Fiction Furbaby

Fiction Furbaby includes background and stories about pets in fiction, a cover, blurb, buy links, and author social media. It also has a section for shapeshifters used to introduce the animal side of the character and provides a shout out to animal rescue organizations.

  • Fiction Furbaby,  Paranormal

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Piper from Charm Me by Tena Stetler @tenastetler @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PNR #Pets

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Piper from Charm Me by Tena Stetler @tenastetler @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PNR #PetsA witch yoga instructor is surprised by the rugged Navy Seal owner of MoonRidge Gun Club in Tena Stetler’s Candy Hearts paranormal romance, Charm Me. Will Valentine Magic bring them together forever?

    Tena welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Charm Me.

    Charm Me by Tena Stetler

    Genre Paranormal Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG-13

    Meet Piper from Charm Me

    Full name: Piper
    Nickname: Pip
    Gender: Female
    Species: Chow Chow dog
    Physical description: big and furry
    Relationship to main character: Canine companion/trained guard dog
    Relationship to the villain/antagonist: hate
    Where this furbaby came from: a kennel

    Do you have any working or service animals in your stories? Tell us about them.

    Yes. Piper is a trained guard dog to protect Summer Dawn Rylie.

    In several of my other stories involving Wildlife Rescue (A Witch’s Journey Series) the dogs, birds, and reptiles play important roles.

    What inspired you to create this character?

    I was taking my puppy to obedience classes. In our class was a yoga instructor with her dog. I considered how a woman/witch alone would need protection in the mortal world. I created Piper, Summer’s guard dog with a few fun loving quirks. In fact Piper nearly takes over the story.

    How do other characters react to or interact with this furbaby?Fiction Furbaby: Meet Piper from Charm Me by Tena Stetler @tenastetler @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PNR #Pets

    Summer’s two assistant yoga instructors absolutely adore Piper and she likes them. But when it comes to Devlin, the hero, Piper isn’t so sure this new man in Summer’s life is to be trusted.

    What about this furbaby will readers like, and why?

    Piper is completed dedicated to Summer and her well-being. While her main duty is protection, she still is a heartwarming canine companion.

    Please share an interesting fact or tidbit about this furbaby.

    Piper LOVE’S beef jerky. That’s one way the hero wins her over.

    Describe a humorous incident involving the animal character.

    Devlin, the hero, brings Summer, the heroine, her favorite hot drink on a cold, snowy winter day. He walks into the yoga Studio and is greeted by Piper in full snarl. He backs off and calls out to Summer. She calls off Piper and takes the drink.

    About Taco

    Taco is an Eclectus parrot,(23 years old) and Mystic our chow chow dog (8 years old). I also have Sammie, 52 year old Box Turtle.

    These two bonded when we brought Mystic home as an eight week old pup. Taco had been through two prior dogs in her lifetime. Each one she nurtured from inside her cage as they lay below or beside her cage with her baby talk or soothing words. She mourned the passing of each dog, but happy to accept a new pup. Taco has a 250 word vocabulary that she uses in context.

    If I have harsh words for Taco or Mystic for bad behavior, the one not in trouble comes running to get between me and the companion in trouble barking or screaming depending on if it’s Taco or Mystic.

    Mystic has several awards. AKC Star Puppy (earned at 6 months) AKC Companion Dog title (Earned at 13 months), Obedience I & II, and several agility fun match 1st and 2nd place finishes. As she has gotten older, she guards the house, the RV and Truck but allows the order takers at Dutch Brothers access to the truck and to pet her. She also loves their puppachinos (whipped cream and dog biscuits). LOL

    I believe this picture reflects Taco and Mystic plotting to take over the world. LOLFiction Furbaby: Meet Piper from Charm Me by Tena Stetler @tenastetler @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PNR #Pets

    Which, if any of the pets in your writing are modeled after your own pets? In what way?

    The dogs in my stories pretty much reflect Mystic’s quirks, humor (yes, dogs and other animals do have a humor) and attitude.

    What do your pets do when you are writing?

    Taco sits on my shoulder or on her play stand in my office. Mystic checked in about every hour or so and lets me know all is well inside and outside. Or if it’s not, she makes that quite clear.

    What’s the most unusual pet you ever had?

    We had an iguana for 15 years. His name was Fluffy. He was a sweet lizard. Still miss him.

    Where did you find your pet?

    Chow breeder, Parrot breeder, our turtle was a rescue, Fluffy came from a pet shop.

    What do you feed your pet?

    We prepare special parrot food for Taco. Mystic gets kibble and a bit of canned food.

    Sammie – loved Taco’s cooked parrot food, Mystic’s canned food, and spaghetti.

    Describe a toy or favorite item your pet loves.

