Dogs, Dogs, Dogs

Dogs are vital characters in my novels, inspiring admiration and appreciation for their roles and personalities. In my novels, the dog knows what the characters hide.

In The Jools Are Crushed, Bobo is a tiny dog treated like royalty. Vicky exempts him from all the club’s rules. He trots through the backstage area as though he has an important private appointment everywhere he goes. Bobo knows where the meatballs are before the caterers do, suggesting he is both observant and highly food motivated. He can dissolve backstage arguments simply by sitting in a doorway and staring until everyone starts laughing. The queens use him as the club’s unofficial mascot, therapist, confidant, and emotional-support celebrity. He wears sparkly sweaters as well as a sequined vest.

In Stay Hidden, Sky is a medium-sized mixed-breed dog with spirited blue eyes and a reddish-gold coat. She becomes Lucas’s first true companion after the catastrophe, providing him with emotional stability while he is isolated and grieving. Sky repeatedly demonstrates strong survival instincts. She detects unsafe routes, notices danger before Lucas does, and guides him away from hazards. She is not unrealistically fearless: her cautious reactions—showing her teeth, hunching, growling, or raising the hair on her back—make her feel like a believable dog. Sky’s loyalty is both practical and affectionate. She searches for keys, stays beside Lucas during exhausting journeys, and remains close when he is injured or frightened.

In The Shape Inside, Digby is based on, and named after, a pug I loved and cared for many years. Digby is one of the many stray dogs in the novel; he leaves his original owner and is far happier with Wesley—or with anyone willing to give him attention. He has a talent for appearing in unexpected places, including Wesley’s bushes and driveway, where he quickly wins Wesley over. Digby is an affectionate little thief: when Wesley first finds him, he licks Wesley’s face and settles into his arms without hesitation. He is surprisingly comfortable riding in Wesley’s Volvo (which is unauthorized), even though Wesley wonders whether he has ever been in a car before. Digby is unusually perceptive. He growls at windows, closets, dark hallways, and hidden spaces before the humans realize something may be wrong. He is not exactly a conventional guard dog—he may bark or growl, but he is also easily distracted, sleepy, and fond of curling up on sofas. Digby’s warmth, enthusiasm, and uncomplicated loyalty provide a small reminder of ordinary affection.

Every great story needs a loyal heart—and sometimes, it has four paws.