I’m pleased to welcome Eve Marie Mont to Peeking Between the Pages today. She is the author of her debut novel called Free to a Good Home releasing tomorrow, July 6 and which I’m anxious to read and hope to be soon.
As you all know who visit my blog anything to do with a dog on the cover or inside the pages of a book is what I call one of my perfect reads. Besides which as Eve mentions in her first paragraph I think she and I pretty much hit it off right off the bat with our love of animals as Eve has a beautiful dog herself named Maggie which you will see in the pictures I’m going to share with you that Eve was nice enough to send. Anyhow, let’s get to Eve’s guest post in which she talks to us about her Inspiration for Free to a Good Home…
First of all, thanks so much to Darlene for inviting me to guest post on Peeking Between the Pages. When I first checked out Darlene’s blog, I knew I loved her taste in books and her fair and insightful reviews. I also fell hard for her adorable dog, Buddy, being a passionate dog lover myself and the mother of a spunky thirteen-year-old shelter pup named Maggie. So Darlene suggested maybe I could write about how Maggie helped inspire me to write Free to a Good Home.
Since the day my husband and I adopted Maggie twelve years ago, she has been an integral part of our lives. She’s experienced all our joys and sorrows right along with us, ready to offer support and love whenever needed. They say that petting an animal lowers a person’s blood pressure, and I know this must be true. I get an inordinate amount of pleasure watching her roll around on the grass in our backyard or trying to catch water coming out of the garden hose. The sight of Maggie eating bubbles is ridiculously funny. She is also my loyal sidekick throughout my writing day. At this very moment, she is sitting next to me on the loveseat, her head pressed against my left arm, almost preventing me from typing. (She does this on purpose to remind me to pay more attention to her.)
I had two really clear inspirations for Free to a Good Home: one was, of course, Maggie, and the other was my mother-in-law, Anne Mont, who just passed away this May after a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. The book centers on Noelle, a veterinary technician whose most steadfast relationship in her life is with her Great Dane, Zeke. In my real life, I am fortunate enough to have the most loving and supportive husband, but when I was writing the book, I asked myself, what if I suddenly didn’t? What if my husband left me? How would I cope? And the answer was, in part, through the unconditional love of my dog, Maggie.
Then I asked myself, what if Noelle was still so in love with her ex-husband that she would do almost any favor he asked? What if, for example, he asked her to take care of his ailing mother? Again, fiction diverges from truth because my mother-in-law, Anne, was the sweetest and most selfless person I have ever met; as someone described her at her funeral, she was “grace personified.” But her fictional counterpart, Margaret, is bitter and ornery, and she’s never liked Noelle. And once Noelle is chosen as her caretaker, Margaret resents her even more.
After I had these “What if?” questions in mind, the rest of the story fell into place. A new love interest entered the picture to complicate Noelle’s life, and along the way, Noelle got fed up with her constant doormat status and began to take charge of her life. When the book was finished, I revised and revised, then sent my query out to at least fifty agents, and crossed my fingers. Six months later, I had an agent, the amazingly savvy and supportive April Eberhardt at Kimberley Cameron and Associates.
And Maggie stayed by my side through all the rejections and self-doubt, through all the joys and triumphs. Sure, she is older now and suffers from arthritis, and her eyes are getting cloudy with age, but she still manages to act like a puppy at least once every day. While we still have her with us, I hope to keep learning from her how to live in the moment, play well with others, embrace life fully, and most of all, how to love unconditionally.
Please check out my National Pet Adoption Month contest on my website until July 18th for a chance to win a book club package of eight signed copies and a Skype call-in. Also, if you’d like to read a sneak preview of Free to a Good Home, click here.
***
Thanks so much for this wonderful guest post Eve. I love reading about how Maggie inspired you in the writing of Free to a Good Home. She is so beautiful! The above picture just takes my breath away!
***
About the Book
Noelle Ryan works as a veterinary technician at a New England animal shelter, helping pets find the perfect homes. If only it were as easy to find the same thing for herself. After discovering that she can’t have children—and watching her marriage fall apart after a shocking revelation by her husband—Noelle feels as forlorn and abandoned as the strays she rescues.
