Wednesday, June 13, 2012

The Further Adventures of Maggie the Toodle

As many of you know, my ever-faithful sidekick and writing companion is our family dog, Maggie--a miniature poodle with a dash of terrier thrown in, a wonderful rescue from our local animal shelter, Central Nebraska Humane Society.

While she has been busy encouraging me to sit at the computer to meet my current deadline, and reminding me to get up regularly to get some exercise and take care of other responsibilities, Maggie has been having a few adventures of her own recently.

Not only did she capture her first rabbit earlier this week, she's been all the way to Grandma's house in Missouri, where she chased a squirrel out of Grandma's backyard.  (See the squirrel way up in the tree?)

Maggie was such a hit with Grandma (she got her own serving of scrambled eggs!) that we had to double-check the car to make sure Maggie was in the car with us when we left.

Once we were home (we'd gone to Missouri for my oldest niece's wedding--beautiful event and fun time!), Maggie had an evening of dog-sitting duties.  She was the big buddy to the puppy of a friend of ours.  Millie, the puppy, was like having a "Mini-Me" version of Maggie around the house.  Maggie showed her how to play with toys and where the best places were in the backyard for sniffing and staking out territory.

As I'm writing this blog, Maggie is dozing at my feet.  We've had a busy day.  One of the things we did was drive to the post office to mail out some prize books and postcards to readers, sharing the news of me making the USA TODAY Bestseller list, and reminding them of my August release, KANSAS CITY COWBOY.

I'm sure she'd want me to share my gorgeous cover with you, and offer a prize book to one lucky commenter today.  So do you have a special friend or coworker?  A rescue animal who has become an important part of your life? What summer adventures are you having?  Is there a book you're looking forward to reading?  Share your comments or questions.  Sometime Friday morning, I'll have Maggie pick a winner to receive either a signed copy of KANSAS CITY COWBOY just as soon as I get my author copies, or something from my backlist right away if you prefer.

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie Miller

24 comments:

  1. Hi Julie,
    Maggie is too cute. I might go on another mini road trip with my cousin in the summer. I'm really excited about Julie Garwood's upcoming release "Sweet Talk."

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    1. Hey, Jane--our summer has/will been/be full of mini-road trips, too. Our schedules are just so busy, there isn't time for a full vacation. It's a little different for us, but we're determined to make the most of it.

      Probably the longest I'll be gone is when I travel to Anaheim, CA in July for the Romance Writers of America conference. btw, there I'll be rooming with fellow Intrigue author Jan Hambright. Hope to see some of you there!

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  2. As an avid reader of your books, I started to think......I wish she had a cowboy book because I would love to see how she develops him. Then a few days later, I saw the announcement. For this book. I cant wait to read it.

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  3. There was a special dog in my life until May/11. I use his picture as my blog avatar and miss him tremendously. He wasn't even our dog - we dogsat him several times a year when his owners were in other countries, sometimes for a month or more at a time.
    Cute story: Austin was a purebred golden retriever who was trained to be a guide dog when a pup. He was eventually fired from the program because he was "just too friendly", and the couple providing interim care for him was offered him full-time ownership instead. That couple kept Austin, but often taught English as a Second Language in China, so they would drive him 3 hours away to their daughter's home (up the street from us) for dogsitting. Because that family was away most days and the dog was extremely lonely, we offered to take him in here instead (as I work from home), where he became a valued member of our family....

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    1. What a wonderful story, Laney! Austin sound like a terrific canine friend. "Too friendly" sounds like most Goldens I know. ;)

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  4. Loves 2 Read Romance - LauraJune 14, 2012 at 8:15 AM

    I love hearing about Maggie's adventures! Jane I too read Julie Garwood but haven't gotten to read her last few books. Laney I am sorry it sounds like Austin was a great dog. I am looking forward to Kansas City Cowboy!! Along with a bunch more Intrigues and Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, & Love Inspired Historical.
    I have two cats and a dog who are all rescues. In fact my mom is warning me to keep my eyes shut around July 4th. The past two years the weekend of July 4th I have ended up finding and rescuing a cat which is how we have the two we have. So I will have to be careful because we can't have any more pets.

