The Dog Dish with Margo Hoornstra (and Heidi)

I had the pleasure of "meeting" Margo recently, when she toured with Goddess Fish Promotions. As we chatted, she mentioned two things that made me offer to have her here on my blog. 1: She has a dog! So, of course, we needed her here. 2. Her book, "Honorable Intentions" is available FREE today only at her publisher (and mine!), The Wild Rose Press. She also has two other free reads for download there, so get over and check it out! Here's her author page with all her stories so you can get them all.

Now, we'll turn the floor over to Dakota and Margo's rescued German Shepherd, Heidi.

So, your human writes books. Does this mean she is home all day and easy to access? Elaborate if necessary.

She writes books and short stories. And, yes, she’s usually home with me all day, which was really nice when I first got to her house. You see, I’m what they call a "rescue". I won’t go into details of my life before-let’s just say I’ve had some separation issues.

What are your techniques for distracting your human during crucial writing moments, just because it's fun? Whose primary job is it? What do the rest of you do to support the one doing the main distracting?

I have another friend like me around here for a while. Our favorite game is to run around the dining room table begging to go outside. (This game is the most fun when our human is deeply involved typing on her laptop.) Then, and this is the good part, once we get outside we run up on the deck like we want to come back in. As soon as she gets up, we pretend to see something important in the back yard and take off barking. It’s our version of what human’s do when they ring someone’s doorbell and run away before anyone answers the door.

What indignities and neglect have you suffered because of your human's writing career?

Let me first of all admit to having a fear of cats. I know, I know, being a big German Shepherd, that should be the other way around, but I’ve accepted it’s part of who I am. Anyway, once I wandered into the bedroom where The Cat was sleeping and my owner, the writer, became so distracted with her latest project she accidentally shut the two of us in there—alone. I sat very still until I heard her call for me then barked very softly so The Cat wouldn’t notice me until I was let out.

Tell me about the animals in your human's fiction. How often do they appear and how big a part do they play?

She wrote a short story once, and even sold it, about a dog they had before me. As I understand, he refused to chase out the rabbits who invaded their garden in the summer. My owner said he adhered to the philosophy of peaceful coexistence. I think that’s something I should discuss with The Cat.

On the off-chance your human has yet to incorporate animals into a story, what are your plans for making sure she rectifies this egregious error and demonstration of poor writing skills?

Animals as characters is something that is lacking in her recent books. I’ll have to talk to her about that.

What movies involving animals does your human enjoy sharing with you? Books with animals?

Sometimes I get to watch TV shows with dogs who look like me and have important day jobs. The babies around here have barnyard books they sometimes read to me.

If you could make one change to your human, what would it be?

I wish they’d let me sit at the table with them when they eat.

Are you happy with your human? If you could tell your human one thing, what would it be?

Thank you for teaching me to play that game you call fetch. (I wasn’t allowed to play at all where I came from.)

What things does your human do that would mortify her it if known? What does your human do that most annoys?

I have things in my past I’m not proud of either, so I'm going to keep my muzzle shut on this one.

Has your human named a character for you? Are you pleased? If not, why?

She hasn’t yet, but when she does, I think I’d like to be the heroine’s best friend.

And did your human name you for a fictional character? Hate it or love it? If you could rename yourself, what would your name be?

As I mentioned, being a rescue, these humans didn’t name me. I’m okay with Heidi. I’m not sure what I would rename myself, but the husband here sometimes calls me Precious. I think he’s being sarcastic. I’ve heard him call The Cat by some different names too.

Thanks for stopping by, Heidi -- next time we'll have to make time to play!

***

Former cop Samantha Wells is the last person single dad Chase Canfield wants chaperoning his young, impressionable daughter. Not if she's the same beautiful stranger who shamelessly came on to him with all the promise of unfulfilled passion, making her impossible to forget.

Samantha must prove to Chase she's a competent, trustworthy professional. That the sultry seductress he knew was only a pretense, her misguided alter ego acting on a stupid dare.

To save her reputation, she has to make him believe the mind blowing kisses and undeniable connection they shared meant nothing.

The hard part will be convincing herself.

Visit Margo at her website.