Darlene's Digest

I'll be honest. I didn't want a rescue dog. Our beloved Yofi, who passed away in 2014, came to us from a family breeder. We could meet the mama and papa doxies, see the littermates, observe her at play. We knew she came from good stock. With a rescue, I'd be taking a chance. However, I felt an obligation to at least check it out. So a year after Yofi's passing I submitted an application to Florida Dachshund Rescue . I was immediately impressed by their rigorous vetting process for new doxie owners. We had to have references, a home visit, and answer questions about dachshund care and ownership. This was a far more comprehensive process than I'd have received from some breeders. I could be specific in what I was looking for: smoothcoat, under 15 lbs. grown, female, all doxie. After our application was processed I was put on a waiting list, and I knew it could be a while before I found my match. Sadly, older, sick dogs all too often end up at rescue organizations....

She knew from his expression that she'd fallen even further in his esteem, if such a thing were possible. “It was more in the nature of a suggestion, Miss Farnham. I knew better than to ask,” he sighed. “Return to your cabin. I will see to it.” Daphne turned and walked blindly back to her cabin. Pompom greeted her and jumped into her lap when she sat on her bunk, staring at the empty covers of the bunk across from hers. Pompom licked her hand and Daphne put her head down next to the warm body snuggled into the crook of her arm. “At least you love me just the way I am, Pompom,” she whispered to the bichon. --Castaway Dreams Who else gives us such unconditional love? Our dogs are always there for us, greeting us on a bad day as if we're the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to them (other than a red ball flying through the air to catch, or maybe some extra treats in the food dish). Show your love for our fictional friends by voting for...

It's always something... The dog's annoyed with me. I noticed the sunlight coming in through my office window was hitting directly on the rug, so I pulled the blinds. Yofi got up from her bed, sat on the rug and stared at me accusingly. There was no longer sunlight on her bed. So because I always do what my dog tells me to do, I got up, adjusted the blinds, and put the sunlight back. Diva dachshund or oriental rug? Dachshund wins. This round. Oh, and she's doing much better. Yofi's walking more easily. Today we went around the block and she only stumbled once. A little fading on the rug's a small price to pay for a happy puppy.

First things first--thank you to all of you who asked about Yofi. She is doing better, though some days are easier than others. At least she's walking again, and that's a huge relief. Second, I've just booked my flight for Boskone 46 . As usual, I'm flying into NYC to visit with my son and then taking the Acela up to Boston. I've become quite fond of train travel since I started making this trip some three years back. I hope I'll see some of you there, and as always, I hope I don't get snowed in. The best part about traveling to Boston/NYC in February is having a return ticket that says "Florida". In the meantime, work continues on Castaway Dreams. Here's the last paragraph I typed this morning, a conversation between the H&H. He was a secondary character in my as yet unpublished Sea Change , and I wanted to give him his own opportunity to shine: “I have not had many dealings with young ladies, Miss Farnham. I can tell you that all...

Happy New Year! It's been a hectic couple of weeks, which is why I haven't posted more. Both my sons were home for the first time in over a year, so I was off my usual writing schedule--but for a good reason. It was great having the entire family together again. The other reason I've been busy has been less fun, but the prognosis is encouraging. Our 11 year old dachshund, Yofi, had an episode involving compression of the disks in her neck, which left her unable to walk without falling down. After some intensive treatment with steroids at the vet hospital we resumed acupuncture treatments for her. She's doing substantially better now, but I can still see signs of deterioration. However, veterinary acupuncture has helped in the past, so we're optimistic. Whew! In the meantime, I'm still researching my next book, working title Castaway Dreams, and writing notes on the novel. The characters are beginning to take shape in my mind and I typed the magic words ...

Everything I know about writing I learned from my dog, Yofi. Oh sure, her lovemaking scenes involve more buttsniffing than mine, and there was that disaster where her hero was distracted by a can opener while he was disarming a bomb, but overall, I can learn a lot from her. For example: Stay focused. When she’s in the backyard hunting moles, Yofi can stand still forever, not an eyelid twitching, not a hair moving. She has her eyes on the prize, and she will do whatever it takes to get it. When she makes her move, her muscles explode into action as she begins digging furiously. She’s not distracted by laundry or other books or rejection letters from publishers. She’s going to get that mole, and that’s all that matters. Be a big dog in a little package. Sure, we snicker at wiener dogs, but as dachshund owners know, inside, they’re Rottweilers. They’re willing to take on all comers, and they don’t back down. They don’t let their size keep them from doing what needs to be...