(The best part about Teresa’s article to me? The various mentions of not wearing pants. It’s just always funny.)
Teresa Shourds writes a very funny blog and I love how she handles this review which could have been awkward seeing as she is not fond of dogs. gulp.
Can a non-“dog person” enjoy the book I wrote with Doug Jackson? Read on and see!
EXCERPT:
Doug asked if I would take a gander and review, you know since I’m a fellow writer and all.
Specifically, he thought it would be an interesting perspective “coming from a person who is ahem – less than enthusiastic about dogs (per a recent blog)”. I’m assuming he means this blog.
He’s right.
I’m not a dog person, or an animal person really.
I don’t torture them. I’ve learned over the years to add that clarification because once you’ve acknowledged counter cultural feelings concerning pets – people go to dark places… immediately.
I’ll watch your cat sleeping on great dane video – once.
Past that – I’m out. I don’t like messiness, germ-i-ness, destruction or poop.
I have no affinity for the idea of Spot roaming freely throughout the house taking liberties with shoes, table legs, rugs and the trash in the bathroom. I really don’t want you sitting on my furniture – YOU HAVE NO PANTS ON. Plus I’m pretty sure you drank out of the toilet. Oh, and please stop licking my leg… I saw what you licked prior.
I’m concerned that my daughter won’t do well in life. Why? Tenacity.
Tenacity is what separates the successful from the naturally gifted.
Having a high IQ should be a good thing. It can be, but it can make a person (potentially) very lazy. For instance, it can make you try less. So, why work hard at school (to learn new things), if the grade come easy?
A lack of struggle will hold actually us back from achieving success in the future.
Smarts can mean that when you run into a problem you quits because you hate the feeling of struggling.
The only way to get into a practice of being tenacious is to make sure that some things are fought for.
We will want to take short cuts. We want to skip the work. But, we can’t.
It’s about dogged tenacity!
That’s what I’ve been striving for with doggedly promoting my book about dogs and how having them makes a big difference in ways I never realized. In the last few weeks it’s been a lot of work! It’s hard but the success is worth the pain and toil. The success isn’t the money–it’s in the process of the work itself. The joy is in knowing you are doing something you love even though it’s tough.
I’m sometimes surprised at how much has been accomplished. The project has gone from zero to hero with hundreds of people excited about the release, on August 19th (2013). It’s exciting.
So, back to the recipe:
The recipe for tenacity…for you and me, is to try things that are too hard for us. Try what is uncomfortable until it doesn’t bother you any more.
And other things too:
1. Meet fear head-on.
2. Combat, “I might fail.” with “I’ll learn something no matter what.”
3. Persist and when you feel like letting up…rest for just a tiny bit and then persist again.
I’m inspired by the dogged tenacity of a dog on the fetch. The dog pictures of Underwater Dogs capture it well.
So, on that note, please join a whole pack of us as we get ready to doggedly put the puppy into the splashy, so to speak. Let’s do this!
Photo is the an incredible artist Seth Casteel, photographer of the best-selling and amazing book “Underwater Dogs”.
The blitz of writing, designing, and promoting the book is pushing me too hard and I weary of it. (It’s only my own fault.)
Plus, just a few hours ago, when formatting for Kindle it started choking and gasping on all the photos. This indicates that I’ll have many, many hours of reformatting to do. But it will have to wait!
I’m taking a little trip (it’s been planned for months) to visit this wondrous place of beauty and art and creativity. It was designed in 1935 by Frank Lloyd Wright…talk about visionary!
I have posts ready for other days this week, so please come back soon. There will be something to read.
…but I’ll be less available for the next two weeks finishing things up and Summer is waning. I shan’t want miss too much more than necessary.
Yes, I said “shan’t”. I was being funny. Who says “shan’t” who isn’t trying to prove something?
(Click the photo to learn about this National Landmark and consider planning a trip to see it in-person.)
ONE MORE THING!
This is a beautiful short review by a talented writer of many things. Enjoy Erin’s excellent blog here.
“What a refreshing read! And by refreshing, I mean not only crisp prose and photos that are–wait for it–so doggone cute! but true living water for the spirit. This collection of small essays by two different stylists not only celebrates the wonderful relationships of humans and their best friends, it examines the spiritual significance of ownership, training, domestication, and companionship. Doug Jackson and Lisa Colon Delay complement one another: one will write about a specific experience (the true “Labrador” nature of her pup) and then the other will challenge the reader with questions about animal souls, using sources as varied as C.S. Lewis and St. Francis. Hard for the Christian reader to finish this treat of a book without wanting to do two things–share the book and volunteer at the local animal shelter. Thanks, Doug and Lisa, on behalf of the sweet souls that cannot speak for themselves!”
From Michelle Moore Mitchell:
“Just finished reading the review draft. I want more! … Not sentimental — but lots of tears. I’m going to read it again, starting tomorrow. This time, a chapter a day, so I can live with, experience, think about, and feel what is there more fully….”
From Clark Roush:
“Only on page 30, and I can already confidently declare you will want to read “Dog in the Gap.'”
Would you be willing to write a review? Hooray! Use the contact form here.
ONLY 7 days until you can get the much anticipated book I’ve written with esteemed professor and long-time pastor Doug Jackson.
WHAT’S SO COOL
I’m really proud of the content and layout of this book. For instance:
• Nearly all of the 88 pages include a captivating photo which really adds a lot to the experience.
• Anyone who’s had a dog they loved will “get this” book (both editions). It’s powerful. It put into words and takeaways those deep bonds and lessons we experience uniquely when we have a furry companion.
BONUS EDITION!
• The BONUS EDITION (will also be released on the same date) has well over 100 pages of extras, secret links to exclusive videos for this group, and plenty of extra photos and humor. (It’s the hardcore doggie fans Edition.) See below for the Charity component.
CLARITY It’s set up to be easy to read. It’s no dense tome. There are terrific stories and there’s plenty of material and insights even a non pet owner can enjoy.
CHARITY
• We are donating portions of the money you pay for the book (which is an affordable $2.99. You’d shell out $3 to help dogs, right?) to two local non-profits:
For me, it’s a low-cost spay and neutering clinic in Allentown, PA (named alliteratively: “No Nonsense Neutering“). They offer low cost services in Reading, Allentown and Quakertown, PA as a humane and preventative alternative to regulating overpopulation through euthanasia. (Unlike PETA who funds mass euthanasia programssecretly. “Fur is murder!” they say, but they have a mass extermination system in place for kittens, rabbits, and puppies. VIEWER CAUTION ADVISED: Previous link has some grisly and disturbing photos.)
VIDEO: Doug was kind enough to sit down and answer a few interesting questions on video for me. Some I’ve saved for the Bonus Edition for you super fans! You’ll have to hold tight patiently for a few more days!
In this video (just 80 seconds long) Doug shares what he thinks will most surprise readers about the book.
I hope you’re as excited as we are!
Want a sample to read for free?
Just sign up just below! We’ll be sending it out soon.
