Tales from the Pack

The Dog Who Invented Towel Surfing

I've been thinking about summer dogs lately — specifically, the one who taught me everything I know about shameless joy.

Growing up, we had this dog who was part Irish Setter, and she was OBSESSED with retrieving things. Sticks, balls, shoes, the occasional sock that definitely wasn't hers. But her absolute favorite move? She'd grab onto a towel, clamp down with everything she had, and then we'd drag her across the grass while she got a full belly rub the entire way. Tail going the whole time. 😂

I'm talking full-body commitment to the experience. All four legs splayed out, mouth clamped on towel, zero dignity, maximum happiness. She had this look on her face like she'd figured out the meaning of life and it was this exact moment.

That enthusiasm — that completely unfiltered, "I don't care how ridiculous I look, THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER" energy — is exactly what inspired Ginger. If you've ever met a dog who treats every single day like it's the greatest day that's ever happened, you've met the real-life version of my fictional bat dog. 🐾

The Neighbor's Dog Has the Gate Figured Out

Sometimes the funniest things happen on my walks, and it can be a totally random experience. I had Luna and Annie out on a long walk, and I hear a gate opening as I'm walking past a house. I turn, and there's this German Shepherd mix standing in front of a large wooden gate, just wagging his tail and looking at us like he's saying, "Hi! Thanks for coming by."

I was like, "Oh no! Are you loose?" Then I hear somebody from their backyard going, "Chase, get in here!" The dog turns around, opens the gate by standing up on it and unlatching it with his paw, and then dashes back in while the gate shuts behind him.

Which makes me wonder: how many times has that dog gotten out and they didn't even know?

An Irish Setter Wanders Into My Next Book

I think the next book will have an Irish Setter. I was walking Luna and Bode yesterday and met up with a neighbor who is taking care of her sister's Irish Setter while she's out of town. What a sweet girl! She was super excited to meet new friends and we had to spend a good 10 minutes untangling leashes.

I was worried about one of the dogs getting loose, but they were all so focused on each other it wasn't a problem.

(Spoiler from the future: that Irish Setter absolutely made it into the book. Her name is Ginger now.)

The Dog Who Stole My Dad's Pencils

Several readers have already asked where Cache came from, and the answer is a very sweet dog from my childhood. She was part golden retriever and part Irish setter, and she absolutely loved bringing me things. Shoes. Socks. Pencils — which really irritated my Dad, because he'd put them down on his desk and next thing you knew, I had them. And she delivered all of these with enormous pride.

So when I started writing Cache, I knew exactly what kind of dog he was going to be. A dog who believes that carrying objects around is both a personality and a profession.

Golden Retrievers Make Good Heroes

I was walking in the park today with a friend and — shockingly — we did not have any of our dogs with us. Weird, I know. But there were plenty of other dogs out and about, and I met a delightful pair of golden retrievers. Super friendly, and they thought we were long-lost best friends.

So that got me thinking: a goldie would make a great dog matchmaker! So now I'm looking at my current draft and thinking a happy goldie will be in this one. Unless Luna gives me too much of a stink eye for daring to write about a dog other than a husky.

The Husky Who Screamed at Intersections

I should probably confess that Maverick from Boots, Howls & Vows was inspired by a real husky/malamute mix I had years ago. He was a big boy with a beautiful coat, classic husky markings, but with freight-train strength. And he screamed CONSTANTLY. 😂

Especially at busy intersections. I'd make him sit before crossing the street and he'd look up at me like I was the greatest thing that had ever happened to him while simultaneously screaming at a volume usually reserved for natural disasters.

Which, as you can imagine, made an impression on my neighbors and any passing strangers. So yes — Maverick's personality is deeply researched.

White Cloud

I used to have a Husky, this was years ago, named White Cloud. He was all white, long fur, beautiful blue eyes, and a kind soul. He used to see toddlers and he would drop down on his belly and crawl towards them, his tail gently wagging as he approached. If the toddler wasn't afraid he'd get up and slurp them while they squealed and yanked his fur — and he was okay with that. He was one of those dogs that just got kids.

He could also prance around and trumpet when the occasion called for it.

The white Husky named Ghost in Boots, Howls & Vows has some of that sweet soul.

A Three-Bunny Outing

My first long walk with Luna after the houseguests left was a three-bunny outing. I'm happy to report the bunnies are all fine and Luna's leash held up during her acrobatics.

Bunnies — somewhere in the double digits now.
Luna — zero.

