Multi-Award-Winning Author & Animal Advocate

I have some exciting news to share with you since my last newsletter. I’ve joined the PNP team and was interviewed by a fellow author about writing animal stories!

PNP is the acronym for Pilots N Paws, a 501 (c)(3) charity that provides free flights to rescue and service animals, as well as injured wildlife. Pilots provide emergency response in natural disasters, flying animals out of harm’s way. All flights are done by volunteer pilots who donate their planes and flight costs to rescues. Many animals saved are flown out of high-kill shelters across the country for a second chance at finding a loving home.

Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story has won Finalist in the 2023 Feathered Quill Book Awards: Animal-Adult category!

I am overjoyed to receive this eighth book award in Chloe’s honor and to share it with you. I want you to be inspired by each book award, because I hope it proves anything is possible when you take that first hop. 

Thanks again for joining me on this journey and supporting my passion to help animals in need.

When a rabbit is very happy or excited, it will jump in the air while slightly twisting its body and head. That’s called a “binky”. I can still see Chloe jumping, twisting, and kicking her feet high in the air when she was super happy. She made me smile with glee and even chuckle at her exuberance. Her joy was contagious!

Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story has won its seventh award! Judges in the 2022 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards Contest presented me with awards from three categories: Second Place in Coffee Table & Gift Books and Honorable Mention in Animals/Pets & Holiday! I share my awards with you, because I want to show you that with hard work, perseverance, and faith, anything is possible.

I can’t let a year pass without sharing this photo of Freedom in his Santa hat. It warms my heart every time. Not only does it make me smile (because he really didn’t want that floppy red cone with a white pompom on his head), it makes me wish I could hug the thick, winter-hair around his neck and thank him.

If it weren’t for you, Freedom, I wouldn’t have found the courage to write your story. If it weren’t for you, Freedom, I wouldn’t have been given this amazing writing gig that allows me to help animals all over the world. If it weren’t for you, Freedom, I wouldn’t have found my purpose.

Believe in you! Believe that no matter what anybody says, your dreams can be achieved. Believe in what your heart is telling you to do. Anything is possible. You must believe it, my friend.

I had no guarantee my dream of publishing Rabbit at the Sliding Door as a hardcover book with color photos would work. This venture would mean high print costs, higher list price, and deep wholesale discounts for third-party vendors, which could leave very little for animal rescue donations.

All I had was my vision and faith. I believed everything would work out. And you know what? That’s all you need.

The Big Apple honors Chloe! New York City Big Book Award judges give Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story the Distinguished Favorite award in the category of Animals/Pets Nonfiction in this year’s contest.

I’m thrilled to share our latest recognition with you. Each award that Rabbit at the Sliding Door receives not only pays tribute to Chloe, but it also highlights the great need to support animal rescue.

Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story has won a bronze medal in the 2022 Living Now Book Awards contest!

This award is extra-special. My first book Horse at the Corner Post: Our Divine Journey won a silver medal in the 2011 Living Now Book Awards contest. I hoped for repeated victory, because the Living Now Book Awards’ theme: Books for Better Living, makes me feel that I’m helping make the world a better place. Click here to go to the Living Now Book Awards website for a complete list of winners.

Last month, I was asked by an author friend to write an article regarding pet tribute writing for the Atlantic Veterinary Hospital in Seattle, Washington. It was the first time that I ever wrote an article for someone else. I was nervous to say the least.

I almost turned down the gig, telling myself that I’m not a freelance writer. I write books and articles for my newsletter. That’s what I do. My friend had suggested, prior to this opportunity, that I write articles as a way to promote myself. I thanked her for her encouragement and faith in me, but thought to myself, I’m nowhere near the caliber of professional freelancer.

My dear friend persisted and helped me through the assignment. And when it was all completed, she said, “I think you may have a new career outlet as a guest blogger for pet and vet blogs!”

I’m excited to share that Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story has won another book award: Honorable Mention in the Animals/Pets and Holiday categories of the 2022 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest.

This link will take you to the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards website where you’ll find a complete list of winners.

I’m excited to share with you that Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story has won its first book awards: Finalist in the Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction and Novelty & Gift Book categories.

Click here to go to the International Book Awards website where you’ll find a complete list of winners and finalists.

How could the impossible happen? Pure luck with a bit of Divine guidance mixed in? Sounds good. That must be it.

Years pass and seasons change. It happens again. Twice? Five years later. How could that be? I’ll tell you how. It’s because God knows which of His animal guardians to call on when there’s an urgent need. That animal angel on Earth would be my mother. She has helped two lost cats find their way back home.

My shipment has arrived, and the online shop is open for business! If you’re interested in buying copies of Rabbit at the Sliding Door: Chloe’s Story directly from me, this link will take you to the home page of my online shop. Be sure to indicate the name of the person you’d like me to autograph your copy to in the comments section.

I will be setting aside $3.00 from the sale of each Rabbit at the Sliding Door book bought directly from me and shipped within the USA during the book launch (ends on Easter) to donate to IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare). IFAW has been helping animals all over the world for over 50 years.

Divine timing. Those two words sum up why this year her story will finally be told. There’s no other explanation.

For those of you who haven’t seen the rabbit in this photo before, meet Chloe. She hopped up to my sliding door one summer morning and stole my heart. Chloe became quite the social media star back in the day, entertaining fans from her rabbit sanctuary.

I think the best miracles are those we hadn’t anticipated, much less imagined. It’s when we’re caught off guard, in a good way. God hands us something so mind-boggling, we can’t help but stop and marvel at His work.

I delved into genealogy research during the pandemic, curious to learn more about my roots. Though I wrote about those interesting discoveries in my upcoming memoir, I couldn’t wait to share our latest family miracle with you.

Twenty years ago, we vowed to never forget. We promised revenge on the evil that had killed or injured thousands of Americans on our soil and forever changed life as we knew it. We rose up, proudly waving our American flag and announcing, “United we Stand”. Fifty states, selfless and compassionate, ourned together. The whole world became Americans that day and grieved along with us.

It’s been more than two decades—28 years to be exact. I can’t believe how the sun has risen and set for 10,220 days and yet, I can look at this photo and instantly feel the same joy-filled and grateful emotions that I felt in San Luis Obispo, California on the Memorial Day weekend of 1993 when I led Freedom out of that boarding stable corral. It was a day of redemption and renewal. He had been gone for twelve years but he was finally homeward bound—back to the ranch where he was born.

I didn’t know then that the blessing of having Freedom back in my life had much more meaning. It would take years of life lessons and self-discovery to realize that Freedom would instead be the one leading me to my purpose.

I’d like to introduce you to a young writer named Natalie Munoz. She and her mom are dear friends of mine who I first met at a neighborhood event about six years ago after I had just moved to the area.

Natalie’s mom recently sent me a link to Natalie’s first essay My Two-House, Duffel-Bag Life which was published by the New York Times. I can’t even begin to tell you the pride I felt not only because she made the New York Times but in having an opportunity to read a young writer’s work, especially one I know and adore.