    Taco loves anything she can destroy, wooden toys, pinecones, metal spoons she can bang together. Noise is the name of the game on some days.

    Where to buy Charm Me

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Piper from Charm Me by Tena Stetler @tenastetler @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PNR #PetsAmazon http://amzn.com/B018L2U904
    Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018L2U904
    Amazon CA http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B018L2U904
    Amazon AU http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B018L2U904
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/charm-me-tena-stetler/1123082834?ean=2940157816506
    iBooks http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781509204670
    Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/charm-me
    Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/books/charm-me-a-candy-hearts-romance-by-tena-stetler

    Tena Stetler Social Media

    Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
    Website https://www.tenastetler.com
    Authors’ Secret’s Blog – https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/
    My Say What Blog – http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
    Twitter https://www.twitter.com/TenaStetler
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler
    Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler
    Get to know Tena Stetler better by signing up for an email newsletter https://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/

    Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist

    Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
    Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
    Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
    Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues

    Shout out to WOLF Sanctuary and Gabrial Foundation – Nonprofits

    WOLF Sanctuary W.O.L.F’s mission is to improve the quality of life for wolves and wolf dogs through Rescue, Sanctuary, and Education. https://wolfsanctuary.co/
    Gabrial Foundation is a parrot welfare organization providing for the complete physical, psychological, and environment well-being of the parrots in their care. Through the education of the public, proper legal documentation, extensive support services, and constant follow-up procedures, we ensure that whether the parrots remain in a sanctuary, in rehabilitation, or are placed into adoptive homes, that the parrots are continually nurtured. The Gabriel Foundation also provides for the general welfare of parrots in the community by providing accurate, comprehensive, and reliable educational materials and resources to the public.
    With the proliferation of psittacine birds into the pet marketplace, the issue of unwanted birds is rapidly growing. This is no longer one person’s problem or even one industry’s problem. It speaks to the entire issue of being responsible for anyone and anything in your life for which you have chosen stewardship. All living creatures deserve respect and kindness.
    https://thegabrielfoundation.org/

     

  • Character Interviews,  Fantasy,  Fiction Furbaby,  Paranormal

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet the afanc from Mermaids Marry in Green by Alice Renaud @alicerauthor @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets

    In Mermaids Marry in Green, a fantasy romance by Alice Renaud, a feisty shape shifting mermaid teams up with a warlock to capture a water monster, the afanc, who is threatening to flood London. But powerful warlocks are also after the creature…

    Alice, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Mermaids Marry in Green.

    Mermaids Marry in Green by Alice Renaud

    Genre Fantasy Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Caltha Dooran is the toughest, fiercest shape-shifting mermaid in the western seas. She has three Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can’t say no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows… and they soon fall under each other’s spell. But will his past and her responsibilities pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two souls together?

    Meet the afanc from Mermaids Marry in Green

    Full name: the afanc

    Nickname: none

    Gender: male

    Species: mythical Welsh water monster

    Physical description: the afanc has the head of a crocodile, and the body and paws of a beaver.

    Relationship to main character: the afanc is rescued by the heroine, Caltha, and becomes her devoted companion.

    Relationship to the villain/antagonist: Powerful warlocks are hunting the afanc because he has the power to make waters rise. Through him they hope to kill the current leader of the warlocks and take over London.

    Where this furbaby came from: the afanc has lived in the rivers of London for millennia. He fell asleep centuries ago, but was woken up by magic. Now he is lost in a modern city he no longer recognizes.

    What inspired you to create this character?

    I love Welsh legends, particularly the creatures. The afanc, with its odd appearance, is one of my favorite monsters.

    What does the main character think about this furbaby?

    Caltha, the mermaid heroine, expects to find a scary monster. Instead, she discovers a vulnerable animal who asks her for her help. She is determined to rescue him and take him to a safe place, away from the warlocks who would use and enslave him.

    What does the villain/antagonist think about this furbaby?

    The warlocks who are after the afanc only want him for his power to control water. Through him they hope to take over London. Some warlocks, “the good ones,” would not use the afanc in this way, but they would treat him like a laboratory exhibit and study him.

    What does this furbaby eat?

    Mainly fish and crustaceans.

    What is this furbaby’s natural habitat?

    The afanc lives in lakes and rivers. He wakes up after a century-long sleep to find out that his river is now underground in London, and encircled by sewers. He is lost and miserable until Caltha finds him.

    What does this furbaby add to the story?

    The afanc is the reason why the heroine Caltha comes to London and teams up with the hero, Jonty the warlock. The afanc brings the two main characters together, and pits them against the villains who are seeking to capture the animal for their own ends.

    What about this furbaby will readers like, and why?

    I hope readers will find him sweet and unusual. He is intelligent, can talk and is devoted to the heroine.

