First let me say what a pleasure it is to be invited to guest blog on
Freshfiction. As I have discovered, the blogosphere is a warm and
inviting, if curious, place to be. In my own blog, www.susanwilsonwrites.com, I
recently observed what a difference a few years make in how books are publicized
and marketed. Where once an author had to buy new clothes, now she can sit, as
I am, at her kitchen counter in her pjs and communicate with fans and future fans.
ONE GOOD DOG is my sixth
novel and a departure from my usual focus. All of my books: BEAUTY, HAWKE’S COVE, CAMEO LAKE, THE FORTUNE-TELLER’S
DAUGHTER, and SUMMER
HARBOR have, as the central theme, the relationship between women and men.
In ONE GOOD DOG, I
explored the relationship between two very disparate species: man and dog. And
yet, there were some real similarities to a romance in Adam and Chance’s
relationship. They meet ‘cute’ (sort of); they each have to learn to trust the
other; they eventually develop a bond that transcends any prior experience of
love.
My challenge was to write a compelling, engaging and believable story with a dog
as a central character. Good books—and some not so good—have done this before,
but I think this may be the first time a dog and a man share the narrative. By
playing with POV and tense, I was able to give Chance and Adam distinct voices.
Chance, I have to say, actually felt as if he was dictating his story to me, so
easily did I slip into the head of a dog. I wonder if that’s a good thing? Woof.
My other challenge was to take a man who is, at the outset, rather despicable,
and turn him into a character that readers can cheer on. This was also a fun
exercise, and I really got to flex my anti-hero writing skills. But, at the
same time, I needed to know what made Adam the way he was. In other words,
define him against a backdrop of influences; but, also hold him responsible for
his actions.
Not all children who go through the foster system end up as damaged as Adam.
Many do. Not all pit bulls end up fighting. Many do. Given a chance, maybe
both can be redeemed. I hope that fans of Freshfiction enjoy ONE GOOD DOG.
Given today's blog relates to dogs, I have to comment, dog lover that I am. I have 2 mutts, one of whom has some pit in him. I love the idea of your having a dog as a main character and writing about the relationship between human & dog. I don't say owner & dog, because well my oldest dog has me trained FAR better than I have her trained. She has a definite personality and I can usually tell what she is thinking before she acts on it. My one year old (the part pit) is my good child...if a little overly energetic. But given his likely gene pool I am more alert to when he gets the least bit aggressive and I am working/training to keep in check as he showed no aggression until he picked it up from my older dog who is only 35 lbs, but all bad ass & territorial.
(Summer Sharp 11:02am March 8, 2010)
I was the costume advisor for Sylvia,a community play with a dog as one of the main characters. It was all in good fun what with going to the park and the barking and heading over to the boy dog named Bowser who was merely implied and not seen. Oh, by the way, it was a person on all fours, as the dog. I enjoy learning from another's point of view, including cat and dog buddies.
(Alyson Widen 12:37pm March 8, 2010)
I have a dog that I feel more like her Mom in our relationship. It was just like building a relationship with my husband but in a different way. I just can't imagine losing her. It would be almost like losing one of my kids. Sounds like a great book.
(Vicki Hancock 9:59pm March 8, 2010)
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