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Sarah McNeal is a multi-published author of time travel, paranormal, western, contemporary and historical fiction. Her stories may be found at Publishing by Rebecca Vickery, Western Trail Blazers, Prairie Rose Publications and Painted Pony Books
Heroes Should Go To The Dogs
.
I
love and respect animals. They know stuff I don’t know, see things I can’t see,
hear things I can’t hear and they’re in tune with nature. They know what’s what
way before I do. Have you ever had a dog that had an instant liking to a
person, or even more telling, an instant dislike of someone? When my easy
going, friendly Golden Retriever, Lily, acts stand-offish with someone, I
immediately get the impression I need to be wary of that human. I may never
know what it is about that person that turns Lily off, but I trust her
instincts. My dog has given me silent warning to stay alert.
A
simple, but effective way , to show the reader a character has the heart of
a hero is to have that man show kindness to a dog—or rescue a kitten, or stop
someone, maybe a villain, from brutalizing a horse. It’s especially efficient
when you have to make the hero known quickly. In Harmonica Joe’s Reluctant
Bride, I had the villain shoot Joe’s beloved dog, Argos. I figured, if the
reader hadn’t gotten the message that Turner meant serious business, they would
surely get it with his attack on an innocent dog. For all that Joe Wilding kids
around a lot, drinks, plays poker and doesn’t take his life very seriously, the
love a dog made it clear what kind of man he truly was.
In
my new release, Fly Away Heart, I show how disgusting and mean Edgar and Sid
Effird really are when their starved and beaten dog sits chained outside their
shack of a house bony and wet. Robin Pierpont, the hero of this tale, releases
the poor dog from its misery and takes it home with him. Robin is worried sick
about Lilith Wilding, yet he had it in his heart to save that dog. By this
compassionate action, I hope to portray Robin as a good man and a real hero. I
loved him right then and there. I hope readers do, too.
Do
animals in a story win your heart? Is there an instant connection to a hero
when he shows concern and love for an animal? How do you feel about a character
who mistreats an animal?
Prayer
for Animals
Hear
our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals, especially for animals
who are suffering; for animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly
treated; for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against
bars; for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry; for
all that must be put death. We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity, and for
those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and
kindly words. Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals, and so to
share the blessings of the merciful.
~
Albert Schweitzer
The
Great Depression…Rum Runners and Old Fears…Love Against the Odds
Blurb:
Lilith
Wilding can’t remember a time when she didn’t love the English born Robin
Pierpont, but she knows he loves another so she hides her feelings beneath a
hard veneer of self-protection.
Robin
Pierpont dreams of flying airplanes and winning the heart of the one he loves,
but when he gets involved in illegal rum running to help a friend, those dreams
seem to turn into just a fantasy. When he is called upon to face his worst fear
to save Lilith’s life, his fate may be sealed in death.
Excerpt:
The dog drew
his attention when it whined pitifully. Its brown eyes seemed to plead with
him. Somehow, he just couldn’t bring himself to walk away from the suffering
creature. If he couldn’t get to Lilith, at least he could get this dog to safety.
He knew, if he left the poor thing here, it would die a slow death for certain.
He made his way to
the shaking pile of bones that resembled a dog and removed the clamp on the
heavy chain. The dog could barely walk, and it made Rob sick to see the bones
protruding from the animal’s ribs and hips. What
kind of human beings were these two men? Did they eat babies for breakfast? He hoisted the dog into his
arms, walked back to the car, opened the back door and placed the dog on his
jacket on the back seat. Something in its brown eyes looked like gratitude,
mixed with fear. Rob felt his heart crack.
“Don’t you worry, little girl,
I’m going to see to you now. You don’t need to be scared or hungry anymore.”
Thoughts of Lilith drummed through his mind. Please, please God, look after my Lilith and don’t let them hurt her.
Buy
Links:
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$8.99 on sale today $8.03
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Amazon Kindle $2.99
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Smashwords $2.99
If
you’d like to get in at the beginning of the wonderful Wilding tales, then read
the first book, Harmonica Joe’s Reluctant Bride. You can find out how Lola
knows the future and what Joe’s terrible secret is.
A haunted house,
a trunk and a date with destiny.
Lola
Barton discovers a warp in time in an old trunk when
she falls into 1910. She finds herself married to Joseph Wilding Callie McGraw Lola
finds her life is threatened by a scoundrel. Joe
stands between her and certain death. With danger threatening all around and
secrets keeping them apart, can Joe
and Lola find their destiny together?
Or will time and circumstance forever divide them?