She can’t seem to get over her ex, Jay. Unfortunately, all Jay wants from her is a whopper of a favor: serving as a caretaker for his elderly mother, who still blames Noelle for the breakup. While Jay heads off to Atlanta to live the life of a bachelor, Noelle is left with only her Great Dane, Zeke, to comfort her. But when a carefree musician named Jasper gives her a second chance at life—and at love—Noelle comes to realize that home is truly where the heart is.
About the Author
Eve Marie Mont lives with her husband, Ken, and her shelter dog, Maggie, in suburban Philadelphia, where she teaches high school English and creative writing. Free to a Good Home is her first novel.
***
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
I have one copy of Free to a Good Home by Eve Marie Mont to share with my readers courtesy of Eve. Thank you Eve! To enter…
- Leave me a comment with a way to contact you please for 1 entry.
- For 2 entries leave a comment about Eve’s post or share with us who your furkids are if you have any.
This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, July 24, 2010. Good luck everyone!
Please enter me in the giveaway.
vtgoat[at]gmail[dot]com
+2 I have 2 chocolate labs. They look very similar but their personalities are completely different!
This sounds like a great read on a summer day. My furry people are 2 cats named Sam and Molly.
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net
Great post & thank you for the giveaway!
+1 ekta.p7[at]gmail[dot]com
+2 I've been wanting to get a dog for so long now and Eve has totally convinced me. I love the bond she has with her dog. They both seem so sweet!
Maggie makes me think of our 14 year old Milou. She is so loyal and can't get close enough to us. She is old and gray and still acts like a puppy from time to time. No need to enter me – I've read the book and will review it this week.
Please enter me and thanks for the giveaway! emilyjoymitchell at gmail dot com.
+2 We have two doggies. A chihuahua named Mali (sounds like Sally, but with an M) and a Belgian Malinois named Deda (sounds like "dee-duh").
This sounds like a great book!
As for furbabies…..
I have 4 dogs, 9 cats, a bunny and some FIDs (feathered kids). Yeah, we have a houseful!
colleenmckie at eastlink dot ca
I read any review about dogs so this one sounds great!
My 2 springer spaniels are silly, loving goof balls – they're going swimming with us today!
msboatgal at aol.com
Please enter me to win this one! It looks wonderful.
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
+2 No furbabies for us yet! Our current home doesn't allow for pets, but we will be getting one as soon as we move somewhere where we can have them!
Please enter me! Staciele(at)netins(dot)net
My husband's aunt raises great danes, so I will definately have to tell her about this book. Maybe if I win, I will sent it to her and surprise her. Staciele(at)netins(dot)net
Oh this sounds like a great book, and I love that Eve takes such inspiration from Maggie. I have a shelter dog that is the light of my days as well. Please enter me in your giveaway as well. I'd love the chance to read this one!!
zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net
Please enter me.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
+2 I have a Shih Tzu named Ewok, 3mos old on the 14th.
WONDERFUL guest post!! The cover alone brings a tear to my — it reminds me of my own dogs looking out the window whenever I leave the house. They are always still there when I return 🙂
+1 = Mstermind1 at gmail dot com
+2 = I have three yellow labs and they are the joy of my life. I would shutter to think how many dogs I would own if space were no problem 🙂
Great post! And what a cute doggie 🙂
Free to a Good Home sounds very good. Its interesting reading how Maggie inspired the author.
My chihuahua Diego shows me nothing but love everyday. I think theres alot to be learned about unconditional love and devotion from our furbabies.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
I really have to read this one since I am a dog lover.
I have 3 very active Jack Russell terriers named Bingley, Boodles, and Bingo. They love books! Actually, if I place my book I am reading in their line of site-oh no, out the doggie door they go and proceed to tear it up into un- readable pieces. I can't count how many times I have had to go to a bookstore to read the last chapter to see how the book ended. However, can't function without them around me.