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    1. Sounds like you've made a great home for little furry ones, Laura. I believe animals know who are "dog people" or "cat people" or "pet people", etc. They choose us as much as we choose them.

      Sounds like you've got a lot of great reading ahead, too! Glad I'm on the TBR list. ;)

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  5. My friend is my cat, Minnie. But she mostly likes to be left alone, definitely not a lap cat. Sometimes though she will come sit next to the computer when I am working for a little bit and sometimes she's by my feet. I couldn't imagine life without her though. She gives me plenty of stories to tell.

    There are just too many upcoming books to mention, but definitely some Intrigues that are in a series (including KANSAS CITY COWBOY!) and Lori Foster that I am waiting for - very eagerly I might say.

    I do have to say Maggie is very cute. She reminds me of the dog I had growing up.

    DeniseB

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  6. Hey, Denise--one of the things that made me ask to see Maggie at the shelter when we were looking for a new pet was that she reminded me of a dog I had growing up, too. Duke was a miniature poodle I had through junior and senior high-school. I missed her when I went away to college. But he lived long enough that when my grandmother came to live with Mom & Dad, Duke was an elderly dog who moved at about the same pace. When he was young, he was the perfect athletic/protective/good listener/cuddling/entertaining companion for my brothers and me...when he was older, he was the perfect companion for my grandmother. The two of them became fast friends.

    Maggie--other than being skin and bones and a mat of hair--reminded me so much of Duke, I asked to see her. She adopted my son immediately upon entering the visitation room. Hubby and I were won over seconds later. ;)

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  7. Hi Julie,

    I love hearing Maggie stories. Lately, I have already bought your books, this time I have not (because it's not available yet!) I would love to win it before I buy it! I LOVE your new cover. I always look forward to reading your books. As you know I have 3 cats from a rescue shelter. Diva, Bubba and Brooke. They are very sweet (most of the time) Brooke now follows me everywhere I go. I call her my shadow.

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    1. Hey, Tammy--I love your cats' names! Do Diva and Bubba fit those names? ;) Brooke sounds like a sweetie.

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    2. Hi Julie - Diva is my daughter;s cat. She's a sleek black cat - very smart and very devious. She hates our other cats and loves people. Bubba is a Buff striped Tabby. So loving and sweet. He's my boy. (and my favorite) He was a special need kitten. He has cage issues and is skittish, but when he feels safe, he has the loudest purr. Diva and Bubba are both 3. Brooke is 2. She is a Brown, Gray and Black striped Tabby. She is Bubba's girlfriend. They clean each other and sleep together while Diva sleeps by herself. Right now, Brooke is right next to me sleeping on the floor next to my chair.

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    3. Diva sounds aptly named. ;) Bubba reminds me of Peanut Butter--a buff tabby we had growing up. He was a big fat galoot of a cat who'd rather play or nap than fight. He was pretty low-key and I loved him. That was in elementary/middle school.

      One day he wandered off and we never saw him again. We lived out in the country, but there was a highway nearby, so I have my suspicions about his fate. :(

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  8. :) Had to smile while reading this post... thanks for sharing Maggie's little adventures! Love animals, I had a few special ones in my life. One was my very first bird, a family friend gave me a parrot when I was 11. Oscar was my best friend, my room's guard dog, my playmate... he was the best... had him for almost 15 years before he sadly became sick and passed away. Another wonderful friend was Misty... a husky mix... she was such a cute puppy. Her whole litter was at the pound... they were taken away from the owner for abusing them... she was the scared little one in the corner... we had to give her a home... she was with me for many years... what a wonderful friend!