    Where to buy Mermaids Marry in Green

    Publisher Black Velvet Seductions https://blackvelvetseductions.com

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FCQQ75P

    https://books2read.com/u/3LglAN

    Alice Renaud Social Media

    Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she’s a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is out now. Alice has also written a short story, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” included in the BVS “Mystic Desire” anthology, out now in Kindle and paperback. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested.
    Twitter https://twitter.com/alicerauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AliceRenaudAuthorRomance/
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alicerenaudauthor/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18670218.Alice_Renaud
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alice-renaud
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Renaud/e/B07L52P17B

    Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist

    Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
    Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
    Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
    Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues

    image credit: Grant Herbert (used with permission)

     

  • Fiction Furbaby,  Ghost

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Charlie from Running Haunted by Effrosyni Moschoudi @FrostieMoss @RobsRescues #Ghost #RLFblog #Pets

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Charlie from Running Haunted by Effrosyni Moschoudi @FrostieMoss @RobsRescues #Ghost #RLFblog #PetsEffrosyni Moschoudi, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Running Haunted — and the ghost.

    Running Haunted by Effrosyni Moschoudi

    Genre paranormal romantic comedy (with a ghost!)

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

    Kelly ran a marathon… and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it.

    Kelly Mellios is a stunning, athletic woman, who has learned–the hard way–to value herself. Having just finished her first marathon in the alluring Greek town of Nafplio, she bumps into Alex, a gorgeous widower with three underage children, who is desperately looking for a housekeeper.

    The timing seems perfect, seeing that Kelly aches to start a new life, and Nafplio seems like the ideal place to settle down. She accepts the position on the spot, but little does she know that Alex’s house has an extra inhabitant that not even the family knows about…

    The house is haunted by Alex’s late wife, who has unfinished business to tend to. By using the family pet, a quirky pug named Charlie, the ghost is able to communicate with Kelly and asks her for help. She claims she wants to ensure her loved ones are happy before she departs, but offers very little information about her plans.

    Kelly freaks out at first, but gradually finds herself itching to help. It is evident there’s room for improvement in this family… Plus, her growing attraction towards Alex is overpowering.

    Will Kelly do as the ghost bids? How will it affect her? And just how strange is this pug?

    “Another charming book from Effrosyni. Read it, and you’ll be transported to Greece & never look at a dog the same way again!” ~Just Me.Mo, Amazon UK reviewer

    “A fast-paced original story with attention to detail and engaging dialog. A heartfelt emotional read, with family love, romance and a lovable ghost. I highly recommend it.” ~Sheri Wilkinson, Amazon US reviewer

    Meet Charlie (not the ghost) from Running Haunted

    Full name: Charlie
    Nickname: None
    Gender: Male
    Species: Pug
    Physical description: Young, agile, playful, but quirky. Known to freeze occasionally, eyes glazing over, when his deceased Mommy speaks to him…
    Relationship to main character: Kelly is hired to run the house Charlie lives in.

    Relationship to the villain/antagonist: The antagonist, Stella, lives next door. She doesn’t care for dogs!

    Where this furbaby came from: Charlie has been with the family since he was a baby.

    What inspired you to create this character?

    I wanted Lauren, the spirit in the story, to have some kind of medium at her disposal so she can communicate with Kelly. When I thought that her beloved dog (from when she was alive in the house) could play that part, I quickly decided on a pug, because I wanted the dog to be both goofy and quirky. Pugs have such unique faces that could easily be imagined by the reader as cute and hilarious when needed, plus, they’re great with children too. It was an easy choice!

    What does the main character think about this furbaby?

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Charlie from Running Haunted by Effrosyni Moschoudi @FrostieMoss @RobsRescues #Ghost #RLFblog #PetsAt first, Kelly is cautious because Charlie barks at her and generally is difficult to handle seeing that he has never been walked or properly trained. Soon, though, the two become inseparable, especially since the pug proves very effective in helping her communicate with the ghost spirit that haunts the house!

    How do other characters react to or interact with this furbaby?

    Alex, Kelly’s boss and love interest, has a soft spot for Charlie because his deceased wife used to adore him from when he was a puppy. His three underage boys also love Charlie, and he makes everyone laugh with his antics. The youngest of the boys, Tommy, has a special bond with the dog. The two of them are always together in the house, and even at night, Charlie never leaves the boy’s bedroom. Secretly from the others, the pug brings him fashion jewelry items that belonged to Tommy’s mother, and the boy puts them on the pug when they play together in his room.

    What does this furbaby add to the story?

    Charlie is haunted by the spirit of Lauren and his character is key for the spirit’s communication with the heroine, Kelly. Kelly is able to hear the spirit’s voice and even see her face in the mirror sometimes, but only when the pug is around! That’s why she likes to keep the dog close to her. As the story unfolds, Kelly becomes determined to help everyone with their individual problems by following the spirit’s advice to the letter. And this could never be possible without good old Charlie tagging along!

