It was last summer that I heard of a contest being sponsored by Linda and Allen Anderson of Angel Animals Network, called Dogs and the Women Who Love Them.  I remember reading about the contest and feeling a flutter in my heart, while tears instantly sprang to my eyes.

The contest was about how dogs have helped women in their lives with healing and/or finding their purpose.  I felt this had me written all over it.  As usual, thoughts of, am I good enough to enter a contest, etc. reared their ugly head.  Then came a few emails from friends and fellow authors asking if I saw the contest and how I had to enter.  Just the positive influence I needed to face my fears.

I thought long and hard about this contest.  It took a few more weeks of procrastinating on my part to finally begin the writing process.  When I began, I could not stop.  To me, this contest felt like the culmination of all Frankie and I had been through and accomplished the past two years.

When it was complete I sent it in and let it go- wishing it to be whatever it was meant to be.  I was so happy and surprised when I placed 2nd in the contest for my story, “The Blessing of a Wheelchair-Bound Dachshund.”  And I was absolutely thrilled when I learned my story would make it into Linda and Allen’s new book, Dogs and the Women Who Love Them:  Extraordinary True Stories of Loyalty, Healing, and Inspiration.”

With a few tweaks from the editor, the story I originally wrote is even better, while still a true reflection of who I am and what I wrote.

It is a thrill to be in the book that will come out November 1st, 2010 and which you can pre-order on Amazon  today.  I’m happy to announce also that fellow authors I know, Jenny Pavlovic and Sage Lewis will also have their stories in the book.  An honor to be among them!