And Back Again — blog Dog Behavior Blog

Life is a story

I am very excited to say that my second novel And Back Again is now available. Over three years ago a huge life challenge was put before us. For those of you who read 'PBJ and me' you know what my 21 year old (at the time) son Brad and I went through on our road trip from California to Connecticut with our four dogs. And Back Again is the continuation of our story; starting from the first full day at our destination. It was an emotional time for everyone involved and over the months of writing and re-writing and reading, reading, reading it was emotional.

The book covers both canine and human behavior with regards to life challenges. I wrote the story in hopes that it might help someone. Perhaps dealing with canine behavior issues, maybe a dog who is growing old, life change or general life challenges. I still look back and shudder at much of it, and am forever changed.

It is a crazy story but it is mine. I lived it and can now look back at it as quite the experience. The story picks up where PBJ and me left off. We had just landed in Connecticut after a grueling 6 day drive across the country from sunny California. Much would be dealt with in the following months. A strange environment, a new home, the loss of our most senior canine pack member and a new life all lay ahead of us.

And Back Again - also available on Amazon. And Back Again will also be available in ebook shortly. I will post it on my Just dogs with Sherri Facebook when it is available.

I had a wonderful editor (Emily Smith) for my book; one that I just stumbled upon in Vegas, oddly enough. She is amazing and really pushed me to bring more to the story. Sometimes just one question from her would bring up a whole plethora of memories; ones that had seemed in the big picture, minor at the time.

I hope that if you read the book, you enjoy it. Life is a story.

Leave a comment, I love to hear from you.

Incredible to think that this was 2.5 years ago. Seems like yesterday.

It's gone, # 2 novel (And Back Again) is now in the hands of my editor. Late Friday afternoon with memories in my heart and tears in my eyes I pushed away from my computer and hollered. The story has been written and now needs the talents of an editor. Of course it still has a while to go before it is on paper and available but the bulk of the work is done. It has been a great deal of work putting some of my experiences, thoughts and life into a story. The first book (PBJ and me) which is available to read now, was quite different than this one. #2 is about twice as long and has a great deal more twists and turns.

PBJ and me also available on Amazon in paperback and KINDLE versions.

I love writing but after having a book in front of me asking attention for over two years; it is a great feeling to send it off and pull up a new one to work on. And Back Again begins two and half years ago in actuality; the story plays out over a three and a half month time span. I still cannot believe how much happened in such a short amount of time and reliving it over and over again until completion of the book has been therapeutic.

As the first story (PBJ and me) began to unfold before me; I had no idea that a novel was underway. For those of you who have read the book; you know that our story did not end up how we had planned at all. Life has a way of doing that to us doesn't it? We may have a plan but life has it's own plan for us. Sometimes life plays out happy and wonderful; sometimes it does not. But life is life and life itself holds countless experiences from the very tiniest of moments to the monumental ones.

As you all know dogs are my life. I am a long time dog trainer, professional dog photographer and writer; all of this fits nicely into And Back Again. Its all in the book, every box checked; training, photography and writing all come together.

So it is onto the next project; perhaps there will be a #3 novel, I do love a good story. There is a training book waiting to be completed and a third children's book that needs attention. In between the books are more shoots, both canine and human and training. It's a crazy dog life, but it's mine.