Blog Archives
A Dog’s Love Is Without Conditions
A Quilt for Charley is a heartwarming story about an older dog who finds hope in a dream, leading him to a new chance at love and a forever home. What do you hope readers take away from your story?
I hope that readers will take a chance and adopt older dogs. Old dogs need loving and caring homes, too.
The book also features the theme of love and the bond between humans and animals. How important is this connection, and why do you think it is so strong?
The connection between dogs and humans is a strong and loving bond because dogs aren’t just animals. They are sentient beings. They have all of the emotions that a human being has. Charley’s trainer had the opportunity to watch how Charley interacted with me, and he said, “In my entire career, training dogs, I have never seen a dog so in love with someone as much as Charley loves Sharon.” A dog’s love is without conditions.
The book conveys the importance of adoption and giving older animals a chance at a new life. Can you discuss your personal views on animal adoption and the work that animal shelters do?
Animal shelters struggle to place homeless animals in loving homes, and without shelters, many more animals would suffer alone, hopeless, and helpless.
Adopting an animal, especially older animals, is saving a life. The thought that Charley could have died alone and unloved brings me to tears. We promised Charley, he will never die alone, and he will be loved until his last breath. He is a bright light in our life that brings us great joy. He is sweet and kind. And as a service dog, he is by my side to help me up curbs and stairs.
A Quilt for Charley is a touching and memorable story. Are there any particular reactions from readers that have stuck with you?
Several of my friends who have read my book about Karl and Charley have told me that when they reincarnate, they want to be my dog.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Then one night, Charley has a dream where a mysterious-looking dog with golden eyes appears. He tells Charley his hard life is over, and he is going to a forever home where his life will be better than anything he could ever imagine.
When Charley wakes up, he wonders, could this dream be true? As he is led out from his kennel to meet the man and woman who have asked to see him, he is hopeful. What does his future hold . . .
A Quilt for Charley
A shy older dog with a big scar on his forehead winds up in a shelter. He doesn’t know why he was abandoned by his family, but he is now afraid to trust anyone else. Then, one night he has a dream, and in it, a dog with golden eyes tells him that he has been chosen to go to a special forever home. His new mommy and daddy will show up the next day, and all Charley has to do is show them all the love in his heart. So Charley does, and sure enough, the new people take him home. On his first night with his new family, he sees a quilt that he wants to put on his bed, but he is told this quilt is not for him. He is sad but accepts this. Still, he often thinks of the soft quilt. Soon his new family sends him off to a special training camp, where he learns how to become a service dog for his mommy. He now has an important job, and when he gets home, a surprise is waiting just for him.
A Quilt for Charley is a beautifully written children’s book and is based on a true story. Author Sharon Winters shares Charley’s story with readers, and Toby Mikle illustrates the story with whimsical drawings that will leave readers of all ages smiling. This picture book teaches children that just because an animal is older or does not look perfect does not mean they have no value or do not deserve love and a home. Charley was older and had a scar on his face, but his heart and willingness to work made him the perfect dog for the couple in this story.
Children and adults will enjoy the picture book A Quilt for Charley with its heartwarming story that leaves you with a feeling of hope. Charley’s story has a happy ending, and with books like this to spread the message of adopting from a shelter and giving older dogs a second chance, more animals will have the opportunity to live the good life with a family that loves them, just like Charley.
Pages: 35 | ASIN : B0BK31YWGL
Love Never Dies
Karl’s Diary: It’s a Dog’s Life is the memoir of a dog who was found alone in the desert and was adopted by a loving family. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I have a gift—the ability to experience what a dog is feeling and to express those feelings into thoughts a human being can understand. With this connection to our fur-children we become more than an individual being. We have a new understanding of all life as we step behind a mysterious veil that is no longer hidden from us. Love never dies.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to answer the question: What does it feel like to love and be loved.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about pet adoption?
A common misconception is that a rescued dog isn’t as good as a dog from a breeder.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Karl’s story?
Dogs as well as other animals are sentient beings: They have feelings and emotions. The feelings of love they have are beyond our imagination.
And for those who are curious about what has happened the Charley (an eighty pound mixed boxer from a shelter) I have just published a children’s book about him: A Quilt for Charley. Hint—He is now my service dog. We couldn’t love him more.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Karl’s Diary: It’s a Dog’s Life
Any animal lover will tell you without hesitation- pets are indeed a part of the family. They bring love, joy, entertainment, and sometimes even lifesaving companionship to people’s lives each and every day. And if they can do that for us, imagine what we do for them, especially rescue animals. To go from uncertainty on the streets or in a shelter, to a loving, safe home with regular food and warmth, rescues must certainly appreciate us even if they can’t exactly express it in words. But what if they could? What if our fur babies could keep a record of their thoughts for us to read?
In Karl’s Diary: It’s a Dog’s Life author Sharon Winters imagines just a scenario, detailing the life of Karl, an adopted boykin Spaniel, as he navigates life in his new home. His life is not exotic, but full of everything a dog could want, most importantly an abundant amount of love and an abundant amount of food. Anyone who’s ever had a dog won’t be shocked by Karl’s focus on food as he details his days, recalling his own meals as well as those of his humans. It’s clearly a large part of his happiness! However, Karl knows without a doubt that the love he’s given on a daily basis is the most important part of his life and is appreciated consistently throughout the book. Winters gives Karl his own voice and personality that is easy to recognize in the pets in our own lives. One of the most masterful tools she uses to truly make him come to life is simplicity. We know a dog’s needs are simple- it stands to reason that their thoughts, if we could hear them, would be as well, and Winters never tries to make Karl or his life more complicated than it needs to be. It gives the story a level of authenticity that adds to its enjoyment.
It’s so easy to forget sometimes the impact we have on the animals in our lives, but Karl’s Diary tells his story in a way that helps drive the point home without resorting to saccharine soaked oversentimentality. Karl is every pet that has ever held a place in our hearts, reminding us of how easy it can be to change the life of an animal when given the chance. “To the world you are one person, but for one person, you are the world” is a quote that aptly sums up this story.
Pages: 81 | ASIN: B0B99NJXZL
LITERARY TITAN 