barbara techel

My Book Cover Revealed: “Through Frankie’s Eyes”–Let’s Celebrate with a Giveaway!

Posted by Barbara Techel

I’m so excited to share this with all of you! After months of giving thought to the best and right decision, I finally chose this cover for my book, Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self, and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way coming February 2013.  Thank you to Derek Murphy of Creative Indie for working with me and answering my oodles of questions until I felt comfortable with this final choice.  In tomorrow’s post I’ll share my reasons for choosing this as my cover and how “analysis paralysis” almost stopped me from picking one at all!

But now it is time to celebrate!!

I’ve got a wonderful giveaway to celebrate the release of my book cover. I hope you will take part, as well as share with your family and friends to not only help me spread the good news about my soon to be book, but also so they have a chance to take part in this awesome giveaway.

To enter the giveaway all you need to do is take part in answering the question below. You can answer in the comment section below, or head on over to my Facebook page and leave a comment on the post about my book cover giveaway.  On November 21st I will pick a winner at random with Random.org.  So here is the question:

What is the biggest lesson your pet has taught you and how has that helped you to grow or evolve in your life? (if you don’t have a pet, perhaps a previous pet you had or another pet that may not personally be yours is one that has helped you).

I’m really excited about hearing what all of you have to say about this question, so please do participate!

Now For the Exiting Giveaway Details:

~A signed copy of Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self, and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way plus one signed copy for ten friends.  The winner and their ten friends will also receive a one hour book discussion with me via phone or Skype (or in person if you would happen to be in my neck of the woods).  This will take place once my book is released and you and your friends have had enough time to read the book.

~An animal communication reading for the pet of your choice from animal communicator, Dawn Baumann Brunke.

Signed copies of the following books:

A Dog Named Leaf: The Hero from Heave Who Saved My Life by Allen Anderson with Linda Anderson

A Dog Named Boo: How One Dog and One Woman Rescued Each Other– and the Lives They Saved Along the Way by Lisa J. Edwards

 Heart to Heart Hand in Paw: How One Woman Finds Faith and Hope through the Healing Love of Animals by Peggy Frezon

Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style by Ingrid King (this is an ebook)

 Dancing Dogs Stories by Jon Katz

 The Animal Anthology Project: True Tails by Christine Catlin

All copies of the books with the exception of Dancing Dogs will be mailed to winner by respective author (Dancing Dogs will be mailed by me to winner).  Purrs of Wisdom is an ebook and winner’s name will be given to author, Ingrid King to get that to winner. A huge thank you to each and every author for their participation in my special giveaway! Also a special thank you to Dawn Baumann Brunke for the animal communication donation.

This giveaway is open to US residents only. When you leave a comment below in the post please be sure I have a way in which I can get a hold of you by email if you are the winner.  If I don’t have that information, I will need to pick another winner. If you answer the question on Facebook I will message you through Facebook if you are the winner.

The winner will have seven days to notify me they received the email stating they are the winner. If I don’t hear from winner in seven days, another name will be drawn and declared winner.

If you wish to be notified when my book is launched and available for purchase please consider signing up for my newsletter (left hand upper corner of this page) or following me on Twitter, Facebook or my blog (you can sign up for post updates on left hand side.  Scroll down until you see sign up box).

The Animal Anthology Project Published! Includes the Story of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog’s Therapy Work

Posted by Barbara Techel

From The Animal Anthology Project Blog:

Featuring stories from the nation’s most reknowned authors of animal tales, The Animal Anthology Project has been published. Contributors include notable Lois Duncan (Hotel for Dogs), Bob Tarte (Kitty Cornered), Sy Montgomery (The Good Good Pig), Irene Pepperberg (Alex & Me), Carl Safina (Song for the Blue Ocean), J.A. Jance (NY Times bestselling author of the Ali Reynolds series), Dr. Marty Goldstein (Starring in Oprah as America’s premier holistic veterinarian), and Hugh Warwick (A Prickly Affair: My Life with Hedgehogs).

To buy the book either head to your local bookstore or go on amazon.com. To help The Animal Anthology Project and the Best Friends Animal Society buy a book today! Out of more than 1,000 submission we have selected our favorite 50 to appear in print.

I’m very honored and proud to be among all these wonderful authors whose story was accepted and now published in this book done my 16-year old Christine Catlin.

I Want to Be the Female Version of Jon Katz

Posted by Barbara Techel

Kylie on the path behind our house

As many of you know who follow me here on my blog, my all time favorite blog and author is Jon Katz– no kidding, right?

Sometimes I wish I were him. But in a way I guess I am.  We both like to write. We both like dogs and animals.  We both enjoy trying to just enjoy the simple moments and joys of life. He is (well) known as Bedlam Farm.  I am (not as well) known as Joyful Paws.

So let’s see.  He lives on a farm in NY. I live in a little cottage style home in WI. He has three dogs. I currently have one. He has three donkeys, many chickens, a few barn cats, and sheep.  I’m really short in all those departments I’m afraid to say.  But I do have wild birds and hummingbirds.  Lots of bunnies.  Some squirrels and the occasional woodchuck.  Even had a Sand hill Crane family in my backyard last summer.

Everyday he walks his three dogs on a path on his property. Though that will soon change and a new path will be forged at his new farm house. I walk Kylie on the path behind our house when it is not too hot– which hot it has been most of the summer so far– so not much path walking has gotten done.  And to this day she still is not the most enthusiastic walker- never was, and I suspect she never will be.  I’ve accepted that about her.

I may not have all the animals and life that Jon Katz has, but I know enough to find happiness in what I do have. It is all a matter of choice, afterall. It is where I am in this moment at this time and I’m pretty happy and content.  When I need a donkey or farm fix, I get lost in Jon’s blog.  But for the most part I really do give thanks for the simple, sweet life I’ve carved out here with my supportive and loving husband, John. I feel a wee bit short in the dog department right now, too, but that will hopefully change as I continue to move forward.  Though as promised to John, not until after our fall trip to Vermont.  Hey, maybe I’ll run into Jon Katz and his wife, Maria there as I know they like to escape there, too.  Now wouldn’t that be something?

So I’ve decided, yes, Jon is great and I love learning from him about his writing and his life. I take it and sift it and adapt to what is right for me. So I guess this then means I would just rather stay me. Yup- I like me and I like my life.  It has been something I’ve worked hard on the past ten years and wouldn’t trade where I’ve come to the place of mostly peace and acceptance about who I am and what I do have. Life is good.