This is a good thing. 😆

Luna and the Injustice of Walks

So, I'm walking the dogs, thinking of plot points and witty banter, when suddenly Luna jerks so hard on the leash I nearly fall down, and next thing I know momentum is yanking me nearly halfway into the street. Luna, for all her princess tendencies, is still a sled dog, and when the sled dog in her sees something irresistible — good Lord almighty, that dog can PULL.

I finally recover and haul her back to the sidewalk and she starts doing acrobatics on the leash and howling. Oh my God, the injustice — I destroyed her chance at catching the Best Thing Ever.

Meanwhile, the cutest little brown bunny rabbit is hop-hop-hopping across the green expanse of a neighbor's lawn, looking carefree and oblivious.

No way, Luna. No way am I letting you chase the bunny. (Cue more howling and carrying on.) I finally pull her away and around the corner so she can't see the bunny, and then she huffs at me. 🙄

Luna — 0. Bunnies — 1. Go Bunnies!!!

Dog Park Matchmaking

I've decided one of life's great joys is going to the dog park and trying to guess which human belongs to which dog before the dog gives it away.

Some pairings are obvious. The golden retriever almost always belongs with the cheerful extrovert. The husky owners are even easier to spot — we all have the same slightly exhausted expression. 😆

The fun part is when the dogs make the decision first and drag the human straight to their soulmate. Which is actually similar to how I get inspiration for a lot of my books. Who knew a dog park could launch my writing career? 🤷‍♀️

The Squirrel Who Fell Out of a Tree

Yesterday I was walking the dogs when a squirrel literally dropped out of a tree right in front of us. Seriously, I thought those little guys had better balance. Normally I'm amazed at squirrel acrobatics, especially when there's a bird feeder involved.

Lucky for the squirrel (and me, because I don't want to see the cycle of life happen right in front of me) I yanked the dogs back before they could grab a tasty snack. Arg! Dogs!

I Googled Sheep Facts at 2 AM

Writing life confession: my friends in Texas have been incredibly patient with my questions. Things I've texted them at odd hours include: "How do ewes act around strangers?" and "Can you hear coyotes from the house?" and "What does a barn smell like in February?" They haven't blocked me yet, which I consider a sign of true friendship.

The good news is all of that research means Herd To Resist is packed with details that make you feel like you're standing in that pasture at dawn, coffee in hand, watching the light hit the hills.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have three more tabs about livestock guardian dogs to read.

How a Ranch Visit Became a Whole Book

So here's the thing about having friends who live on a ranch in the Texas Hill Country: you visit once, you eat amazing barbecue, you meet a few sheep, and suddenly you're writing a whole book about an Irish farmer and a woman who was only supposed to be passing through.

That's exactly what happened with Herd To Resist. I went to visit friends, watched a working dog move a flock of sheep using nothing but whistles and body language, and my author brain went: oh no, this is a book.

Yep, it is, in fact, a book. A grumpy Irish sheep farmer. A sunshine travel journalist. A rescue dog with the most gorgeous mismatched eyes you've ever seen. And enough chemistry to set the Hill Country on fire.

The Dog Who Chose Me

Quick story for you. The heart of the farm book started years ago at a rescue. There was a dog who wouldn't go near anyone. Weeks of hiding. Weeks of "maybe next time."

And then she saw me. She walked straight over like, Oh. There you are. Wouldn't leave my side after that. It felt like she'd already chosen me before we ever met.

That's the kind of dog in Herd To Resist. The kind who knows her human on sight.

(Yes, I cried writing those scenes.)

Why I Write About Dogs and People (Usually in That Order)

I get asked all the time: "Why are there so many dogs in your books?" Short answer: because they understand love better than most humans.

Dogs don't play games. They see someone's heart and go, Yep, that one's ours. That's exactly what happens in Chaos Theory, Circuits of the Heart, and Rescue Me Twice — each time, the dogs lead the way. 🐕✨

Also, if I wrote humans without dogs, who would eat the couch cushions for comic relief?