    What about this furbaby will readers like, and why?

    His goofiness, his playfulness, and his occasional naughtiness. In one scene, he even gives Kelly a little bite but he has a good reason! I also think the readers will love Charlie’s fondness for Kelly, which grows as the story progresses, reflecting the gradual strengthening of the bond of friendship between Kelly and the ghost.

    Please share an interesting fact or tidbit about this furbaby.

    Since Lauren died, Charlie doesn’t let anyone sit at the head of the dining table. He growls and barks whenever someone makes a move to sit on it. When Lauren was alive, she used to sit there holding Charlie in her lap as she ate her meals with the family…

    Describe a humorous incident involving the animal character.

    During the early days of Kelly’s presence in the house, she was carrying the washing in the laundry basket one morning to take it outside and hang the clothes on the line. Charlie followed her to the front gate and started barking loudly and jumping about. When she opened the door, house keys in hand, he caused a fuss trying to follow her outside and as she tried to stop him, the keys slipped off her hand. Quick as a flash, and presumably thinking this was a game, Charlie took the keys and bolted indoors. With Kelly standing outside at the time, the door slammed shut out of the blue, leaving her locked out and feeling quite miserable for a while (until a kindly neighbor came to the rescue!)

    About Loulou

    Which, if any of the pets in your writing are modeled after your own pets? In what way?

    I used to be a dog person and thus wound up featuring only dogs in my novels so far. That changed last year when I saved a female young cat from the street which I named Loulou (short for ‘louloudi’, which is Greek for ‘flower’). She’s such a gentle soul, all paws and not a claw in sight when I interact with her, and she made me a cat person in no time. This means I will inevitably start featuring her in many ways in my future heroines’ lives.

    What do your pets do when you are writing?

    Loulou loves to doze off, always in the warmest/sunniest spots, naturally. She had a litter of four kittens three months ago, and I found loving homes for the three, keeping the fourth one as I fell in love with it. So now I have two cats and the little one (haven’t named it yet!) keeps Loulou entertained and busy all day. Loulou trains her baby in big and small ways every day, and they also wrestle a lot for fun. Sometimes, I can hear Loulou’s high-pitched protestations as I work, because the kitten likes to bite her ear and won’t let go. They’re both very playful seeing that Loulou is still very young herself – not even one year old yet, from what I can gather.

    What’s the most unusual pet you ever had?

    The most unusual pet I’ve ever had was a hamster, Romeo, who was very cuddly. I am sorry to say he passed away after just a few months of having him, quite suddenly too, and it was most upsetting. It put me right off getting another hamster, otherwise I’d definitely get another. I loved to place him flat on my outstretched palm and stroke his back as I watched TV on the sofa in the evenings. He would always fall asleep in no time, back legs stretched out hanging over the sides of my hand, and snoring loudly. He made me laugh so much, bless his little soul, and I still laugh when I think of the happy times. I always found the sight of him having a boiled pea absolutely delightful for some reason (I boiled a lot of peas at the time because of that, LOL)

    Where did you find your pet?

    My cat Loulou showed up in my garden one day and decided to stay. Later, I found out she had been born in the garden of a house nearby. At first, she was timid and very fearful. After feeding her a couple times, she let me touch her and pet her, and she never left the house ever since. She’s very vocal, which is so much fun, and we have the most hilarious conversations.

    What do you feed your pet?

    Kibble, and cat treats for extra vitamins. Occasionally, a tin of cat food, or leftovers that are safe for her to eat.

    Describe a toy or favorite item your pet loves.

    Loulou has no favorite item. All she seems to do whenever I see her is seek my hand. She’ll look up and meow, then sway her head from side to side until I pet her on the top of her head. It’s hilarious. Neediest cat in the world, and a little loopy, but I certainly don’t mind. I love her to bits! J

