just like me! And we definitely have the same sense of humor. And, unbeknownst to me when I was originally creating it, her relationship with Abby is much like the relationship that I shared with my mother when she was alive. (This was pointed out to me after WITCH WAY TO MURDER was finished.)

In what ways is she different?

I think I’m a little more open than Ophelia is—not so reluctant to express my feelings as she is. She’s younger! Oh, and she’s a witch and a psychic and I’m not! (Even though my nine year old granddaughter has been known to try and impress her little friends by telling them I am!)

9. Ophelia and Darci have a terrific and very real friendship in the book. Describe how this reflects (or doesn’t reflect) your own life.

It does reflect my life!! I’ve been blessed over the years with great girlfriends and I truly don’t know what I would’ve done without them! They’ve been my therapists, my partners-in-crime. They’ve made me laugh when I felt like crying, and they’ve always been there for me. One thing that I’ve never been able to understand is the jealousy that some women feel toward other women! You know the “Queen Bee” syndrome?? For me, my life would’ve been a lot smaller and a lot emptier without my friends!

10. Ophelia has an absolutely hilarious pre-date experience and then a “bad date” in THE WITCH IS DEAD. Is this an example of art imitating life?

All I’m going to say is that the names have been changed to protect the innocent—ME!

11. As I write this, CHARMED TO DEATH has gone back for a third printing, and WITCH HUNT has gone back to press for the second time. Why do you think readers are responding to Ophelia and Abby? What’s your secret?

Hopefully, the readers are responding to Ophelia and Abby because they can identify with the characters. Too, anything to do with the paranormal seems to be pretty popular right now. A trend that I hope continues!! And I think the series has a certain amount of cross-genre appeal. I was told by a bookseller that it appeals to both sci-fans and mystery fans.

My secret?? Gosh, I don’t have one! If I did, I’d retire from the Postal Service and write full time! All joking aside, I’ve worked hard and I’ve been persistent. I kept trying even when all I heard was “thanks, but no thanks.” When the first book came out, I learned about marketing and got out there to promote it. Plus, as I said earlier, I’ve been really lucky. After all those rejections, I finally found a terrific agent who believes in the series and has faith in me as an author, she, in turn, found Sarah, who as I said, is the best…there are days I’m amazed at my good fortune!!

12. What’s the hardest part of being an author for you?

Sticking to my writing schedule! Another favorite quote “The plans of mice and men…”! It seems that life has a tendency to mess with that schedule!

What’s the best part?

Without a doubt—meeting or hearing from the readers!

13. If you could share one idea with aspiring authors—one suggestion which has made a difference in your career—what would that be?

Don’t give up—be persistent—but at the same time, roll with the punches—be flexible. If the first pitch doesn’t work, think of a new one. If you receive advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about—listen. Try and take every situation, even the negative ones, and learn from it to improve your craft!


Notice we’re ending on thirteen! I’d say that exploring the world of superstition has been very lucky for you indeed

Joanna Campbell Slan is the author of the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series from Midnight Ink. Set in the world of scrapbooking, the first book, OVER EXPOSED, is scheduled for release October, 2008. To learn more about Joanna and her terrific new series, check out these websites.
http://www.joannacampbellslan.com/
http://www.scrapbookstorytelling.com/

HOORAY FOR THE INDEPENDENTS!

Jo Dereske, author of The Miss Zukas Mysteries, and me in front of Book'em Mysteries in Pasadena, California.

I love bookstores! They feed my lifelong addiction to reading AND sell my books! I especially love independent bookstores. One of the biggest pleasures that I've had over the past couple of years is doing events at these stores and getting to know the booksellers. They do a great job hand selling new, unknown authors. With over 2,000 mysteries published a year, without the independent booksellers steering their customers toward these authors, it would be very difficult indeed for a new series to get off the ground. And thanks to them, I've discovered many authors whose works I wasn't aware of.


Here's another thing that I love about them--every store is different. Each store has its own atmosphere. Once Upon a Crime, in Minneapolis, Minnesota is located in a small business district near downtown. It's your neighborhood bookstore and, on a bulletin board in the back, are pictures of customers' dogs. Plus, if there's anything you want to know about mysteries, Pat and Gary are the ones to ask!


At Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, Mary Alice and Richard have a unique bathroom! Every year after The Festival of Mystery--which the store sponsors--the attending authors are given a Sharpie and you get to write a message on the wall! (It's the only time I've ever posted my name in a bathroom! ;) ) It's great to read what all the authors have written!


Main Street Books in St. Charles, Missouri, is located in a building dating back to the 1800's. It has pegged floors and a wooden staircase leading up to the Young Adult section. Out front is a cobblestone street and sidewalk made of brick. As you browse the store, you can feel the history. The Book Vault in Oskaloosa, Iowa was originally a bank and, yes, the store still has the vault.


The Bookworm in Omaha, Nebraska, (also a "dog friendly" store) and Books and Company in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin both have coffee shops, so the first thing that greets you is the wonderful smell of fresh brewed coffee! (btw--I practiced for weeks learning the correct way to pronounce "Oconomowoc!" I didn't want to embarrass myself at the store by garbling the name of the town!) If you visit The Mystery Book Store, also in Omaha, you'll be greeted by Kate's two cats, Ella and Sammy.


At Booked for Murder in Madison, Wisconsin, you might find some of Terri and Linda's little boy's toys lying about. The Bookworm in Bellevue, Iowa not only has books, but candles, pouporri, and gleaming crystals displayed in a glass case, and has a small-town feel to it, but The Bookstore, in downtown Des Moines, has an urban kind of an atmosphere, as does Mystery One in Milwaukee, Wisconsin .

I could go on and on about all the unique stores that I've visited, but instead I'll get to my point. I read recently that the biggest bookseller in the United States is Wal-Mart. Now I shop at Wal-Mart, too. I've even been known to purchase a book, if I run across one of my favorite authors. It's convenient and it's quick--I can kill two birds with one stone as they say. But what if the only bookseller was Wal-Mart? Would their clerks be able to answer a reader's question--"I'm looking for that mystery about witches?" How many new authors would grace their shelves? Or would it only be The New York Times best-sellers?

Not only as an author, but as a reader, I would really hate to see that happen! And it could--in the last two years I've seen at least two terrific independents here in Iowa close their doors. (It's hard for the "little guys" to compete against "giants." ) All those wonderful stores that I've mentioned above would be gone, and along with them, their uniqueness--one of the things that makes the mystery biz so much fun! So whenever you get the chance, please support your local bookstore!



Best,

Shirley

p.s.

If you'd like to know more about the bookstores I've mentioned--many of them have links listed on my website. And, yes, they do online orders!! ;)

"To blog or not to blog--that is the question!"

Ever since WITCH WAY TO MURDER was released, I’ve debated with myself about starting a blog. (Yes, Joanna, I know, they’re a great way to stay in contact with readers!) Time, of course, has been a factor. I work full time, do my own marketing for the series, have a family (they’re all grown, but still do require some attention!), have all the other mundane details of life to handle--just like everyone else, and oh yeah, write a couple of books each year! I told myself I couldn’t possibly squeeze in a blog.

But I think the real reason I’ve resisted has been deeper than that. It’s the way I’ve seen blogs being used. I’ve seen them used as a forum to vent spleen and vitriol against others. Rumors, innuendos, and insults are posted, not as opinion, but as fact. Now living in a small town all of my life, I’ve been exposed to plenty of gossip—there’s always something going on that provides grist for the mill—but there seems to be a difference between hearing a nasty comment and seeing it in print on your computer screen. It’s as if because it’s written, it has more credence. If you hear something, you pass it off with a “consider the source,” but if you read it, it’s like “wow, wonder if that’s true?” Is it because we’re conditioned, contrary to the old adage, “don’t believe everything you read,” we do anyway? I don’t know, but these thoughts were one of the things that have held me back on starting my own blog.

So that said—here’s the deal—whatever you read here is strictly my opinion for whatever it’s worth. I’m not an expert; I’m just someone trying to pursue her dream. And I’ll really try and follow what my mother always told me when I was a kid—“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all!” (However I do believe a good whine every now and again is good for the soul!) And my sense of humor is somewhat off-kilter, so please take whatever I say with a grain of salt—I’m probably just joking around!

I’d love to hear your comments, questions, or any suggestions for topics that you’d like to see discussed.

Okay—let’s have some fun!

Shirley