Tales from a Dog Catcher

Tales from a Dog Catcher


"In the tradition of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small and John Grogan's Marley & Me, Tales from a Dog Catcher is a humorous and heartwarming collection about love, laughter, loss, acceptance, and fate, in the world of an animal control officer."
- Publishers Marketplace"

...Writing in a style reminiscent of James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, she recalls her experiences in 22 vignettes that dispel and replace stereotypes with an image of a compassionate individual concerned with animals and people alike. Like Herriot, she is a gifted storyteller and an astute observer.... At times amusing and heart-wrenching, this memorable book deserves wide readership. Highly recommended for public libraries. "
- Library Journal (starred review)

... In Tales from a Dog Catcher, she brings together these experiences in a magical book that is funny, touching, and heartrending by turns." - Amazon.com

"This is a wonderful book. I had a hard time putting it down. I was laughing and tearing up, sometimes at the same time! I didn't want it to end..."-Nina Killham, Bestselling Author of Believe Me, How to Cook a Tart, and Mounting Desire

"Having good writing skills isn't a prerequisite for getting a job as a dog catcher, but the two certainly make a good combination for the author of Tales from a Dog Catcher...Some stories are funny - some may move you to tears. I may be barking up the wrong tree, but I think they will appeal to animal lover's and even those who don't care for pets will enjoy reading about the eccentric people involved in these tales from a dog catcher." ...Phyliss Davidson - INFO Metropolitan Library System Magazine. Oklahoma

"Summer reading! Enjoy tales about hero hounds, crazy cats. Great dog books just made for Summer Reading! ... Here's a list of some of our favorite books ... Tales from a Dog Catcher by Lisa Duffy-Korpics is a collection of real stories about people and the animals they encounter...this book is in the tradition of "All Creatures Great and Small" by James Herriot. The stories are funny, sad, uplifting and even silly." ...Laurie Denger - Dayton Daily News. Ohio

"...In Tales from a Dog Catcher," author Lisa Duffy-Korpics recounts her years as an animal control officer in a series of fascinating and engaging stories...the stories can be funny and heartbreaking, often simultaneously...However, there is no shortage of entertaining encounters. Animal lovers will appreciate the candid tales, and enjoy a new perspective on an often unexamined profession."...Dog Channel.com

"Lisa's numerous on-the-job adventures are compiled in this collection of sad, charming, delightful and humorous short stories. ...Animal lovers of all ages will appreciate Lisa’s recollections of her memorable encounters with domestic animals and injured wildlife in the beautiful Hudson Valley." ...Rachelle Nones - Tri County WOMAN magazine. New York



Sunday, September 27, 2009

African Readers Needed - Also, Memories of Cooper Union, McSorley's Ale House and Alexander McCall Smith


I am a huge fan of Alexander McCall Smith. In case you are not familiar with the No. #1 Ladies Detective Agency, then you must have been particularly busy for the last 8 or so years. I'll fill you in. This book, and the series that followed, is like literary Prozac...when you finish reading it, you actually feel better. About everything.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer description really sums it up best...they said:

"One of the best, most charming, honest, hilarious and life-affirming books to appear in years." -- The Plain Dealer

My friend and fellow author, Chris Forman, (The Maria Hart Mysteries), and I actually went to the East Village in NYC a few years back to listen to "Sandy", as his friends call him, speak at Cooper Union. I can call him that because he is my friend. He may not know this...but let's not waste time on that right now. Anyway, Chris and I found out that this man was not just an outstanding writer, but somewhat of a stand-up comic as well. We couldn't stop laughing. It was a great evening, and even though the proper N.P.R. crowd didn't seem to appreciate us simulating the lighter swaying chant "SANDY, SANDY" before he appeared, we didn't let that bother us. Actually, not much was bothering us because rather than waiting on line at the college before the doors opened, we accidentally discovered the oldest continually operating saloon in New York called McSorley's Old Ale House . Everyone from Lincoln to John Lennon has has an ale or two in this place. They asked me what I would like and I responded "Um, I don't know yet." to which I then received two pints of ale. I really don't know why they even ask this because in reference to drinks, that's pretty much all they'll give you.
It was a night to remember and quite an honor to see Alexander McCall Smith in person. I thought we behaved rather well considering how excited we were to be there. Besides, when the announcer mentioned National Public Radio, the previously irritated pearl wearing woman with the highlighted chin-length bob in front of us did utter a tiny "woo-hoo!"...I heard her and so did Chris.

I've been getting some great hits on this blog, and I have the ability to check and see where my readers are coming from. So far I've been able to track hits from North and South America, Canada, Western and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, and Oceania. (Big shout-outs to my New Zealand and Australian friends...your support is amazing...THANK YOU!)

What I've noticed is so far though, is no one from Africa has yet to visit talesfromadogcatcher.blogspot.com. Since I'm fascinated by all things African and wish to visit someday...I would love to have some visitors from that part of the world. My publisher, Lyons Press /Globe Pequot Press, has a great book out about that part of the world by Peter Allison called Don't Look Behind You! A Safari Guide's Encounters with Ravenous Lions, Stampeding Elephants, and Lovesick Rhinos that takes place in Botswana, parts of South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia. It's a follow up to his bestselling Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide . Both books are absolutely hysterical.
Tales from a Dog Catcher is available in South Africa online at Kalahari.net and at http://www.loot.co.za/. Also, in parts of the Middle East at Mindreign.com. حكايات من الماسك الكلب (Isn't that cool!) I'm not sure if the book is in brick and mortar stores in that region yet...so if anyone sees a copy on a shelf in these regions of the world, please drop me a line and let me know. That would really make my day! Have to go now...please excuse any typos - had to rush this so I can drive my kids to their friend's houses because if I don't do that right now, they will turn into pumpkins.

1 comment:

  1. Yes, it was a fun day. Train to the city, diner at Juniors, ale at McSorely's, and hearing Sandy. Oh, and wandering around the Village.

    Chris

    ReplyDelete

The Lyon Press, Guilford,Connecticut
The Lyons Press is an imprint of The Globe Pequot Press
Cover design by Georgiana Goodwin
Cover photographs © Shutterstock

Printed in the United States of America
US $16.95 / CAN $19.95
Tales from a Dog CatcherDuffy-Korpics © 2009
Dewey: 636.7
ISBN:1599214989
Subject:
Dogs — New York (State) — New York — Anecdotes. Dog rescue — New York (State) — New York — Anecdotes. Duffy-Korpics, Lisa