    Where to buy Running Haunted

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0853CMP1V

    Effrosyni Moschoudi Social Media

    Effrosyni Moschoudi was born and raised in Athens, Greece. As a child, she loved to sit alone in her garden scribbling rhymes about flowers, butterflies and ants. Today, she writes books for the romantic at heart. She lives in a quaint seaside town near Athens with her husband Andy. Her mind forever drifts to her beloved island of Corfu.
    Her debut novel, The Necklace of Goddess Athena, has won a silver medal in the 2017 book awards of Readers’ Favorite. The Ebb, her romance set in Corfu that’s inspired from her summers there in the 1980s, is an ABNA Q-Finalist.
    Her novels are Amazon bestsellers, having hit #1 several times, and are available in kindle and paperback format.
    Go here to grab FREE books by this author: https://effrosyniwrites.com/free-stuff/
    Visit Effrosyni’s website for more info on her work, delicious Greek recipes, and to check out her current free offers: https://effrosyniwrites.com/
    Website https://effrosyniwrites.com/
    Blog https://effrosyniwrites.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/FrostieMoss
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authoreffrosyni
    Pinterest https://gr.pinterest.com/efrosinimoschou
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/effrosynimoschoudi/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7362780.Effrosyni_Moschoudi
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/effrosyni-moschoudi
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Effrosyni-Moschoudi/e/B00I5JKMXS
    Get to know Effrosyni Moschoudi better by signing up for an email newsletter https://effrosyniwrites.com/newsletter/

    Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist

    Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
    Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
    Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
    Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues

    Shout out to CARE-Corfu Animal Rescue Establishment

    The charity started in 2003 when 8 puppies were found close to death in a dustbin. All were nursed back to health and subsequently, literally thousands of animals have been re-homed either in Greece, Germany, Austria and the UK.
    CARE presently has a small shelter near Sidari, situated in the north of the Greek island of Corfu. With limited space and facilities, this means we sadly cannot take in all the reported strays but CARE has a mobile unit and along with groups of volunteers, CARE has set up feeding stations and the sterilization of these animals wherever possible.

    https://www.carecorfu.com/

     

  • Contemporary,  Fiction Furbaby

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Bugsy from Racing Home by Mary Kit Caelsto @charmedozarks @RobsRescues #Contemporary #RLFblog #Pets

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Bugsy from Racing Home by Mary Kit Caelsto @charmedozarks @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PetsMary Kit Caelsto, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Racing Home.

    Racing Home by Mary Kit Caelsto

    Genre contemporary romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG-13

    Royce Washburn and Charlie Dowes had been the “it” couple of the horse racing world until a track side accident ended the career of one of his most promising horses. After her recovery, Charlie went on with her life, going to vet school and then opening up Meadowbrook After Care, a rescue for race horses whose careers had ended. In the close world of horse racing, she kept up with Royce’s career, so when she ends up with one of his horses it’s time for Charlie to face the past…and the man she never stopped loving.

    Royce Washburn worked hard to make his name in the horse racing world in spite of his family’s world famous breeding operation. Some said he got where he was on his name alone. He knew better, and he’d prove them wrong. But his breakup with Charlie has haunted him ever since and when one of his favorite horses needs rehabilitation, he can think of no one better to care for him. Perhaps, she can heal his horse and his heart.

    Can they overcome their past to see the future that lays before them before it’s too late?

    Meet Bugsy from Racing Home

    Full name: Bugsy

    Nickname: n/a

    Gender: gelding

    Species: horse

    Physical description: Bugsy is a tall, chestnut thoroughbred racehorse. He’s lean and mean and would love to go fast except he chipped his knee and is need of a new career.

    Relationship to main character: Charlie receives Bugsy at her rescue because it’s known as one of the best.

    Relationship to the villain/antagonist: Royce is the owner and breeder of this horse and knows that Charlie will do right by him.

    Where this furbaby came from: Royce’s farm.

    Do you have any working or service animals in your stories? Tell us about them.

    Many of my stories, both romance and fantasy, feature animals of some sort. I write equestrian women’s lit and romance, so there are always horses in my story. While my own horses are Quarter Horse/stock types, I have a fondness for thoroughbreds and namely OTTB (off the track thoroughbreds) who are race horses with a new career.

    What inspired you to create this character?

    I had written about Meadow Brook After Care (Charlie’s rescue) in my women’s lit series, Noble Dreams, because one of the characters receives horses from there to retrain. I wanted to give Charlie a happy ever after and tell her story. It seemed natural to combine that with the horse racing world of Kentucky.

    What does the main character think about this furbaby?

    It’s love at first sight for Charlie, who appreciates good horse breeding. Bugsy reminds her of her days as an exercise rider, which is how she met Royce, and also where the accident happened that ruined their relationship.

    What does the villain/antagonist think about this furbaby?

    Royce just wants a good soft landing for this horse after his injury. Because Bugsy was on track to be a champion, he’s attached to it, and wants to be sure it ends up in a good place.

    What does this furbaby add to the story?

    Horses have unique personalities. I see this among my four. I think having equine characters allows us to see another dimension of the human characters.

    Describe a humorous incident involving the animal character.

    Not sure if it’s humerous, but one of the main catalyst events in the story is that Bugsy, like any horse, is pretty much a 1000-lb toddler. He loves to get in trouble. He scratches himself in his stall and Charlie wraps him in hot pink vet wrap. While Charlie thinks it’s a bit funny to put hot pink on the gelding, Royce is not amused.