Excerpt:
Kneeling beside
her, Joe whispered. “Not to worry, darlin’, Argos is going to
have a hard time, but he’s going to come out on the other end just fine. We’re going to make damn sure of that.” He reached out a hand and ran it in a light
stroke along Lola ’s cheek to wipe away
the tears that had fallen without her realizing how much she needed to
cry.
She wept for the
dog, for the loss of her parents and her own pathetic life. Lola wept for all the things she had ever
wanted and never got, all the dreams that never came true and the never-ending
loneliness that seem to surround her like a thick fog that separated her from
the rest of humanity and happiness.
Buy
Links:
You
can find me at the following places:
And, of course, my blog here at Prairie
Rose Publishing the first Wednesday of every month.
Sarah, I'm looking forward to reading this latest installment in the Wildings family chronicles. Love me some Wildings!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy reading stories in which animals play a significant role. I try to include them in my stories, as well. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. About half the time, I get halfway through the writing, only to realize I've forgotten where I left the dang sidekick critter! :-D
Ohmagosh, a cowgirl mustn't forget her sidekick critter. Thanks for posting on Facebook about my blog today, Kathleen. I really appreciate your help. You're such a pal.
DeleteOh goodness, I'm practically bawling. Animals are critical to me. I am a proud Defender of Wildlife passionate about the preservation of wolves in the wild, support the ASPCA, and I volunteer actively at our local horse rescue and support a donkey rescue in Israel.
ReplyDeleteI had the outlaw-hero's horse get shot dead in Outlaw in Love, but...I don't know how easily I could kill off a a dog.I can't even watch Dances with Wolves again, due to the shooting of Two socks.
I just shared something on FB that Cheryl Pierson sent me: dairy cows bound for slaughter getting liberated. They jumped and danced in their new pasture, rubbed their faces in the grass like puppies. SO joyous. Sob.
Your stories sound wonderful and high on my TBR. Wish life could slow down for a second and let me read again..
Tanya, I'm so glad to hear you are a member of Defenders, ASPCA and other organizations to help animals. I went to a local animal shelter once and bawled like a baby when I left at the misery I saw in there. They look like lost souls begging for someone to care about them. Cheryl's FB page chokes me up when I see some of the animals that need help. I loved the story of the cows. I remember a few years back about a cow that jumped a six foot fence to get away from the slaughter house and kept authorities on the run for several days. By the time they captured her, a humanitarian stepped up and adopted her. She's spending the rest of her life in Cow Eden. What courage she had.
DeleteThank you so much for coming to my blog and leaving a comment. I loved your story, Covenant, in Wishing For A Cowboy. The ending took me by surprise. I haven't had a chance to read the Hearts And Spurs Anthology yet--'cause there just ain't no time. I want to dig into it so bad.
BTW, I sent your mom a birthday card. I hope she gets lots of them to cheer her day. You'll have to tell us how it went for her.
All the best to you, Tanya.
Great post, and if it has to do with animals my heart is already engaged. In real life wish I had the money to care for all that need care. Doris
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the money to do more, too, Doris. If I won the lottery, I would love to contribute something really big to a rescue.
DeleteThank you so much for coming by and leaving a comment.
Like Tanya, animals are critical to me. I'm typing with one of my Chihuahua/Min.Pins sprawled in my lap. Well, as much as a 9 pound dog can sprawl. The way a character responds to animals is a quick window into their soul. I can't judge people by the reactions of our crazy little varmints, however, They want to gnaw on everyone except family, fierce little girls that they are. They especially hate the FedEx guy. I don't know how many times the 6 pound one has slammed her little body against the gate trying to get at him as he's handing over page proofs. Hum, maybe she's picking up on my dislike of page proofs. Maybe next time I should give her a homemade doggie treat rather than hushing her.
ReplyDeleteLittle dogs are more likely to bite than big ones. Lily doesn't like the mail person. She barks like she wants to eat the person. I do praise her because it's her job to let me know when strangers are at the door. She's just doing her job. I used to have Scotties. They're more like your doggies. Nothing gets by them and they put up with no shenanigans from people they don't know. Good thing they're not big dogs. They'd be like T-Rex. LOL
DeleteI see your birthday is coming up on the same day as our big Valentine Facebook Party. I hope you get some time to celebrate with your family and friends.
Thank you so much for taking the time from your very busy day to comment on my blog, Livia. BTW, you make fantastic book covers. I love the one you did for Fly Away Heart. Thank you for that!
I am an animal lover also and especially my dog(s). I totally agree with you on them sensing if a person is good or bad. I have had that happen a lot. I love dogs in a story, but am so broken hearted if they are killed or badly hurt, mentally or physically. One of my favorite stories was about a dog, horse and cat left behind and I cried like a baby and still do when I think about it. Just animal sensitive I guess. they are so smart and have feelings too, but are so loyal to us humans.
