It's pub day! The book is out at long last! I really hope you all enjoy it- All Dogs Go to Kevin has truly been a labor of love. (That link goes to my new website. Did I mention I have a new website? It's been so busy around here I think I forgot.) Last weekend I went to Warwicks to sign the preordered books. Brian and the kids were at ComicCon, so I went to Warwicks by myself. It was a short task, no more than 20 minutes, so I couldn't figure out why I was so bummed about going alone, and ... Read more »
Book News
The calm before the storm
Oh my goodness. One week from tomorrow and it's going to be one of the most important days of my life: right up there with graduating, getting married, having my kids. I will be an official published author. Aieeee! I dreamed of this long before I thought about going to veterinary school, back when I was seven and I pulled every book off my shelf and artfully arranged them around the house playing bookstore ( Or was it library?) When I sat under the kitchen counter reading National ... Read more »
Charity Treat: Newflands Hoki Oil and AFARNYC
Perhaps you are the magnanimous sort. "Dr. V," you say, "I ordered the book but I don't need the free Halo or Sleepypod stuff or PetHub tag or Dog + Bone collars or Groom Genie or any of those items you are giving away, not even the awesome little activity book with coloring pages and a word search featuring ANALGLANDS and DEMODEX." You are an ascetic. You don't have a pet. You're decluttering. OK, I get that. But surely you aren't opposed to a donation in your name, right? I have a ... Read more »
Safe and styling travel: The Auto treat featuring Sleepypod Clickit and PeaceLovePaws!
It's summer- heck, the fourth of July is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, and you know what that means. Traffic. Sitting on the road. Making sure your pet doesn't get carsick. That sort of thing. Carsickness aside, the biggest risk to pets with travel is the danger of an unsecured pet- for the pet himself, and for you. Unsecured, a pet is a projectile during an accident, and even in minor crashes there is a very high rate of injury when pets escape and run into traffic. Even a ... Read more »
Bites for Books: Halo Pet Treat to Eat!
We are almost to the end of our treat selections and they are going fast! All you need to do is order 2 copies of the book and you get a treat- it's like free goodies from heaven! Today's treat comes to you courtesy of Halo Pet Food, a long-time friend of the blog. They are ingredient-focused, with an emphasis on no chicken meal, by-product meal, or rendered meat. You may be familiar with the brand as a highly philanthropic company, with their freekibble.com site donating hundreds ... Read more »
Tags for Tomes: PetHub and Lost Pet Prevention Month!
July is Lost Pet Prevention Month, and that's a huge deal. After all, the fifth of July is the single busiest day of the year for shelters, due to a cross-the-country habit of loud explosives sending panicked dogs and cats screaming out the door the night before. If you think your pet is a flight risk, there's still time! Talk to the vet about anxiety prevention measures before you need them. Acepromazine, that old stand-by sedative, is actually a terrible choice as it does nothing to ... Read more »
Confessions of an Agnawstic
A few weeks ago, while my publicist was asking online dog lovers if they might be interested in reviewing my book, he came back with a question: "Do you recommend Science Diet or raw?" he asked. "It's really not an either/or thing," I said. "The book doesn't talk about nutrition at all." "Well, one of the people we approached said they only write about things from a raw food perspective," he said. "Oh, then they don't want my book," I said. "It's just from a dog lover's perspective." ... Read more »
Bowls for books: Sleepypod Yummy bowl Travel Treat!
If you're wondering if the entire blog has gone to the dogs lately, the answer is yes. This blog is All Dogs Go to Kevin, All the Time....through July 14th. That's when the preorder part is over and I'm either kicking back with a bottle of champagne and planning the next book or crying inconsolably in a parking lot somewhere when I find out I sold less copies than William Hung's newest single. I don't want that, at all, which is why I spent so many hours staring over my husband's shoulder while ... Read more »
Dog Plus Bone: The Stylin’ Treat Collar for posh pups
The preorder incentive campaign for All Dogs Go to Kevin is swimming along, but because you all are so awesome I really wanted to share some extra special items as thank yous for all your support. Today I want to introduce you to the Stylin' Treat: A snap or martingale collar from the wonderful team at Dog Plus Bone! Dog Plus Bone is the brainchild of owners Anne and Ivan, who set out with one goal: "to create simple, honest, classic products that enable you to enjoy more ... Read more »
How Emmett helped save me from depression
When people ask me what my book is about, I feel silly saying, "Dogs," so I've been trying to refine it. I got a little further: "3 Dogs," and then, "3 dogs who were really important to me and also it's about my friend Kevin and a funny play on words," and then I took a break. It didn't really hit me until my mom got sick: This is a book about the purpose dogs have in our lives, about how they are here for a discrete space and time and change us for the better in very specific ways. And the ... Read more »
Book updates, giveaways, and TREATS!
On we soldier, because that is what we must do. A few months ago, my mother asked to read the galley of All Dogs Go to Kevin, and I said, "No, you have to wait till the book comes out like everyone else." Later that afternoon I felt terrible about that so I said, "OK, I changed my mind, here you go." She read it in a day then called to tell me how much she loved it. I am really, really glad I changed my mind. I imagine things are a bit chaotic for her right now but I have high hopes she'll ... Read more »
I take back everything I’ve said about writing being fun and easy
There is nothing that will make you gain an appreciation for a creative process more than attempting to do it yourself. You know, like those people who scoff at the museum and say, "A kid could do that!" and then go home and paint something absolutely horrid. Or those people who look on Pinterest or food blogs for new recipes. This is how I feel about writing a book. "I write a blog," I said. "I have a command of basic English," I said. This will be a piece of cake. James Patterson ... Read more »
How to Write a Blog vs How to Write a Book
After writing a blog for half a decade now, you'd think that the transition from blog to book would be effortless; and if not that, at least somewhat intuitive. You'd be wrong. It's kind of like saying, hey, I walk my dog every day, I'm totally up for a triathlon. Some of you have asked how it's going or what it's like. It's not easy, but really, what good things in life are? I'm enjoying the process immensely. I'm Ralph Macchio currently getting edited by my very own Pat Morita. We are on ... Read more »
