Cherish D'Angelo & Chai

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Cherish D'Angelo, author of the romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady, and beside me is my pet muse Chai. She's a two and a half year old Pomeranian princess.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have coffee with Chai every day, but today we decided to venture out and pick up her namesake.

What's brewing?

I'm having my usual―a Chai tea latte with two shots of cinnamon dulce. Steaming hot or iced, I like to alternate. Today we're going hot.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Sometimes I splurge and go for the lemon poppyseed loaf, but most times I just enjoy my Chais.

Any treat for Chai on this occasion?

Besides whatever I slop down my shirt that she gets to lick off, I may take her to PetSmart afterward for a "T". Shhh...we can't say that word out loud or she'll get all excited. Can't even spell it anymore; Chai knows how to spell the "T" word. Oh, and she did get a small cup of milk in a Starbucks cup.

How were you and Chai united?

Sadly, we were brought together by tragedy. After the death of our beloved Royale, a beautiful miniature American Eskimo who was 13 years old, I couldn't stand the silence of the house. With everyone working or in school, the house seemed so empty. I also couldn't stand how depressed everyone was, including me. So I went out one day and bought Chai from a breeder. When my husband and daughter came home that day they were so surprised and fell in love with Chai immediately. She slept draped across my neck for most of that day and I became her Mom.

Does Chai have any influence on your writing?

Somewhat. She reminds me to be gentle sometimes and to have my characters show affection. She also tells me when it's time to take a break and play. She can be very demanding at times and makes sure I don't sit too long.

How did Chai get her name? Does she have any aliases?

Chai was named for my favourite drink at Starbucks. Really. I tell people her full name is Venti Chai Tea Latte With Two Shots Of Cinnamon Dulce. She has all the coloring of that delicious drink, the light milky cream color, the cinnamon color and the streaks of dark tea. My daughter, who loves Japan, came up with Chai's official name―Chai-Chan. Chan means child or little one to the Japanese. Chai also goes by "Poodley-Poo", "Poodley-Bum", "Poo-Head" or "Chai Poo-poo". Not sure why though.

Squirrel, cat, postman...?

Squeaky devil duck. That's what she "attacks" most, though she has been known to lunge after wild rabbits and magpies in our backyard. Both are bigger than Chai.

Tennis ball, Frisbee, squeaky-toy...?

Squeaky devil duck. My daughter's boyfriend gave Chai a pink squeaky duck. It had horns on its head. Chai chewed those off in the first couple of days. She's also chewed off the duck's tail. There's now a slit in the duck's neck. The head will be the next to go. Chai loves that duck, though you probably can't tell. She plays with it every day. At dinner time she persistently rolls it with her nose to my husband's feet. Then she barks at him once, ordering him to kick or throw the duck. She'll wait, then bark again. She'll do this until Marc gives in. He always does.

Where is Chai's favorite outdoor destination?

Chai loves to go for walks, especially around the neighbourhood of the house we're building. There are wide walkways and lots of grass and greenery. She's still learning to behave on a leash and she's getting used to meeting other dogs and people.

Where is Chai's favorite indoor destination?

PetSmart. Hands down. She loves sniffing at all the toys there and sometimes picks out the one she wants. She also likes barking at all the bigger dogs that view her as a chew toy or snack. She thinks she's so tough.

Who is Chai's best pet-pal?

My daughter's best friend's dogs: Jenna and Misty.

If Chai could change one thing about you, what would it be?

She would have my laptop surgically removed from my lap so that she can sleep there every day all day long. Chai is very jealous of my "metal puppy". If I'm working while sitting on the couch, she will push herself across my laptop and try to flop across the keyboard. She's very persistent.

Where is Chai's favorite place to sleep?

Other than on my lap, on my bed. Pressed up against me no matter how much empty space there is.

What is Chai's best quality?

She's very affectionate and sweet. She's like a little baby―one suffering from hypertrichosis.

What is the most amusing thing Chai does? The most frustrating?

She pushes her toys, especially the devil duck, with her nose, often rolling it several yards across the floor, and she manipulates her environment. If a cushion isn't where she wants it to be, she'll move it or pad it with her feet like a cat. She also flips her bed over and uses the bottom like a trampoline, jettisoning her toys by placing them on top and then nudging the bed hard with her head until the toy bounces off. Chai is very entertaining.

The most frustrating thing she does is bark at people at the door. We've tried so many things, from collars to whistles to throwing a jar of pennies on the floor. I mean, it's not like she's really an intimidating guard dog. She'd probably just lick a thief to death and pee on his shoes.