Annie's Glow-Up (and the Dog Who Inspired Rusty)

When I first met Annie, she was skin and bones. She was happy and hyperactive, but oh my goodness, you could see every bone. And her fur? Rough and matted. Now? She's thriving. Her coat gleams, her tail never stops wagging, and she's teaching Luna the fine art of strategic mischief. 🐾

Her transformation inspired the red heeler, Rusty, in Rescue Me Twice. Writing about a dog learning to trust again hit differently once I'd watched Annie do it in real life. Love, patience, and a steady supply of treats can rewrite any story. ❤️

What Was I Thinking?! I Adopted a Red Heeler Mix

Friends, I did something questionable in the best possible way. I adopted a red heeler mix. Her name is Annie, and she has more energy than a toddler hopped up on espresso. ☕⚡

She zooms. She bounces. She instigates chaos with Luna, my husky, until the living room looks like a snowstorm of dog hair. But honestly? I love it. Annie's chaos reminds me why I write love stories — because sometimes the best things in life are messy, loud, and full of tail wags. 💕

The True Story Behind Hoover (Do 150-Pound Dogs Count as Lap Dogs?)

There I was, sitting peacefully on a bench at the local dog park, watching Luna and Kodiak terrorize the squirrel population, when suddenly I'm approached by what can only be described as a small horse masquerading as a dog. This magnificent Irish Wolfhound looked me directly in the eye, seemed to evaluate my worthiness, and then promptly flopped his entire body across my lap. And seriously, this is a BIG DOG.

I was trapped. Completely immobilized by the world's most polite furry kidnapper.

But he was so dignified about it. Like he was doing me an enormous favor by choosing me as his personal furniture. His expression clearly said, "You're cool, human, and I've decided you're staying here a while."

Ten minutes later, when his human finally rescued me, I knew I had to write this gentle giant into a book. That's how Hoover was born — the Irish Wolfhound who thinks he's a lap dog and has the supernatural ability to make everyone fall in love with him through sheer gravitational force.

Sometimes the best characters come from the moments when life decides you need a 150-pound lesson in patience and dog appreciation.

Huskies and Wingmen

One way to meet people is to take a beautiful, friendly dog for a walk through a park full of people or along a busy trail. Everyone wants to pet a friendly husky (or Luna thinks they all should). I had a friend who used to beg me if he could "borrow" her for a walk because he wanted to take her up to the local college and walk through it, where he swore she was a "chick magnet." Which, yeah, she totally is — but I was like, nope, get your own dog if you want a wingman.

This is actually how most of my characters meet — through their dogs' shenanigans. Chaos destroys Becca's research and leads her to Liam. Hoover forces Mary and Ty to coordinate their schedules. Rusty gives Jake excuses to visit Jessica's grooming salon.

Rescue dogs are basically furry wingmen who don't understand the concept of "playing it cool." They see someone they like and immediately go for maximum enthusiasm. Maybe we could all learn something from that approach. Go all in to life, and it goes all in with you.

Breakfast Negotiations (and What Dogs Reveal About Character)

Kodiak and Luna had a serious disagreement this morning about breakfast timing (they voted for 4 AM, I voted for literally any time after sunrise), which got me thinking about personality conflicts in romance.

You know what I love about writing couples who meet through pet ownership? The animals become this perfect catalyst for revealing character. How someone treats a scared rescue dog tells you everything about their patience, kindness, and long-term relationship potential. Seriously, pets are an excellent judge of character! If your dog instantly dislikes someone — listen!

In Chaos Theory, Liam's willingness to work with Chaos's anxiety issues shows Becca exactly the kind of man he is — someone who doesn't give up on challenging cases, whether they're four-legged or human. Meanwhile, Becca's determination to learn proper dog care despite having zero experience reveals her protective instincts and ability to adapt.

Writing process confession: sometimes I take Kodiak and Luna on extra-long walks just to eavesdrop on other dog owners' conversations. It's not creepy, it's research! People say the most wonderfully honest things when they're talking to their pets.

Advanced Macramé (or: Why Chaos Theory Starts With a Tangled Leash)

So, you know how the first book, Chaos Theory, starts with Becca finding a husky tangled up in a leash? Yeah, that's soooo typical husky behavior. Seriously, I have to untangle my dogs from their leashes every single time they go for a walk. Every. Single. Time. It's like walking a straight line is a foreign concept. And walking more than one dog at a time? Disaster in the making.

Huskies possess a supernatural ability to turn two simple leashes into complex geometric puzzles that would challenge MIT graduate students. Within five minutes, Luna and Kodiak will almost always wrap me, themselves, and a very patient fire hydrant into what I can only call "advanced macramé."

Husky walking tip: if you're determined to walk multiple huskies at the same time, I recommend the buddy system. Specifically, buddies who can call 911 when you get wrapped around a street lamp.