JOYE
JWIsy(at)aol(dot)com
Hey Dar… What a great interview. It was great to stop by and read it. I love the thought that fiction come from life. It really does. I love your blog and this guest post was great. Happy Late Birthday too!!!
No need to enter me. I am a bit booked up but I will someday FOR sure add this one to my pile.
aploughery (at) yahoo (dot) com
+2 I have a lovable black lab named Hank.
Thanks for the giveaway!!
Thanks for offering this great inspiring book.
+2 I have one big (and I mean big) yellow lab who, I must say, isn't the smartest dog I've ever met (OK, so he sort of flunked out of the PetSmart class when he refused to get back in the car to go home and dragged me around the parking lot much to the amusement of other customers. Did I mention he is also strong?) but he does keep me company all day while the kids are at school and he has the most beautiful eyes.
This is my type of book thanks
I have two kitties that are brother and sister-they make me laugh and warm my heart every day.
chocolate and croissants at yahoo . com
I loved reading Eve's inspiration post. I'm reading FREE TO A GOOD HOME right now and will have my review up on Saturday. No need to enter me in the contest.
It's been a while since we have had a pet here. We had cats. Several of them when our daughter was young. The last of them is gone now, but our daughter and son-in-law have a cat and two dogs. They are our grand-pets and the cat comes to visit us on occasion.
I'm enjoyed Eve's book, by the way. 🙂
I would love to enter the Giveaway. I love reading about pets.
iowagramma.ann@gmail.com
I have a toy poodle. He goes by the name of Joey. He just turned 10 years old in April.
This sounds like a great book.
I have no furry kids. Just my birds that I feed and watch in my yard.
~Leslie
undermyappletree at gmail dot com
Thank you for entering me. =)
We have a green feather baby named Munki. Hubby liked the name and made me choose between giving the name to our bird or our first born.
The bird's name is Munki. =)
tiredwkids at live dot com
Love that cover! Story sounds good too! Love that Maggie too, she needs her own book.
I really shouldn't enter but I can't pass it by.
cjay at iavalley dot edu
I have 2 rat terriers, Darcy and Sophie. They love to hunt, and they love to sleep too.
Please enter me for this one! It looks really good. I have two "puppies" (full grown but still think they are puppies). One is a mixed breed named Scooter and the other is a Jack Russell and fiest mix. They are spoiled rotten. My husband and I love them dearly!
I follow on gfc
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
I love dogs!!
billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com
I really want to read this one.
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
Oh, yes, I have "furkids." I prefer to think of myself as a mother of 4: 2 human and 2 canine.
Sophie and Buddy. Both adopted from Pets 'n' Pals in Stockton. Both without any pedigrees or awards. Sophie is app. 10 years old now & she is the queen of the household. My boys call her Queen Sophia and she does, in fact, demand that she be worshiped and adored.
Buddy is somewhere between 15 & 16, & has much in common with the Cowardly Lion. He barks, then runs behind my legs to safety. He's all terrier bravado, but lacks the bite. (Don't tell the burglars.) My kids nicknamed him "The Goo" as in gaga, googoo baby noises because he is a big baby.
Ok, I could write about them all night, but I won't. 🙂
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
Sounds like a good read…please count me in for the drawing too ~ 🙂 Thanks!
sounders72 @ aol.com
Yep, I'm a sucker for good dog books (and good backstory). Please add my name to the list.
Thanks. Carol
cdirks1@sbcglobal.net
Enter me — how could I miss the release of a book with a dog!
MaryinHB at gmail
The post definitely makes me want to read this book. I'm a dog lover. We had a black lab for 16 years, and she was very much a part of our family.
mtakala1 AT y ahoo DOT com
I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
(I wrote my initial entry once before, but it didn't seem to make it into the post)
The cover of this book is reminiscent of Alex Colville's paintings where a black lab is sitting on the edge of a wharf with a priest.
I have three cats.
Please enter my name in the giveaway.
