Children's Books and Animals - A Week to Celebrate!

This post by Gayle M. Irwin

This week, the first week of May, is special to me for two reasons, well maybe three: Spring should actually be here to stay in my area, especially have a several-inch dumping of snow late last week; May 1 to 7 is Children’s Book Week, and it’s also considered Be Kind to Animals Week. Although spring is very important, especially to those of us in the west who deal with spring snow storms, I want to focus on the other two reasons I like this week: kids and books, and kindness and animals.

Children’s Book Week began in 1919 and is promoted by the Children’s Book Council. It’s a week to celebrate children’s books, children’s authors, reading, and writing. I remember falling in love with reading thanks to authors like E.B. White and Laura Ingalls Wilder and books such as Black Beauty, The Trumpet of the Swan, and Follow My Leader. Little did I know then that I’d grow up to write my own children’s books, with animals as characters and life lessons woven into those stories.

Be Kind to Animals Week is celebrated this week as well. Started nearly 100 years ago by American Humane, the idea is to teach children kindness toward animals, in particular to companion animals, like dogs and cats. I’m grateful this special recognition overlaps with Children’s Book Week, for, as an author of children’s books with animals as characters, I can integrate my authorship with events celebrating books, children, animals, and kindness. In fact, this week I’m blessed to have three events: two out-of-town and one at my community’s library. I’m sharing these events with other children’s book authors I’ve met. We’re reaching kids with strong, positive messages, such as kindness, self-confidence, and friendship, as well as providing activities, including making their own books. And my dog, Mary, is part of the “cast” at these events as well!

Mary has her own book, released last month. Titled A Kind Dog Named Mary, this book teaches kids the importance of pet adoption and the importance of being kind. I use real photos of my real dog, and having the children meet her and hear her story makes those vital lessons all the more vivid and real to them.

As an author, sometimes it’s challenging to tie our works into special recognitions, but it can be done. There are special days, weeks, and months for nearly all occasions – for example, did you know there’s a National Artichoke Hearts Day? Yep, it’s in March, the day before St. Patrick’s Day. Women’s History Month is also observed in March; for those who write historical fiction/romance, that might be a good time of year to tie in with your books. National History Day, a time of learning and competition for students, usually takes place in June; this, too, might be a good tie-in for those who write non-fiction or fiction books based in another time period.

Writing about animals, primarily dogs and cats, allows me to tie in with various observances, including Be Kind to Animals Week, but also Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month (June), Responsible Dog Ownership Days (September), Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month (October), and Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month (November).  Last year, I conducted a few library programs and booksignings around Take Your Dog to Work Day, which happens the fourth Friday of June; my programs included information on the jobs that dogs do, including law enforcement, service to the disabled, and herding. I try to coordinate book events in October and November that will benefit my local animal shelter and hope to do so again this year.

As Children’s Book Week and Be Kind to Animals Week wrap up for this year, I’m working on my next children’s pet stories, to have available by the holiday season, maybe sooner since Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month occurs in October. Children and books, children and animals, and books about animals are all close to my heart, and it’s my desire to engage children with reading as well as writing and to remind them of the gifts of both literacy and pets.

What books intrigued you as a child? Were any of them, or the authors, reasons you became a writer? Do you have special times during the year that you tie your writings with? And, the biggest question of all – has anyone written a book about artichokes yet?! Have a great weekend everyone – Happy Writing!

Gayle M. Irwin is the author of several inspirational pet books for children and adults. She weaves life lessons into her works, including friendship, self-confidence, courage, and kindness. She is also a contributing writer to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and has a story in Sundown’s 2016 release Memories from Maple Street USA: Pawprints on My Heart. Learn more about Gayle at www.gaylemirwin.com. She also maintains a pet blog on her website, dispensing interesting and fun information about companion animals and volunteers for regional animal rescue organizations.

Writing and Pets -- An Ideal Partnership for NaNo and Beyond

This post by Gayle M. Irwin

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNo) as well as Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month.  As a writer of inspirational pet stories for children and adults, I weave my love for animals and my enjoyment of writing together.  I am excited for November! I’m participating in NaNo this year; I missed last year due to writing deadlines for several magazine and newspaper articles I was working on. This month I also have some articles due, but not until later in the month and not as many as last year due to finishing them in October for a November 1 deadline. Therefore, NaNo, here I come! (maybe at a “gale-force!”)

