This week my guest is Dorothy Bodoin (pronounced like Beaudwin),
one of my favorite writers and a dear friend. I asked her to discuss collies
because they’re a major part of every story, and she’s obliged me with some
interesting thoughts. I have to add that her collie, Kinder, is a characters
and the real life stories just crack me up. Welcome, Dorothy!
Crazy Over Collies
by
Dorothy Bodoin
There have been very few
times in my life when I haven’t had a canine companion, so it was only natural
that when I began writing fiction, I created dog characters to keep my heroines
company.
I can’t imagine life
without a collie in it. Well, in truth,
I can. Some years ago, I was
hospitalized and afterward spent about six weeks in a nursing home. During that time, I lost my beloved tricolor
collie, Holly, and I didn’t think I could have a collie until six months later.
It was an unhappy time, filled with lingering
trauma and, above all, loneliness.
I should mention that
the collie is my heart breed. Maybe it started
with the original Lassie movies;
maybe with my Albert Payson Terhune books, which I still have. By the time our first collie, Heather--named
for a Terhune collie--joined our household, I was sold. Committed.
There’s never been a question of going back.
In my novel of romantic
suspense, Ghost Across The Water, Joanna loses her collie, Kinder,
and feels as if all the color has drained out her world. She sees everything in monochromatic
tones. Ironically I wrote those passages
before the long, lonely months when there was no collie in my own house.
So my real collie,
Kinder (Wolf Manor Kinder Brightstar), keeps me company while I write, and
supplies me with countless antics for my books.
Which brings me to My Rule #1--Just as you take good care of your
real-life collie, you have to take care of the dogs in your books.
In one scene, Joanna,
reaches her cottage in a dangerous downpour and neglects to even
acknowledge the presence of the collie she’d
left at home, let alone see to her needs.
I’d never do that with
my dogs. I guess I was so immersed in
Joanna’s danger that I couldn’t focus on anything else.
Fortunately my
then-critique partner called my attention to Joanna’s neglect, and I hastily
rewrote the scene. Now Jennet, heroine
of the Foxglove Corners mysteries, has six collies and I have to make sure that
all are accounted for as I take Jennet through her current adventures. Believe me, that isn’t so easy.
When I wrote my first
published novel, Darkness At Foxglove Corners, Holly was a young dog. She served as the model for Halley, Jennet
Greenway’s tricolor collie.
Incidentally, if you’d like to see a picture of Holly (Wolf Manor Dark
Holly), you’ll find one on my website: www.dorothybodoin.com She’s sitting in her
favorite rocking chair and this is my favorite picture. Kinder has never even thought of jumping into
that chair; she’s a larger, longer collie.
As I write my books, I
try to adhere to My Rule #2--A fictitious collie may find herself in peril and
often does, but I am never going to kill her.
As a reader, I’ve shed too many tears over dogs killed off by their
creators.
With this rule in mind,
I hesitated over the opening situation of The Dog From the Sky.
Jennet, now Jennet Ferguson, married to Deputy Sheriff Crane Ferguson,
comes across a blue merle collie left to die a horrible death. Jennet rescues the dog, names her Sky, and
from then on, Sky has a wonderful life as part of the Ferguson pack.
This story was inspired
by a real-life incident shared with me by my “collie” friend, Judy Kuhn. In real life, there was a different
outcome. My great desire to change the
fate of the blue merle inspired me to write this book.
By the way, Jennet has
rescued so many collies during her career as a teacher-sleuth that I decided to
have her join the fictitious Lakeville Collie Rescue League. Our own Tri-County Collie Rescue is an
organization after my own heart. I
always make sure they have Foxglove Corners books to sell in the hope that the
funds may help their foundlings in some little way.
Rule #3 isn’t really a
rule. I often joke that not only do I
have to cook for myself, I have to give Jennet several menu ideas for every
book. I have my own list of Christmas
gifts to buy for friends and family, and Jennet has to have one too. I’ve chosen names for my own collies, and
Jennet has done the same.
Ironically I used the
name Kinder for Joanna’s collie in Ghost Across The Water, the one in
danger of being forgotten during a thunderstorm by a clueless writer. When the time came for me to name my new
puppy, I named her after Joanna’s Kinder.
My little sable pup became Wolf Manor Kinder Brightstar.
My collie, Kinder, lets
me write without interruption--usually.
She is just as likely to toss one of her toys at me, and because I can
refuse her nothing,--well almost nothing,--I’ll take a break and play with
her. She comes into my office to remind
me that it’s time to fix dinner--hers and mine.
She adds joy and color to my life and keeps me from being lonely.
Which is why I give my
heroines collies in their lives.
As a reader, I always
gravitate toward books with dogs on the cover.
If they’re collies, all the better.
A paper dog adds joy and color to a writer’s story, too. If you’re a new writer, if you truly love
dogs, you might want to remember that.
Thank you, Dorothy. If I wasn’t so
nuts about Labrador retrievers, I’d be looking at the companionship of a
collie. Check out Dorothy’s latest book, A Ghost of Gunfire.