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com
+1- I'd love a chance to read this it sounds like a great book!
unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
+2- I have a wonder almost 4 year old boston terrier/daschund named Lolo who I rescued when she was 5 months old from a local humane society in which she came from a puppy mill. Its been great ever since, Lolo has grown into a a loving and caring princess. She loves going to the dog park (even though she thinks shes human) and loves snuggling with soft blankets.
I'm like you and cannot say not to books with dogs on the cover! I really enjoyed the guest post and the dog photos.
no need to enter me since I have this for review!
wow, I love stories about dogs; I am so happy I came across this great book and review; what an awesome opportunity to win this.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
We had to put our furbaby down a couple of years ago and I still miss him so much. He was Sam, a 14 yr. old male Apricot toy poodle who seemed human to us. He was the love of our lives, did tricks, ate chips and dip(if we played a trick and left the dip off he'd spit it out) and loved going for car rides. My heart aches.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
Please count me in! Thanks so much!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I have five furbabies (5 cats), plus a feathered baby (lovebird), and a hard-backed baby (turtle)!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I would love to win this book. I love pets, all kinds, so I know I will enjoy reading "Free to a Good Home".
+2 I have 3 cats at present. A very spoiled 12 yr old Silver Gray Persian, Miss Kallie, another spoiled 6 1/2 yr old black & white female named Boots and a 6 1/2 yr old orange male named Garfield who is my good boy.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Sounds wonderful!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
My furry friend is a rescue cat. He was dumped on an airport runway as a kitten (what's wrong with some people?) Named him Piper because he can purr as loud as a Piper plane! I am not a "cat person" but when a cat adopts you you have no say in the matter 🙂
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
I have one dog, Scrappy, who we got a local shelter. He hates the hot weather we've been having.
The book sounds like something I would enjoy.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this giveaway.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net
+2 I am owned by a 12 year old German Shorthaired Pointer named Spencer, A 10 year old Golden Retriever named MJ and an 8 year old crazy cat who rules the pack named CB.
I would just love to win this giveaway. I am an avid animal lover who has rescued several dogs over the years. I have one Hairless Chinese Crested dog who was also a rescue dog(who has his own blog at: http://goaheadmakemestay.blogpost.com)I acquired while working at a pet grooming salon. I was also a veterinary assistant for a time and remember back to that time when I wanted to bring home every single animal who needed a place to go.
My email:
rowdycowchick@gmail.com
I would love to read this! Please enter me. Thank you!
My two fur kids are two sweet, loving cats named Max and Mindy. They are brother and sister.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
1+ allisonsbj3(at)gmail.com
2+ My boyfriend and I will be getting our first kitty this weekend. We are so happy!
This book sounds really good.
+2 – I wish I could have a furkid, either a cat or a dog would be fine with me, but I'm horribly allergic to them both – I get asthma if I'm around them for any length of time. I just keep hoping someone will figure out a way to cure these darned allergies.
jen(at)delux(dot)com
I also am a sucker for anything with a dog on the cover or in the story.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Great post and I would love to read this book!
I have a sweet boxer named Jenny and a darling cat named Sara.
I've posted this in my blog's sidebar.
Suko95(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks!
I have two rescue dogs and would love to read this!
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
+1 Thanks for this fabulous
giveaway. My fingers are
crossed.
+2 I have a beautiful terrier, and I adore her.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great post, Dar! I love my furkid Hiro too!
Enter Please 🙂
PelicanJL(at)hotmail(dot)com
Sounds like a great story. :0)
We have 2 blue heelers, Shyla & Pepper. They're a year old so they still act like puppies. And they're spoiled rotten! Heh.
Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com
Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com
Please enter me. This is on my wishlist!
+2 Our furkid is Rocco. He is a 2 yr old Labradoole with a ton of energy!
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
I would just love to win this book!
I have one furbaby, a very large, very beautiful cat named Rudy.
~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com
Sounds like a wonderful read!
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
Count me in.
bookventuresbookclub AT gmail DOT com
This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.
+2 I have a Miniature Schnauzer named Abby. She is 2 years old. She is the sweetest dog ever! She keeps me company everyday!
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net