Romance Weekly

What kind of animal person are you? Do you have pets? If so, how do they influence your writing, or don’t they? What is the most unusual pet you’ve had, either as a child or adult?

 I belong to Jakita. No question. She rules. If you ask her, she will tell you she actually does all my writing for me, but she can’t type since she doesn’t have thumbs. That’s not really true. I mean, it is about the thumbs, but she doesn’t really do the work. But she is my constant moral support. And she reminds me every day that there is such a thing as unconditional love. I don’t think I could write without her at my feet.

Here’s the funny thing. When I was little, I was terrified of dogs. My father decided I needed to get over that, so he brought Susie home. She was a mutt and her bed was just outside the kitchen door, in the garage. She sensed my fear and always laid in her bed with her behind to the door. It was as if she knew that was non-threatening. I was curious about her, so I would stick out my hand and touch her leg. She wouldn’t react. After several days of this, she slowly turned her head and looked at me. So sweet and gentle. And so I got braver.

Susie’s bed was moved inside to the laundry room and I would come home every day from first grade and read to her. She became my best buddy.

Dogs have had a special place in my heart since Susie. Oh, I’ve had cats and fish and ferrets, and I’ve really loved them all, but to me, my dog keeps my heart.