Nope, you’re not high on puppy Prozac. The cover of the book has changed! In fact, this is version number seven, and it’s by far the most striking and mysterious, while offering a taste of what to expect. Like it? I love it! While many folks (me included) thought the first cover worked extremely well, the powers-that-be decided to go another direction.
Isn’t that a great cover quote from D.P. Lyle? I just received another terrific advance quote from the awesome Dr. Marty Becker. Read about ’em on the LOST AND FOUND page.
NAME THAT PET CONTEST RESULTS
Thank you to everyone for your participation in the “Name That Dog” and “Name That Cat” contests to help me find the perfect choices for some of the furry characters in the book LOST AND FOUND.
More than 85 terrific cat and dog names were suggested. I narrowed the choices to about a dozen each, set up polls for you to vote, and we had over 800 votes result.
I’d say pet people are passionate about pet names! Without further delay, here are the results.
DOG HEROES NAMED
Caren Gittleman suggested the winning dog name Dakota because it means “trusted friend” and is also the name of her lovely Sheltie (who helps her co-write Dakota’s Den Blog).
In the book LOST AND FOUND, the main character September mourns the loss of her heart-dog (we’ve all been there right?) who died trying to save her husband. Therefore, her long lost canine partner DAKOTA is mentioned throughout the book.
Raelyn Barclay offered several dog name suggestions including Bruno, which won the second hero dog spot. Congratulations!
When September’s nephew becomes lost in the blizzard, she enlists the aid of a still active senior citizen tracking dog to find the boy. BRUNO is the star in that chapter, and demonstrates that old dogs still have the stuff of heroes.
CAT HEROES NAMED
Patricia suggested the winning cat name Macy. This name garnered more than a hundred individual votes from readers, wow! Macy is the name of Patricia’s seven-year-old yellow tabby, and named after a character in the Bold and the Beautiful television show.
September’s sable and white Maine coon cat is mentioned throughout the book, including cat-training scenes that demonstrate just how smart cats truly are! Macy literally “nails” the villain at just the right moment to help save the day.
Karyl Cunningham has been one of my most faithful blog followers (~waving at Karyl) so I’m delighted readers chose one of her name selections as the second cat hero character–Simba is the second cat name winner. Simba is the name of Karyl’s slightly chubby, arthritic senior citizen kitty.
As in all good thrillers, tragic victims often kick off the story. The first is a lovely woman in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she leaves behind a beloved rescue kitty–Simba, slightly chubby aging kitty with a bit of arthritis who finds a forever home with the victim’s daughter.
In addition to having their pets’ names spotlighted in the book, and their own contribution noted in the acknowledgements, these four winners will receive an advance copy of the book.
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you again to everyone who suggested names and voted. The response demonstrates to me why I love pets–and writing about them so much–because never mind the age or breed or attitude. In our heart of hearts, true pet lovers know that EVERY dog and cat has a hero inside them.
LOST AND FOUND is scheduled for release September 20 in Amazon Kindle (and other Ebook formats), with print versions available about a week later. I will of course post to my blog (here) as well as Facebook, but will also send out an email newsletter notification–if I have your email.
In fact, what the hey. Send me an email to amy @ shojai.com with LOST AND FOUND in the subject line between now and the release date, and I’ll add you to the drawing for a free copy of the book. Don’t be shy, you can share this with other thriller/pet lovers.
Now go pet your hero dogs and cats for me. Oh, and stay tuned–the regular WOOF WEDNESDAY blog will go out later today with more puppy-licious info. 🙂
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly PUPPY CARE must knows, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay tuned for more news about my forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND!
Great cover, Amy. I love the idea of the contest. It’s always fun to let your readers contribute to the book 🙂
Thanks Angela, I was thrilled with both the cover and the reader response. Readers RULE!
Amy, SUPER love the new cover….the mysterious lady plus the snow…really punches it up! Is there such a thing as puppy Prozac? 🙂 Looking forward to this book – only a month away!
Thanks so much Donna. And yes–dogs (and cats) often are prescribed with Prozac (or the generic…). They live with us humans, so they need extra help sometimes!
Great cover, and I can hardly wait for the book to come out! I want to be able to write one of the first reviews. 😀
Oh Franny, I would be HONORED to send you a review copy! (scribbling on my list)
Exciting news all around, Amy! I thought having contests for the animal names was brilliant and engaging. Well done!
Thanks Patricia. I’ve seen the “big name” authors raffle off the right to have a character named for a fan and thought this might be a cool twist. But I had no idea the contest would be so popular–and the name choice MACY truly blew me away, that was a dark horse choice (or dark “cat” choice, LOL!). I love having readers help design the story THEY want to read.
Amy I saw an article the other day (not sure what day) about cats making 100 different sounds when meowing or talking. I was going to go back and read it and now I can’t find it. Can you direct me to where it might be? Thanks
Hi Patricia, I’m not sure which article you mean but I have a series of “cat talk” articles here that may offer some answers: http://cats.about.com/od/amyshojai/tp/understanding-cat-language.htm
Amy I am so excited and thrilled that Macy was one of the cat names that won in your contest. I thought all of the names were great. I cannot wait to read your thriller. I love the new cover and I’m wishing Sept. 20th here faster. Thank you so much.