    About Thunder

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Bugsy from Racing Home by Mary Kit Caelsto @charmedozarks @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PetsThis post is called Fiction Furbaby, but perhaps your own pet does not have fur. If you have a pet that has fins, wings, scales, or other features, please tell us about them here.

    Which, if any of the pets in your writing are modeled after your own pets? In what way?

    I have four horses. My senior mare Fortune, an ex-stallion, Thunder, and their filly (who is 6 now), Firefly. I also rescued Holly from a kill pen in Kansas. So I tend to use my experience with these four as well as my own past horse experience (worked on horse farms since I was a teen) to craft my fictional equines, both real and magical.

    What do your pets do when you are writing?

    Stand in the pasture and eat. LOL! I take breaks to visit them, and of course there’s morning and evening feeding. My office cabin overlooks their pasture, so I’m often staring out the window at them instead of writing.

    Where did you find your pet?

    Thunder came to me with the property. I bought him from the seller for my mom, so technically he was her horse, but I always did most of his care and now that mom has passed away, he’s my big goofy boy.

    What do you feed your pet?

    Thunder lives outdoors 24/7 so he always has access to his pasture. He gets horse treats (horse cookies) and I also feed a pelleted 12% feed to him. He receives a hoof supplement and MSM.

    Describe a toy or favorite item your pet loves.

    They have “stall toys” called likits, which are basically probably like a big sweet tart but in horse approved flavors like carrot, apple, or mint. I haven’t tried one, but that’s how they feel. They weigh about a pound and go on a kabob that looks like an apple. I can put one of those up and Thunder and Firefly will have it gone within 20 minutes.

    Where to buy Racing Home

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08972NZ29

    Mary Kit Caelsto Social Media

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Bugsy from Racing Home by Mary Kit Caelsto @charmedozarks @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PetsMary Kit Caelsto never grew out of the phase of being a “horse crazy girl”. Though she’s now over 40, she’s finally fulfilling her dream of writing equestrian books for others who haven’t grown out of being “horse crazy”. She lives in the Ozarks with her four very spoiled and very opinionated horses, as well as a large flock of poultry and enough cats to qualify her as a crazy cat lady. Her husband, though not an equestrian himself, understands and supports all her equestrian dreams.

    She’s convinced three of the best things in the world are the smell of a sun warmed horse, the smell of leather tack, and making sure to hug her horses every single day.

    Picture of the author and “SuperDuck” taken 3/2019. Hair color varies depending on mood.

    Website https://marykitcaelsto.com

    Blog https://marykitcaelsto.com/blog

    Twitter https://twitter.com/charmedozarks

    Facebook https://facebook.com/marykitcaelsto

    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/98579871-mary-caelsto

    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-kit-caelsto

    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Kit-Caelsto/e/B079R7DPYM

    Get to know Mary Kit Caelsto better by signing up for an email newsletter https://marykitcaelsto.com/newsletter

    Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist

    Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.

    Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.

    Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.

    Website http://www.robsrescues.com/

    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues

    Shout out to Ozark Regional Cats

    I’m on the board of Ozark Regional Cats, a group which works to TNR (Trap Neuter Release) feral cats in the rural area of southern Missouri where I live. Learn more at https://ozarkcats.org

     

  • Fiction Furbaby,  Medical

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Tacos from Don’t Forget the Dog by Linda O’Connor @LindaOConnor98 @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Tacos from Don't Forget the Dog by Linda O'Connor @LindaOConnor98 @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PetsLinda O’Connor, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about Don’t Forget the Dog.

    Don’t Forget the Dog by Linda O’Connor

    Genre Medical Romantic Comedy

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG

    Dr. Brogan Corkie is happily semi-retired from medicine and now has time for other hobbies. Her passion for food is second only to her skill at matchmaking!

    Blaine McKinnon, owner and executive chef of an upscale restaurant in Mapleton, has an adorable Old English sheepdog named Tacos. Brogan is roped into dog-sitting Tacos at Blaine’s house. The upside is the spectacular kitchen at her disposal.

    Dr. Sabrina Langfield, a newly minted doctor, is in a bind when her mom, Rue, falls and fractures her wrist. Brogan offers to help and does double-duty looking after Tacos and Rue.

    Blaine and Sabrina were high school sweethearts but parted ways when Blaine pushed Sabrina to pursue a career. Sabrina hasn’t seen him since, but Rue is a huge fan and frequents his restaurant. Rue’s biggest regret is her part in Sabrina and Blaine’s break-up, and with Brogan’s help, she’s determined to get them back together. It might not be that easy – Sabrina is wary of Tacos and, more pressing, she’s decided to move a four-hour flight away to do five more years of training in emergency medicine.

