My Next Book: Penny

I’m still working on getting Wreckage published, making queries to book agents. I’ve sent out quite a few with no “bites” yet, but I’m confident (on some days) that the right agent will find my book proposal among the hundreds (or thousands?) they receive each week. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll then explore self-publishing. Either way, it will be out there soon!

That said, while I’m querying, I’m gearing up to start on my next book, which will also be a memoir of sorts, but one very different from Wreckage. In fact, the book isn’t my memoir at all, but rather someone else’s life story. You might think “that sounds more like a biography,” but there’s a twist. My plan is to write another’s life story from their perspective, so I suppose it’s a fictional memoir. It’s fictional because I’ll be speaking for a being who can’t speak for themselves.

Penny

It's the story of our beloved dog, Penny, as told from her perspective, as best I can understand it. I’ve never been a dog or written as a dog before, so it will be a new experience! I’ll admit it’s a bit frightening to contemplate such an undertaking, but it feels like it needs to be done.

Why would I do such a thing?

Penny was with us for 8 years. My husband and I adopted her when she was 4 (or at least that’s the age the vet guessed). A “runaway” with a checkered past of multiple rejections, Penny showed clear signs of trauma. As you might imagine, I could relate and felt a connection to her right away.

My husband and I fell in love with her immediately and were lucky enough to be with her until she passed away last September. We learned so much during that time. Even though she couldn’t speak (verbally, at least), Penny told us a lot about herself. In turn, we learned about ourselves as well. She taught lessons, seemingly without knowing or trying. She had a gift.

In my grief, I began to reflect on what I’d learned from her and could see how Penny’s Philosophy (as I understood it) could help others. What could I do about that? Then, it hit me.  The world needs to hear Penny’s story, as only Penny could tell it. Since she’s gone and couldn’t speak (or type!) anyway, I will act in her stead. I hope to do her justice.

The working title of the book is Slow Down: Lessons on Life from a Dog Named Penny. That title will likely change before the memoir is complete, if past experience is any indicator. But you get the idea.

Beyond a preliminary title, I’ve also outlined the chapters and – I think most importantly – the learning to be had in each of her stories. I think Penny’s wisdom could mean something to a lot of people and help them in the same way she helped us.

I can’t wait to get started.