Patricia, me too! The name MACY must have really resonated with cat lovers. The votes were overwhelming. Thanks for the suggestion!
Oooh so exciting! My kitty is going to be immortalized! (Just don’t tell Anubis. LOL But it’s okay, we’ll give him some extra chicken if he finds out – sometimes forgiveness can be bought. 😉 ) Plus, of course, I love books, and free books are always awesome!
Totally going to have to show my parents. *grins*
But many thanks to everyone who voted for my kitty!
Hi Karyl, it’ll be our little secret from Anubis, LOL! I have to keep similar secrets from Magical-Dawg and Seren-Kitty. And bribes work well with them, too. 🙂
Just gave the news to my parents (Simba used to live with them, after all – mom keeps trying to convince me to let them steal her back LOL). Told mom Simba was going to be in a book, at first she assumed just her picture. “No, she’s actually getting a character named after her.” Of course, the fuzzy wee star herself was not pleased with my doing this, because it meant I got home late, and we can’t be having that. 😛
LOL! Well, cats already know they’re stars. They rarely are impressed with what humans do, unless it involves a stinky treat or appropriate scritches.
Yeahhhh!! Love the book cover and congrats on the great names!! Squeee!!!
Ohhhh Amy!!!!!!! I am beyond excited!!!!! Dakota’s name was chosen! I showed this to my husband and he is beaming with pride! I can’t wait to receive my advance copy. I will post a review on Dakota’s blog. What an ENORMOUS HONOR!!! We couldn’t be happier!!!! He DOES have a great name, doesn’t he? 🙂 I picked it!! Told you, I had looked up the meaning online because I had always loved the name. When I saw it meant “trusted friend” that was all that I needed!
Caren, I’m thrilled too. And the votes don’t lie, Dakota was the clear winner.
Did you now I was raised with Shelties? 🙂 I’ve a soft spot for them anyway so this is even more fun for me. Give your boy a pat for me.
Amy Hi!! Awww I am so happy, it is a super cool name!
No!! I never knew you were raised with Shelties!!! How many did you have? Ok, tell me how you got them to STOP barking!!! lol. You know first-hand how wonderfully sensitive and loving they are.
I will definitely give Dakota a “pat” for you!
Not sure if you have my email address, but it is cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com….
I am just ecstatic!!!
Our first sheltie was Lady, a tricolor and extremely shy. We learned obedience together at 4H Dog Club. *s* Lady passed away when I was a freshman in college. *sigh* Then my folks had three sables, first Pickles (crackerjack obedience!), Mac and Chad. Their last sheltie was a blue merle, Skye and his picture (with my mom) is still in the “aging dog” book. Maybe the next book needs a sheltie….hmnnn.
Thanks for the email addy, I’ll save it and be in touch as soon as the book comes out. Sooooo glad you’re thrilled as much as I am!
Amy Hi! I so loved reading about your Shelties! Love the name “Lady” for a female Sheltie (as in “Lady and The Tramp”) wonderful name! Dakota is also quite shy with those he doesn’t know well. We call him “The wannabe” because Cody (our cat) is brave beyond belief. If a stranger comes into our home, Cody goes to greet him and Dakota stands BEHIND Cody as if he can protect him lol. I am so sorry about Lady passing, it is hard enough but if you were away at school that had to have made it that much worse.
“Pickles” is a hilarious name for a Sheltie! Dakota is a “mottled sable”….but he is more Sable than mottled.
YES, YES I DEFINITELY think your next book needs a Sheltie!
I AM thrilled and I am honored, you are quite talented and I know this book is going to be amazing!
I fell in love with the movie Lady and the Tramp and made quite a pest of myself until the family agreed on calling our first Sheltie by that name. Those were the days we didn’t know any better, and Lady came from an awful back yard breeder and had serious health issues and of course the shyness. That can be an issue with Shelties anyway.
Pickles in contrast came from a savvy, responsible breeder and was a tiny but courageous girl who always got herself into a “pickle.” *s*
Awwww love the story of how Lady got her name…and Pickles!!! Dakota is definitely on the shy side (only towards those he doesn’t know well!)
Amy, is that the “hug restraint” photo? I love that one!
Hi Marion, yes that’s one of them. He’s also the “medication” demo dog for pilling, eye meds, and ear meds. *s* Skye was such a lovely boy–alas, they are all gone now to the Bridge.
I love your cover and I can’t WAIT to read your book, Amy!!
Me too!
Nice cover, Amy! Also LOVE the pet names contest winners. Great contest.
Thanks Lynette, it was a fun contest. Now I need to write the next book with more pet names included, LOL!
LOVE the cover. I completely agree that it adds a touch of mystery.
I’ll have to point my sister here as Bruno is actually her Mastiff/Lab mix hero 🙂
Raelyn, congrats and I hope your sister is thrilled, too. *s*