I have two projects I desire to complete, both of which were started a few years ago. One is what I call a “pet rescue romance.” I developed the idea about three years ago while taking a fiction writing course at my local community college. The instructor, Mary Billiter, is a published writer of newspaper columns and fiction stories. Several in the class write in the romance genre, as does Mary with her fiction stories. As I learned romance is a leading seller, I thought I’d give it a shot. But, I also wanted to weave my passion for pets into the work with hopes of doing something else I enjoy: educating people about pet rescue. So, I began this new journey. But, I quit within a few months of the class ending. This style is out of my writing box, out of my comfort zone. However, as I’ve shared the idea with writer friends, I’ve been encouraged it’s a story that interests people and should be written. So, as November dawned, here I go, diving back into it.

My second goal is to finish another work I started more than five years ago: a dog rescue story for children. Based on a true story about a dog I helped transport for Big Dogs Huge Paws, a large-breed dog rescue group in Colorado, this relates the tale of a dog abandoned by its owner and taken into rescue then later adopted. Again, my desire is to educate people (in this case children and their families) about pet rescue. I’ve even spoken to leaders at Big Dogs Huge Paws on how we might collaborate to bring them additional funds through the sale of the book and hopefully also more volunteers for the rescue organization. But, I need to finish the book first.

NaNo will help me complete the projects and continue in the vein I enjoy: pet stories (albeit one story out of my comfort zone). The pet passion has stayed with me since childhood, and writing provides opportunity to increase awareness of and need for people to help pets. According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) nearly eight million dogs and cats enter animal shelters and rescues annually, and many of them don’t leave. Only about 35 percent of shelter animals are adopted; sadly, many shelters kill healthy animals that don’t get adopted to make room for another sad statistic: additional animals coming through the doors. Pet ownership responsibility and community needs for rescues and shelters are lessons I hope readers learn from my works, whether those readers are children or adults. Weaving writing with pets, pet ownership responsibility, and animal rescue is one way I can serve the causes for which I’m passionate. 

Pets and writing make an ideal partnership for me as an author. With NaNo, I plan to achieve my writing goals and complete these two works. Blow ye winds, hi-ho – off to writing more pet stories I go!

Gayle M. Irwin is a Wyoming writer, author, and speaker. She is the author of several inspirational pet stories for children and adults, including a chapter book called Sage's Big Adventure, a kid's activity book titled Cody's Cabin: Life in a Pine Forest, and two memoirs: Walking in Trust: Lessons Learned from My Blind Dog and her latest: Tail Tales: Stories of Pets Who Touched My Heart and Impacted My Life. She is also a contributing writer to several editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul and is one of the featured writers in Memories from Maple Street U.S.A: Pawprints on My Heart, released by Sundown Press. She has new children's works forthcoming and will be on the booksigning circuit in Wyoming and Montana during November and December. Learn more at www.gaylemirwin.com.  

Writing Your Passion

Post by Gayle M. Irwin

This month is National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, celebrated and recognized around the country by animal shelter and rescue groups. Many such organizations reduce their adoption fees or at least take the opportunity in October to bring greater awareness to the plight of animals in need of loving homes. While touring Best Friends Animal Society & Sanctuary around this time last year, I learned the startling statistic of how many animals die in kill-shelters throughout this country. Even though I was aware of the annual statistic (3-4 million), the tour guide bravely broke it down to how many every day: 9,000. NINE THOUSAND dogs, cats, and other creatures (bunnies, guinea pigs, birds) DIE EVERY DAY in kill shelters. Yet, Americans shell out billions of dollars every year – in fact, more than $55 billion! –  for their pets: food, vet bills, treats, toys, beds, clothing... Americans who love their pets REALLY LOVE their pets to spend billions of dollars every year on them. That's so cool! Yet, we let 9,000 companion animals (most of whom are quite healthy) die every day in kill-shelters. That's very sad. It's estimated that only 25% of adoptable pets in shelters and rescue organizations find new homes.