Now I must take both my Chais and get back to writing, not to mention all the blog stops I have while promoting Lancelot's Lady.

Cherish D'Angelo launched her debut contemporary romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady on September 27, 2010. Her novel has already won an Editor's Choice Award from Textnovel.com and placed in the semi-finals of Dorchester Publishing's "Next Best Celler" contest. Though this is Cherish's first romance novel, she's no stranger to booklovers; she's best known as bestselling Canadian suspense author Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

Learn more about Lancelot's Lady and Cherish D'Angelo at the official website and author's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Joani Ascher & Misty

Who is in the picture at the right?

Joani Ascher, author of the Wally Morris mystery series from Avalon Books, and Misty, a fifteen-year-old female Golden/Lab cross, at a Read Across America Event celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Cat in the Hat at a local school. I am wearing a Cat in the Hat bow tie, which Misty had the sense to refuse.

What’s the occasion for coffee with a canine? Any goodies to go with the coffee? Any treat for Misty?

I love to bake and I do it well, but my husband doesn’t always feel compelled to eat my sweet treats.

Someone has to do the heavy fork lifting and it’s best done with a large cup of coffee. Misty is waiting to see if anything drops to the floor, which could happen, sometimes not so accidentally. To make sure she doesn’t miss anything, she usually has her head in my lap while I eat.

What’s brewing?

I use a combination of Chock Full O’Nuts decaf and Green Mountain Mocha Nut Fudge in a 4:3 ratio. 3:4 results in too much excitement on my part, although Misty doesn’t seem to mind. She is perfectly willing to dance around with me. It makes her laugh.

How were you and Misty united?

Misty was delivered to my door as a seven-week-old Seeing Eye® puppy.

She was our second puppy and our son was raising her.

When she went back to The Seeing Eye at 17 months, my son and I stood on the front lawn and cried because she was the sweetest, most loving dog and we were going to miss her terribly. She tried her best to master her formal training, but the Seeing Eye instructors felt she lacked the confidence to intelligently disobey her handler which could lead to a dangerous situation. When they offered me right of first refusal, I couldn’t get to Morristown to pick her up fast enough. She has been following me everywhere ever since.

She still had a career, though. She became a therapy dog, and we went to nursing homes and schools, where children who were reluctant readers would read to her without worrying that she might judge them.

People tend to relax around dogs, which is why my main character, Wally Morris, took along her
Labrador retriever when she had difficult questions to ask a dog lover.

Have your dogs had any influence on you writing?

The eleven Seeing Eye puppies my family has raised have all helped me stay on task with my writing by taking naps on my feet. That has always kept me in my chair, working away, since getting up to go do something else would result in awakening the sleeping puppy, with the expected results and time requirements. And seeing their little puppy antics and what’s left behind after they walk through a room helped me understand what the characters with dogs in my books were facing. My fictional sleuth, Wally, has a black Lab, which I should have taken into consideration when I carpeted her living room in white, but at the time we were still strictly cat people and I had no idea what a challenge I was giving her.

She also has a grandpuppy, a little yellow Lab with a chewing-the-wrong-thing habit. Wally has had visits from other dogs in the neighborhood, as well as occasions to deal with various cats. In my latest book, Vengeance Runs Cold, a dog leads Wally to her friend at a most critical time.

In addition, exercising the puppies has always been a good time for me to think about the plots in my books and discuss possible twists in the mysteries. Puppies are not great critique partners, however, since they tend to be very agreeable, and they don’t take dictation.

None of the other puppies we’ve raised, however, ever learned as many words and phrases as Misty. With her beautiful brown eyes and intelligent look of comprehension, I can talk all day long and not feel as if I am talking to myself. I take her silence as encouragement for my ideas, which is sometimes all I can get.

How did Misty get her name? Any nicknames?

The Seeing Eye names their puppies by the litter. Two of Misty’s litter mates who were raised by members of our county Seeing Eye club were Mabel and Marigold, whose name I used in my third book. I get many of the names for my characters from a database I keep of the puppies in our club and their canine parents. It makes it easier than you’d think, since many of the names sound more like people’s than dogs’.

We sometimes call Misty Miss Teenyweeny, or Mistery, or Mistywisty, or Mist, if we’re being very casual. It’s not usually necessary to call her though, since she is always by my side.

Where is Misty’s favorite place for an outing?

In the past, Misty loved going up to the reservation for a nice long walk but has to settle for much shorter ones now. Any trip in the car is still fine with her, however, and she never criticizes my driving.

She never met a stream she didn't want to wallow in, and we often had to drive home with a very muddy dog.

Cat, squirrel, postman? Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick?

