Fido and Friend in Five: Cynthia DeFelice and Josie!

I've been a big fan of author Cynthia DeFelice for a long time, and she's a perennial favorite with readers in any library I've ever worked in. Cynthia's one of those versatile authors who writes both novels (sixteen to date!) and many picture books. Every time I've done a Halloween storytime, I've used her picture book, Dancing Skeleton. Her middle grade novels range from historical fiction to ghost stories to contemporary novels. So I was excited to read that her new book, Wildlife, is about a dog and his boy. I was even more excited when I saw the gorgeous jacket cover featuring a dignified German Shorthair Pointer. Had I spotted another dog mom? I went to her website www.cynthiadefelice.com to sniff it out. Sure enough, there was Cynthia with a beautiful German Shorthair Pointer named Josie. So, of course, I had to email her. And like so many authors/dog lovers, she welcomed the opportunity to talk about Josie.

Baby Josie!

1. How did you and Josie find each other?  My husband and I saw Josie's mother at a dog show and thought she was gorgeous, and truly special. We asked the owner to call us if they ever bred her. When he did, we went to look at the puppies. They were adorable, of course, but there was no question in our minds that Josie was the one we wanted. Every morning, I tell her the story of how we picked her out from all her littermates.

2. What makes Josie's tail wag?  Hello...food! Also, she's a bird dog, so she'll sniff out any bird that's around. She also loves to go fishing with us, and never takes her eyes off the water. She has faith in us, even when we don't. Basically, she's up for any outside activity.

3. What's your all-time favorite dog story?  Recently, Sight Hound, by Pam Houston.

4. If Josie could change just one thing about you, what would it be?  She'd want me out the door faster every morning when we go for a run. She waits patiently while I drink my coffee, stretch, find my sneakers and search for my socks. Then she follows me as I head for the door, realize I forgot my sunglasses, go back, head for the door again, realize I forgot her treats, go back, head for the door, realize I forgot my sweatshirt, go back again, head for the door, get in the car, realize I forgot the letter I wanted to mail...it's enough to drive a dog crazy!

Let's go. Oops! Forgot something!

5. In five words, tell us what Josie means to you:  Makes me laugh every day.

Cynthia and her husband share their home in Geneva, New York with Josie. Be sure to check out Cynthia's new book, Wildlife. It's a wonderfully written coming of age story, dog story, and packed with lots of action! And visit her at www.cynthiadefelice.com to find out more about her and her books.