    Will meddlesome matchmaking, Blaine’s persuasiveness, and – don’t forget the dog – Tacos’ sweet nature be enough to convince Sabrina to stay?

    Meet Tacos from Don’t Forget the Dog

    Full name: Tacos
    Gender: male
    Species: Old English sheepdog
    Physical description: white fluffy fur
    Relationship to main character: Blaine’s dog
    Where this furbaby came from: Tacos was rescued by Blaine when Blaine was in high school. He’s been loved wholeheartedly since then and was named after Blaine’s favorite food.

    What inspired you to create this character?

    The premise of the Dr. Brogan Corkie Matchmaking Doctor series is that Brogan, doctor-turned-chef, cooks up romance and fun when two people are thrown together after she’s offered to help them out. When I plotted Don’t Forget the Dog, I thought it would be fun to have Brogan look after a pet instead of a human. The pet’s pa, Blaine McKinnon, became the sexy, talented hero of the romance. I needed a reason for Brogan to get involved, so I came up with the idea of Blaine having a high-maintenance dog – one that didn’t like to be left alone. Old English sheepdogs have long fur that sheds a lot, and they need to be brushed every day. They also tend to drool – which I thought was the perfect excuse for Brogan to look after Tacos at his own home instead of taking him into hers. Plus I think their fluffy fur makes them look adorable!

    What does the hero think about this furbaby?

    Blaine loves Tacos – he rescued Tacos as a puppy, and they’ve been together since Blaine was in high school. When Blaine designed his house, he included a special heated anteroom with a doggy door and area to shower and groom Tacos. Tacos has is own spa!

    What does the heroine think about this furbaby?

    Tacos is trying to worm his way into Sabrina’s heart, but it’s tough going. Big, hairy, slobbery dogs aren’t really her thing.

    How do other characters react to or interact with this furbaby?

    Sabrina’s mom, Rue, loves Tacos – and has since Blaine first rescued him back in high school when Blaine used to hang out with Sabrina’s brothers. Of all the children, Tacos is Rue’s favorite. Dr. Brogan Corkie wasn’t a dog-person, but she’s charmed by Tacos sweet, playful nature. He’s the perfect gentleman, just like his pa (unless you ask Sabrina – she’ll tell you both of them have a ways to go there – especially the pa).

    Describe a humorous incident involving the animal character.

    Blaine knew he was going to be busy at his restaurant during the hectic week around Valentine’s Day and had made arrangements weeks in advance to have someone look after Tacos. That person backs out at the last moment and Brogan is caught in the cross-hairs (or shaggy fur so to speak) and ends up “volunteering” to help out. It’s one of my favourite scenes in the book. The upside is that she’s babysitting Tacos at Blaine’s house and, as a chef, he has an awesome kitchen she can use!

    Where to buy Don’t Forget the Dog

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086RQHH9B/

    Linda O’Connor Social Media

    Award-winning author Linda O’Connor started writing romantic comedies when she needed a creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at a local home décor store. Her books have enjoyed bestseller status. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic. She shares her medical knowledge in fast-paced, well-written, sexy romances – with an unexpected twist. Her favourite prescription to write? Laugh every day. Love every minute.
    Website https://www.lindaoconnor.net
    Blog https://www.lindaoconnor.net/news-muse-and-interviews/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LindaOConnorAuthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/795688.Linda_O_Connor
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA
    Get to know Linda O’Connor better by signing up for their email newsletter.
    https://www.lindaoconnor.net/contact/

    Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist

    Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues

     

  • Contemporary,  Fiction Furbaby

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Gump from Ask Me To Game by Zoe Forward @AuthorZForward @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Gump from Ask Me To Game by Zoe Forward @AuthorZForward @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PetsZoe Forward, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about your book.

    Ask Me To Game by Zoe Forward

    Genre: Contemporary romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Emma Duarte just volunteered to be the ultimate badass. She agreed to try out for an elite eGaming team to draw out the criminal mastermind behind the dangerous, illegal underworld of video gaming. The problem? She doesn’t know jack about the game she has to pose as an expert of. What makes it worse? The guy hired to train her on the game is her brother-in-law (not the one married to her sister, but his older brother). Oh, did she forget to mention the ill-advised one-night-stand with him after her sister’s wedding?

    Michael Harrison loves seeing straitlaced Emma off-kilter. Sure, she rebuffs him every chance she gets, but that just makes it more challenging—and fun. But at the end of the day, the goal is to get her on the Dynasty eGaming team and catch a criminal. Michael already lost his brother to this underworld, and he won’t lose Emma too.

    Meet Gump from Ask Me To Game

    Full name: Gump

    Gender: Male

    Species: Labrador Retriever

    Physical description: Yellow, English variety (got the big blocky head)

    Relationship to main character: Seizure alert service dog; alerts the hero (Michael) when he is about to have a seizure

    Relationship to the villain/antagonist: none

    Where this furbaby came from: Service training organization that matched him with Michael

    Do you have any working or service animals in your stories? Tell us about them.

