Today we welcome author Linda O. Johnston for Book Club Friday. Linda writes across several genres, but the one constant in her writing is that they all somehow involve animals. You can read all about Linda at her website. Leave Linda a comment on the blog today, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a copy of HOWL DEADLY, the eighth book in her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery. -- AP
GOOD OBSESSIONS
BEAGLEMANIA starts next month!
No, it’s not a rendition of classic rock music with a misspelled twist. That’s the title of my first Pet Rescue Mystery, a spinoff series from my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime.
Unlike Anastasia Pollack here at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers, or many of the characters featured by my fellow bloggers at Killer Hobbies, my protagonist Lauren Vancouver isn’t a crafter, nor does she partake in other hobbies. Her entire life centers around saving animals.
I was invited to blog at Killer Hobbies years ago, thanks to my Kendra series. My main topic was to be pets. But as I said then and always repeat, pets aren’t hobbies, they’re family.
To Lauren, they’re also an obsession--in a good way. She’ll do anything to save animals.
BEAGLEMANIA begins with a rescue from a puppy mill. Some of Lauren's later adventures will involve an animal hoarder and a shelter that takes in unadoptable pets.
I’m really pleased to be blogging here at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers and admit to being intrigued by both. Once upon a time, I was a crafter. I hooked rugs, and was obsessed by it. I also often sewed my own clothes. I admit that I’d love to hook another rug one of these days, but haven’t yet undertaken it. Now, I focus more on crafty killers--in writing my mysteries.
When I began researching my new series, I met with pet rescuers of many kinds. I visited shelters, both public and private. I talked to people. Met animals.
Found my new obsession.
Now I volunteer at a private shelter, Pet Orphans of Southern California. I’m a dog adoption counselor, which means I both screen potential adopters and introduce them to dogs they might fall in love with.
If helping to save animals isn’t a good obsession, what is?
I’ll be giving away a copy of HOWL DEADLY, the eighth Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery which introduces Lauren Vancouver, to one person who comments on this post. Tell me all about your obsessions... and if they happen to involve animals, all the better!
Thanks for stopping by today, Linda! Readers, don’t forget to post a comment to enter the drawing for HOWL DEADLY and check back Sunday to see if you're the winner. -- AP
16 comments:
Wow! This is a great post! Thanks so much for telling me about your book. Me will have to get my human to buy it and read it to me, my brother the brat Kozmo and the hairy slobbery sisters, Bob and Sam.
Penelope (the Cat From Hell)
Hi, Penelope--
I hope you enjoy the book. You and your kitty siblings might also enjoy FELINE FATALE, one of the Kendra books. The elusive kitty Lady Cuddles might give you some ideas your humans won't like!
My cat story involves a part Siamese named Chloe. We took her on a car trip but she was very nervous ... we found out later she was afraid of air brakes on a large truck, which sound like the hiss of a VERY large cat! At one point while stopped to service the car, I took her out on a leash. Air brakes hissed and she went wild, running this way and that, and finally up my pantyhose to hide under my skirt. The pain of her climb let me drop the leash and she was gone! It took about an hour to find her, and her poor heart was still beating very fast. That was her last car trip.
Both of my pets are rescue pets but not from a shelter. I adopted my chinchilla when her owner died and no one in the family wanted it and my cat my son found on the street in front of his apartment over seven years ago. He asked me to keep the cat until he put up posters and found the owner. No one ever claimed her so she's mine. I definitely have to read Beaglemania. I love Beagles and had one when I first got married.
So glad that Chloe turned up safely, Shirley. I can understand why she was afraid of a big, hissing truck!
Taking in animals in need that way is really great, Kathy, and Beagles are definitely cute!
I love my Alaskan Malamutes and we participate in all the local fundraising events for rescues and shelters. I'm also obsessed with my Harley and my favorite fundraiser is Putts for Mutts where we ride our Harleys to raise money for a local no-kill shelter.
Alaskan Malamutes are such wonderful dogs, cstironkat. And I love the idea of combining obsessions--as you can tell!
I have too many obsession, but one of them is finding good books to read. Beaglemania is a wonderful story.
Reading is always a great obsession, Janie! Thanks for your compliment about Beaglemania. I like it!
Linda, thanks so much for being our guest today. Readers, don't forget to check back Sunday to see if you're the lucky winner of a copy of HOWL DEADLY.
All my permanent pets are rescues and since I raise foster kittens for the local Humane Society, the house sometimes seems to be over run with cats. But knowing they will be neutered and get good homes makes it all worth it. I've read all the Kendra Ballantyne books and look forward to your new series.
pennyt at hotmail dot com
Thanks a lot for inviting me, Anastasia! It's been fun.
Glad you enjoy Kendra's stories, pennyt, and hope you enjoy the Pet Rescue Mysteries, too. Cheers for your kitty rescues and fostering!
Hi Linda!
I share your love of animals and when I retire, I hope to eventually have some time to donate to an animal rescue or shelter. Of course, my own dogs (children) are saying, "Mommy, if you retire, you can take us for walks every day! Whoo hoo!"
Can't wait to read the book!
Thanks, Kathy! Yes, I'm at my own dogs' bark and call now. They don't seem to care if they break my train of thought while I'm writing. Let me know at which shelter you decide to become a volunteer!
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