ReplyDeleteShirl, movies about animals get to me, too. I cried during War Horse and the loyal dog who waited at the train station for his master to return for 10 years, Hachi
DeleteThey break my heart.
Thank you so much for commenting.
Oh, my yes,.we hate to see or hear about an abused dog, or any animal. Humans, yes, but sometimes humans can save themselves...but a chained dog? He has no chance. I think you did the right thing by including an abused dog in your story.
ReplyDeleteAbout a dog knowing about a person. I think this is true, too.
Good post, and I like the premise of the story.
Celia, it's difficult to understand why some humans so cruelly victimize and mistreat animals like unscrupulous breeders and those who advocate dog fighting. It's as if these people are wired without a conscience or sense of what's right or wrong.
DeleteThank you so much for your kindness and support.
Sarah, I love this post, cause you know how I am about animals! LOL I sometimes use animals like you're talking about, to show the personality of the hero. It's one of the best ways, in my opinion, to do that. Sometimes I use kids for the same purpose. One of the best examples of using a dog in a western is the book St. Agnes' Stand by Thomas Eidson. If you don't use a box of tissues by the end of that book (not just about the dog) you don't have a heart. LOL
ReplyDeleteI loved that part in Fly Away Heart when Robin rescues that poor dog. Loved him so much for that! Great post, as always, Sarah.
Hugs,
Cheryl
Anyone who writes western historical fiction and has not read St. Agnes' Stand, READ IT. RIGHT NOW. It's short and beyond powerful. (Cheryl's right about the dog and the box of tissues.) :-)
DeleteI've been to your Facebook page and seen your posts about animals who need someone to rescue them, so I know you feel the same as I do about them. I need to read that book
DeleteThank you for your kind words about Fly Away Heart.
Kathleen, I Will get that book and a box of tissues.
DeleteWonderful post, Sarah. I couldn't get by without my dogs. They're just the best. In my latest book I included a lot of animals. It just felt right, which I was very glad about. I'd wanted to use animals in other stories, but didn't want to force it. I have to admit to a reluctance to enter shelters--I think I won't be able to handle it. But that's just selfish on my part. My husband and I will adopt when we're ready for another. My parents rescued two dogs off the Navajo Indian reservation. They're a cross between a Keltie and a coyote. Crazy, obnoxious but surprisingly loving (for growing up in a parking lot off the highway). Strays abound there--we've tried to capture some pups and bring them home, but many are extremely skittish. I've thrown all my granola bars at them. Terrible for their teeth, I know, but impossible to walk away and not offer something. I, too, cannot understand the lack of empathy humans can have for other creatures. Don't even get me started on the dolphin killings in Japan.
ReplyDeleteI saw the documentary about the killing of dolphins in Japan and I wept. They still kill whales, too. I just don't understand the senseless need to kill these intelligent creatures to eat as a delicacy. Why don't they eat cockroaches instead? Thank you so much for your comments, Kristy.
DeleteGreat post Sarah, animals are a great way to show character without telling.
ReplyDeleteIn my new book, one of the first times the heroine sees the hero, he is playing with a kitten, the next he's throwing a stick for a dog. The first time she sees his ranch they are greeted by a blind dog, and a three-legged dog. When she goes to the barn she finds a one-eyed cat and in the corral she sees a horse covered in brands (because he'd been sold so many times).
Your new book is still on my TBR list. Hope to get to it soon. Banjo is still my favorite. :)
Dang Kathy, now there's a hero who really cares about animals who've experienced the worst of human behavior. You didn't mention the name of your book.
DeleteThank you for your kind words about Banjo. He was just supposed to be a character in Harmonica Joe's Reluctant Bride, but he just stole my heart. He's a rough talking, tough kid from the streets who has a beautiful heart.
Thank you so much for coming to my blog and commenting.
Great points about using animals to flesh out characters. The opposite dynamic can be effective, too: instead of the villain being mean to animals, the mean-hearted villain could have a soft spot for animals - he's bad, but not all bad.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Shel. Of course, by the villain showing some heart for animals, that says he's redemable--and maybe a story about his redemption could be forthcoming.
DeleteThank you so much for visiting me and commenting. I really appreciate it.
Not sure what's happening here--this is the third time I've tried to comment. Loved your excerpt, Sarah.
ReplyDelete(All the other stuff went to the ether. Oh, well.)
Perhaps we can attribute the disappearing comments to the wonky gears of Goggle. I've had it happen to me too. I felt like I'd lost my magic or something (like I had magic in the first place. LOL) I'm glad you kept trying and really appreciate your comment all the more for the effort you put forth. Thank you, Jacquie.
Delete