    YES! Gump is a seizure alert service dog who alerts the hero, Michael, when he is about to have a seizure. Since he entered Michael’s life he has made a huge impact on reducing the number of epileptic seizures Michael had by prompting Michael to medicate before the seizure hits. This means Gump goes where Michael goes. In our story, Michael has been hired to train the heroine in playing a video game that he used to play competitively online.

    What inspired you to create this character?

    As a veterinarian, I remain awed by my service dog patients who assist their person with dignity, quiet poise and devotion. I have now met and treated two seizure alert dogs over the years who absolutely won my heart not only by how their presence has entirely changed their person’s life, but also their beautiful demeanors and dedication. One was a black Labrador who helped an eight year-old epileptic—went to school with him and everywhere in his kid’s life. He remained focused on his job even when limping with a broken toe and through a horrendous bilateral ear infection.

    I must also say that I named him Gump as a tribute to one of my all time favorite patients who had cancer but I swear it wasn’t only the anti-cancer herbs that kept him alive for 1.5 years beyond what we expected. It was his optimistic, loving attitude, and his incredible family’s love for him. Positive attitude and love go so far.

    What does the main character think about this furbaby?

    Gump is not just critical to his health, but he’s also Michael’s best bud. I’m not saying he’s Scooby Doo and they eat all kinds of weird food, but they do everything together and in the low moments of his life, he’s the one who’s there.

    How do other characters react to or interact with this furbaby?

    Gump’s a working dog which means he’s not generally friendly to everybody. He respects other people but he’s on duty all the time. The one person he warms up to almost immediately is our heroine. Maybe that’s because Michael’s got a thing for her, but Gump trusts her right away.

    What is this furbaby’s natural habitat?

    This guy’s in the bed or on the sofa when he’s not on duty. No outdoors for him. As an alert dog he’s by his person at all times.

    What about this furbaby will readers like, and why?

    He’s got the heart of a hero, a characteristic that explodes at exactly the right moment to save the day, or the heroine as it so happens.

    About Shelby (personal pet)

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Gump from Ask Me To Game by Zoe Forward @AuthorZForward @RobsRescues #RLFblog #PetsBreed: Labrador Retriever

    Age: 11 yrs

    Gender: Female

    This post is called Fiction Furbaby, but perhaps your own pet does not have fur. If you have a pet that has fins, wings, scales, or other features, please tell us about them here.

    Which, if any of the pets in your writing are modeled after your own pets? In what way?

    To date I have not used any of my own pets in my writing. Each of our dogs is a unique goof. Since I’m a veterinarian I have met so many charismatic pets that if and when I have a pet in one of my novels, I’ve got a lot of sparkling personalities to choose from.

    What do your pets do when you are writing?

    The cats (there are 4 of them) are often walking across the keyboard or trying to sit in my seat at the same time as me when not batting around a LEGO mini-figure head or tearing apart my toddler’s newest craft project. The dogs sit on their beds staring at me. If I move they jump up. Then I think they need out, but usually they just want a treat. And those sad eyes usually earn them one.

    What do you feed your pet?

    I do a combination of Grandma Lucy’s freeze dried and high quality kibble (I do vary the kibble brand).

    Describe a toy or favorite item your pet loves.

    Shelby has some vision issues so shiny floors give her the willies. She’s not really a toy dog, but what’s her favorite are the areas rugs that she travels between to move about the house. She’s given many of them love bites in the corners, which is one of her nervous habits.

    Fiction Furbaby: Meet Gump from Ask Me To Game by Zoe Forward @AuthorZForward @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets

    Where to buy Ask Me To Game

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084F3C4HP/
    Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ask-me-to-game-zoe-forward/1136303408
    iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1497441338
    Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ask-me-to-game

    Zoe Forward Social Media

    Zoe Forward might admit to you she’s almost prepared for the zombie apocalypse before the fact she writes contemporary and paranormal romances. She’s a board-certified veterinarian. You can ask her about your pet’s problem, but be warned she’s into integrative medicine so her answer might involve treatments you’ve never heard of. You can find her residing in the south with the love of her life, a menagerie of four-legged beasts and two wild kids.
    Website http://www.zoeforward.com
    Blog http://zoeforwardblog.blogspot.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorZForward
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorzoe.forward/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6591244.Zoe_Forward
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/zoe-forward
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Zoe-Forward/e/B00AESQL24
    Get to know Zoe Forward better by signing up for their email newsletter. http://www.zoeforward.com/contact/

    Shout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist

    Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column. Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting. Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
    Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues