Dear Reader, My husband and I are in Washington, D.C. on Spring Break vacation with our two grandsons. Why would I choose to visit D.C. when its warm in Florida (where I live) and cold there? I do not know the answer to that, but Paul, my seven-year-old grandson assures me we are going to have one heck of a great time. Were blessed to have author Carla Buckley, author of, The Deepest Secret, visiting the book club. And were blessed to be able to read her sweet column. If youre a pet lover, grab a tissue. Shes amazing. Please send Carla an email and welcome her to the book club. Authors dont always get the opportunity to hear from readers, and Carla is looking forward to sending a personal reply to everyone. Email: carla@carlabuckley Take it away Carla... When my children were little, they desperately wanted a dog. Id had one growing up, a dachshund named Percy whom I adored, so I knew how much of a responsibility they were. I was already stretched thin trying to establish a writing career. My children pleaded. Well take care of a dog, Mommy. Uh huh. I knew who would be taking care of a dog and it wouldnt be my husband, who worked long hours and was often out of town. I knew my limits. Later, I promised. Later--a word shimmering on the distant horizon. Ha. That May, I opened my birthday gifts--books, chocolates. Perfect, until my children lined up and handed me a certificate for a puppy. Exactly what I did not want. I looked darkly at my husband. Just go meet her, he said, backing out of the room. There were tears in my childrens eyes. Ill go see her, I said. But I dont want a dog. That dog turned out to be Lacey, a little dachshund with huge eyes who rested her head on my shoulder. As I cuddled her, I saw all my treasured writing time evaporate. You owe me, I told my husband and he smiled. A few years later, I was even more pressed for time. I had just published my first book and was under contract for a second one. But when I read a newspaper article about some abandoned dachshunds looking for homes, I immediately got in my car and drove to the Humane Society. An hour later, I returned with Tucker, a dapple dachshund of indeterminate age, paddle-shaped paws, and a mournful howl whenever I left the room. Its been eventful. There was the time Lacey rousted a skunk and I learned that de-skunking your house is an exhausting project involving vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and wine. (Okay, the wine was for me.) There were the emergency visits after Tucker found chocolate chips, Easter candy, the medicine in my mother-in-laws purse. The time the dogs went out to play and disappeared, and we all bundled up to search for them. When we returned home in despair an hour later, we found Lacey and Tucker watching us from inside the house. We still dont know how that happened. As for my writing career, Ive found that the words come more easily when Tuckers curled in my lap and Laceys at my feet. I thought I knew my limits but I was wrong. It turned out there is no limit for love. --Carla Buckley Email: carla@carlabuckley More About Carla Buckley...the author of Invisible and The Things That Keep Us Here, which was nominated for a Thriller Award as a best first novel and the Ohioana Book Award for fiction. Carlas newest novel, The Deepest Secret, is perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and William Landay--part intimate family drama, part gripping page-turner, exploring the profound power of the truths were scared to face...about our marriages, our children, and ourselves. Thanks for reading with me. Its so good to read with friends. Suzanne Beecher Suzanne@EmailBookClub
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:46:34 +0000
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