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  9. Aw, Colleen--sounds like 2 very wonderful pets. I've never had a bird--I understand they're usually very long-lived (when they don't get sick--hugs on that) and thus become lifelong friends.

    And my son would love a husky or husky mix. When we got Maggie, we'd gone to the shelter looking for a big dog for him. But Maggie set her sights on him and won him over. Jumped into Ryne's lap almost immediately and licked his face. Ryne was smitten just as quickly, and we came home with a small dog that day. ;)

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  10. Cute dog! I'm looking forward to Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  11. Thanks! You know, I've never read Nalini Singh, but I've seen so many readers recommend her, I'm thinking I should check her out. Do you have a title recommendation where I should start?

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  12. Love hearing about Maggie. My dog is a rescued pit/lab that loves poodles. She is friendly with all dogs, but she especially likes poodles.

    Halfway through The Marine Next Door, and it is so good. Love it.

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    1. Thanks, Gayle! I'm pleased to hear that you're enjoying THE MARINE NEXT DOOR.

      Interesting that your dog has a specific affinity for poodles. Must be something about the temperament that appeals to her. Or maybe she likes curly hair? ;)

      Maggie has finally made friends with the chocolate lab next door (she's already good buddies with our neighbor's dachshund). Ruby the lab is a big bruiser with a big, deep, loud bark that used to startle Maggie, and she'd come scurrying back into the house. And Ruby barks a lot when she gets excited. But now Maggie either ignores her, or they check each other out at the fence. Ruby still gets excited to see Maggie, but Maggie's gained some confidence? learned that Ruby may be loud, but she's friendly? Who knows how those doggie minds work. ;)

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  13. Maggie is adorable. My dog just died two week ago, I cried for about two days, I still miss him, I had him for 11 years. I wanted to get another one to keep me company and my vet called me to check out a stray puppy. I ended up taking her home. These rescue animals are so loving, and also very cautious as they have been mistreated. She follows me every where and cuddles up to me if a strange person comes to the house, as no one else but me can pet her. In a short time this little puppy has become part of the family.

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  14. Hugs on the loss of your dear friend, Avi J.

    It took us quite a while to get over the loss of our previous dog, Maxie. The guys were ready before I was. But one day I woke up and I knew it was time. I think we met Maggie (then called China) just a few days later, and the rest is history.

    We've had wonderful success with rescue dogs. They seem smarter than many dogs I've known, and, once they decide they can trust you, they're so loving and loyal.

    Dogs want to be a part of a pack. They want to belong to someone. At least, that's what I believe. Of course, it has to be the right someone for every dog.

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  15. well no adventures here just working but the puppy we have is doing good but doesnt know if he likes the 4 new kittens that were born a little over a week ago the kiddo just got back from camp today and had her adventures

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  16. Hey, Misty--yes, that can be an adventure, introducing new pets into the mix. ;) Back when I could still have cats (severe ashtma allergy forced us to send my Reitzie to live with cousins on the farm) we had one dog, Frosty, who got along great with the cats we had. The only time there was ever an issue was when he poked his nose into the box where Mama had just had 4 kittens. She let him know that interaction outside the box was fine--but inside was too close for her liking. Frosty was another smart miniature poodle--Mama cat didn't have to tell him twice. ;)

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  17. And the winner is... misty c!

    Congratulations, Misty--Maggie nosed your name out of the pile and selected you as the winner. All I need you to do is email me your snail mail addy, and I'll get a book to you in the mail. Oh, and let me know if you want to wait for KANSAS CITY COWBOY (I'm guessing I'll get my copies in late June/early July), or if there's a title you'd rather have from my back list.

    Thanks to everyone who stopped by and shared their wonderful pet stories and summer adventures. And don't forget to enter the Book GiveAway on my website. I'm celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary this month--and for every 25 entries I receive, I'll give away a prize book.

    And I'll be back here to blog on June 27th.

    Thanks!

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