Website: www.dorothybodoin.com
CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website
CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com
COMING IN FEBRUARY: How Now Purple Cow – A Bogey
Man Mystery
Great post, Dorothy!
ReplyDeleteYour books are perfect examples of writing not only about what you know but also what you are passionate about. A winning combination!
To Patricia Gligor—Thanks for the compliment, Patricia. I read an article on writing long ago titled “Passions Spin the Plot”. I can’t remember who wrote it—maybe one of the Gothic writers I loved during the age of the Gothic novel. All I remember is the title, and it made sense to me. I couldn’t summon the enthusiasm to write about a subject I wasn’t passionate about. People often ask me if I’d ever write about a cat. Probably not. I’ve never owned a cat. However, Miss Eidt, the librarian in my Foxglove Corners series, tamed a wild cat; I named her Blackberry after Judy Bolton’s beloved black cat.
DeleteDorothy
I love mysteries that include animal companions although I worry more about them than I do the humans in the story. I've included dogs in my mysteries although it's been many years since I've had one. I'm living with two very spoiled cats who rule the house. So far they've vetoed adding a dog to the mix.
ReplyDeleteTo Leslie Diehl—I agree with you about worrying more about animal characters that humans. It occurs to me that I’ve killed plenty of characters without a tear, but an animal? Never.
DeleteDorothy
Once I owned a dog, or should I say she owned me, I couldn't imagine life without a dog either. The hubby and I both enjoy the companionship of dogs and Rascal is our fourth since we've been married. Including a dog in a story can only enrich it!
ReplyDeleteTo Morgan Mandel—How true. Dogs do own their owners. Mine has me wrapped around her little paw. My father taught me well that they’re your best friend.
DeleteDorothy
I included a dog in my first novel, thinking since it was set on a ranch, that was only natural. A reader told me she was so glad I did since she only liked to read books with dogs. That made a great impression on me.
ReplyDeleteTo Palmaltas—Sometimes I wonder about people who don’t like dogs. Would they refuse to read a book with a dog character? The first novel I ever wrote was set in the Old West. I wasn’t sure that collies were popular in that time and place, so I created a small collie-type dog named Midnight. After that it was collies all the way except for one collie-husky mix.
DeleteDorothy
I love reading your novels, Dorothy, and can't wait to read your latest. I also have a dog who comes to me when I'm writing to let me know that it's dinner time for her. This is the first year we only have one dog, we usually have two, but ours are always black lab mixes.
ReplyDeleteTo Evelyn Cullet—Thanks for the compliment, Evelyn. Kinder also comes to me when it’s time for our before-bed snack: toast for me, an assortment of bones and Wellness bars for her. Who can keep reading with hopeful eyes staring at you?
DeleteDorothy
I also love dogs and have included them in my novels. I've always wanted a collie, which we'e planning to adopt this spring as a companion for our Australian-Shepherd-Husky mix. I've heard that female dogs don't get along well together so I'm crossing my fingers that ours will.It will make an interesting storyline if they don't. :)
ReplyDeleteTo Jean Henry Mead—My friends in Collie Rescue usually have females living together, and they get along. Since Australian shepherds and collies are both herders, I think they’d be fine together. Initially, though there may be a period of adjustment. You’re right about the storyline. Neither one will go. How will they learn to co-exist?
DeleteDorothy
This is a delightful blog, Dorothy and Marja. I'm a dog lover, too (and a cat lover, as well). I miss my dog, Charley (named after John Steinbeck's dog), who always sat near my desk. Now I only have Boris, the cat, who does the job well, sitting nearby. I wish he could voice his opinion and do some editing, but no.
ReplyDeleteTo Eileen Obser—Thanks for the compliment on the blog, Eileen. I think it’s only my second blog. I wish Kinder could advise me on my plots sometimes, but maybe it’s best that she doesn’t know how I’m portraying her when she’s in naughty mode.
DeleteDorothy
Lovely post, Dorothy. I, too, write about and with dogs - in my adult life (and books), Australian Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers (Marja!), a Golden, and more. Cats, too! I run a blog and companion Facebook group, both called Animals in Focus, for readers & writers who love animals - drop by if you like. All species welcome!
ReplyDeleteTo Sheila Boneham—Thanks, Sheila. I’ll drop by your Facebook page. I have Drop Dead on Recall in paperback but can’t seem to wean myself away from Kindle. When I do, I have your book, a Christmas novelette by Sharon McCrumb, and a long Stephen King book to read.
DeleteDorothy
To Marja and all—Thanks so much for giving me this opportunity to write about my collie passion.
ReplyDeleteDorothy
Thank you, Dorothy. Your love for the breed really shows in your writing.
DeleteThank you for being my guest this week.
Needless to say, Dorothy had a problem trying to post comments, so I've added them for her.
ReplyDeleteST. Bernards are my favorites but there were collies when a child. Always enjoy your blog & having another favorite author topped off the week.
ReplyDeleteThey're all my favorites. : ) If it's a dog, I like it. I'm glad Dorothy's post topped off your week.
Delete