I write inspirational pet stories for children and adults. Pet rescue is my passion. All of my animals are adopted, and I assist my local humane society and regional pet rescue organizations every year through various means: events, monetary and supply donations, transportation, home visits – I even donate a percentage of my book sales to these groups. Why should 9,000 wonderful animals die every day because people won’t adopt? Such a staggering statistic boggles my mind.

Many people believe that an animal at a shelter has a major problem or is unfit for a home. Why do we think an animal is LESS THAN because it's in rescue or a shelter? The fact is the #1 reason why animals are at those places is because of their human, not because of the animal; the #1 reason people give for giving up their pet is “I'm moving.” Yet, they move with their child, their car, their furniture … and leave their pet behind. 

In 2008, my husband and I adopted a nearly-ten-year-old cocker spaniel named Cody. He was an intact male, likely used for breeding then tossed away after his "services" were no longer viable. Although he was a purebred dog, his chances of being adopted were slim due to his age. Cody lived with us nearly eight years, crossing the Rainbow Bridge in January 2016 at nearly 18 years of age. We never expected him to live that long; we were very willing to give him his "retirement home" for a couple of years. Perhaps that "second chance," a home with great love and care, kept him going much longer. Part of that love and care comes in the form of stories. Cody has his own book, by which I teach children to appreciate not just older pets, but the nature around them, encouraging them to get outdoors with their family and their pets. Cody's legacy lives on in Cody's Cabin: Life in a Pine Forest and in Sage Finds Friends, a children's picture book about friendship, confidence, and trust. Cody traveled with me to several library, school, and bookstore visits, impacting children just like my blind dog, Sage, did; Sage was also a former animal shelter resident.

I am ready to add another dog to our home, and you can bet I'll adopt from a shelter or rescue. I've done my research to know what breed would best fit into our home that has two older cats and another aging dog -- as well as aging humans. I'm hoping by Christmas to have this new furry friend in our household.

Best Friends has two significant campaigns: No Kill and No More Homeless Pets. Since October is National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, I think it's a good time to get on the #NoMoreHomelessPets/#NoKill bandwagon and encourage dog adoption. So, as I did last year, this October I'm taking the stage with blogs and Facebook posts and Twitter tweets, and asking my friends to join in. Tout however you can: #NoKill! #NoMoreHomelessPets! #AdoptaDog! #AdoptDon'tShop! I’m blessed to have at least three opportunities this month to join with local independent bookstores and animal shelters in my area as we partner for events that promote dog adoption and offer opportunity to sell my books at these happenings.

As writers, we can weave our passions into our work. Whether it’s animals, child abuse, domestic violence, history or space travel, we can incorporate our passions into our stories.

The dogs' stories of which I've played a part are featured in my current writings. I'm working on two books that involve dog rescue: an educational/awareness book about rescue organizations for children and families – that book idea sprouted from my encounter with Jazmine, a dog I helped transport to her new home; and a romance story involving dog rescue (I imagine the hero of my story will rescue the heroine, or vice-verse!). Again, I'm weaving my writing with my passion for pets, and I'm looking forward to seeing how these stories come together in the near future. I also write a pet column each month for two publications, and I’m able to share my thoughts about pet adoption and pet rescue in those compositions. I feel blessed to work in this niche, to weave my passion for pets into my writings.

How about you? What is your writing niche? Do you weave something you’re passionate about into your work?

Gayle M. Irwin is a Wyoming writer, author, and speaker. She is the author of seven inspirational dog books for children and adults, including a chapter book called Sage's Big Adventure, a kid's activity book titled Cody's Cabin: Life in a Pine Forest, and a memoir titled Walking in Trust: Lessons Learned from My Blind Dog. She is also a contributing writer to several editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul and is one of the featured writers in Memories from Maple Street U.S.A: Pawprints on My Heart, released by Sundown Press. She speaks in schools, at libraries, and for civic and faith-based organizations. Learn more at www.gaylemirwin.com.