September 2, 2020
Anyone who has read one of my P.J. Benson Mysteries (THE CROWS, AS THE CROW FLIES, EYE OF THE CROW, and EAT CROW AND DIE) knows Baraka, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, plays an important part in each of the stories. No, P.J.’s dog doesn’t solve mysteries, doesn’t talk to her, and doesn’t always make her life […]
June 3, 2020
The coronavirus has made many changes in our lives. Writers are facing new challenges in ways to promote their books. Bookstores have been closed (some are reopening, but author talks and signings have been cancelled); physical author tours have been cancelled; conferences have been cancelled; libraries are still closed, which means talks at libraries have […]
April 21, 2015
I may now own a miniature poodle, but my heart still belongs to the Rhodesian Ridgeback. I fell in love with the breed back in 1969 when I first saw them at a dog show in Santa Barbara, California. By 1970 my husband and I owned one, along with a rescue dog of mixed heritage, […]
April 4, 2015
“Don’t kill the dog.” When I first started writing romances, I took a story I’d been working on to a writers’ meeting and read a portion. In that section, I had a dog die. Oh, my. The reaction was immediate and unanimous. “Don’t kill the dog.” I obviously changed that scene. Since then I’ve seen […]
October 23, 2013
The good news is the bride and groom are still talking to each other…and to us (her parents and aunt, my husband and me). In fact, we’re already talking about another trip. Maybe to Scotland. There’s no way to summarize a nine-day trip to such a beautiful and historic country as Ireland. I can understand […]
June 5, 2013
“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Mark Twain (and Zuri Soule) I’d like to start by thanking everyone who commented or sent e-mails regarding Zuri’s health. The pills and a change in diet (fresh liver to increase his red-blood count) have helped. We have no idea how long he’ll be with us, but […]
May 29, 2013
I spent most of this morning in the veterinarian’s office. Zuri stopped eating yesterday and then threw up in the afternoon. He’ll be twelve years old in 8 days. It doesn’t seem like that many years have gone by since the breeder notified me that the litter had been born and yes, there would be […]
November 21, 2012
We’re leaving Zuri with our daughter and her husband over Thanksgiving. This morning I received a message from my son-in-law. Thought you’d like to see how my poor dog will be roughing it. *********************************************************************************** Hey kiddo. I know it’s late, but I was hoping I could get you to answer a few Zuri care related […]
June 13, 2012
Last week (June 6th) my dog turned eleven. Zuri has lived the longest of any of my Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and so far he seems to be in pretty good health. He did start getting fatty tumors (non-cancerous) when he was around four. Now he has them all over his body. And he has trouble moving when he first […]
September 21, 2011
Today I’m feeling sorry for and worried about my dog, Zuri. Tomorrow morning he goes to vet’s for surgery. He’s had a growth on his right elbow for about four months, and it has one area that occasionally breaks open and bleeds. Not just a little, but a lot. Although he’s had calluses on his […]