As I said, Misty was raised to be a dog guide. Seeing Eye puppies cannot chase squirrels or birds, and it is the job of the puppy raiser to discourage any tendencies the puppies have to go after other animals. Sticks are discouraged, as they can splinter. Nylabones are recommended instead. No squeaky toy around here, no matter how thick and plush, has ever taken more than a few minutes to be de-squeakered. The puppies can play with balls, and even catch them, but care must be taken during walks to ensure they don’t think all balls are their toys, or all cats are their buddies. Their jobs, when they start working, require focus.

One of our puppies was rejected for lack of focus. I had always worried about her, because although she could catch any ball on a fly no matter which way we threw it, she would stand around outside doing nothing but watching the wind. It turned out that she wasn’t watching it so much as sniffing it, and she was career changed to K9 Explosives Detection Officer. Another puppy had a habit of talking to me when I was on the phone or trying to work, making it hard to hear who was on the other end of the phone and hard to concentrate. She sounded like Astro on the Jetsons and it really appeared that she was trying to form words. I was afraid she wouldn’t be acceptable as a dog guide because they are supposed to be silent, but she passed with flying colors.

One of Misty’s favorite people is our postman, who loves her just as much. She’d pull me up the street if she caught sight of him making his rounds. He recently asked us for a picture of her for his collection and confessed that she is his favorite dog ever. Please don’t tell Comet what his daddy said.

What is Misty’s most embarrassing moment? Proudest?

Misty’s most embarrassing moment was probably when she was a tiny puppy and sat down in her food bowl, getting stuck.

She has a good sense of humor, though, and doesn’t let things like that bother her.

Her proudest moment was when we were at a Seeing Eye club picnic and all the dogs were chasing Misty, who was incredibly fast. They ran around and around trying to catch her, until Misty decided to jump into the baby wading pool that had been put out so the dogs could get water. She lay down in the pool and watched as all the dogs kept running past, and I’m quite sure she thought no one could see her.

Who are Misty’s best pet pals?

Sadly, Misty lost her two pet pals this year. Our cat, Smudge, who was her twin in my mind, since he was born within a month of Misty, was closer to her than any dog.

Bambi, our other dog, who was a black Lab and was another Seeing Eye career change, (puppy #4) also passed away this year. Of all the dogs we have raised here over the years, there has never been one who didn’t want to cuddle up with Misty and she always let us know when one of them needed to go out. The puppies all chewed on Misty’s ears as if they were gum, which she patiently endured no matter how hard we tried to get her to stick up for herself. Some tried to nibble on her back legs. For that reason, we are not raising a puppy now. Misty does not need that anymore.

What is Misty’s best quality?

Utter devotion. She aims to please. And she pees and poops on command.

View photos of all eleven of the puppies Joani Ascher's family raised, as well as a few of her cat, on Joani Ascher's website.

Excerpts of her five Wally Morris mysteries are available on the site as well.

--Marshal Zeringue

Rebecca Katz & Bella

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Rebecca Katz. I’m a cookbook author, chef and culinary translator. My dog name is Bella. She’s a 6-1/2-year-old Portuguese Water Dog.

My books include The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery and One Bite at Time.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have my coffee with Bella while she eats her breakfast.

What's brewing?

We have a fancy little coffee machine. My husband makes lattes in the morning, I just drink one shot of espresso.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

No goodies with the coffee. Just a kick start before Bella and I go for our walk. Then I’ll come back and eat breakfast.

Any treat for Bella on this occasion?

Well, her breakfast is a pretty amazing treat. She eats better most of us!

I've read that Bella prefers carrots to bacon. Can that possibly be true?

It’s true. She prefers carrots to bacon. But, she prefers beef and salmon to carrots.

How were you and Bella united?

Bella and I were united by a trainer who thought Bella had the right temperament to become a good canine cancer scent dog, and would be a great dog for me.

However, the breeder was going to ship her off to live with a family living in a small apartment in NYC. She changed her mind and that decision changed my life.

How did Bella get her name? Does she have any aliases?

Because she’s molto bella! She goes by Miss B, and too many silly names to mention in print.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

She stares out the window watching the squirrels, but she gets totally riled up by the any delivery man. She becomes the attack dog when the UPS truck rolls down the street. She’s a smart dog. The more she barks, the more treats she gets.

Frisbee, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Bella loves her squeaky-toy. However, she loves nothing more than to chew on a stick or branch.

Who are Bella's best pet-pals?

Bella hangs with a floppy eared, loose lipped, slacked jaw, boy toy named Clyde who is a 3-year-old Blood Hound. They are quite the pair!

If Bella could change one thing about your children, what would it be?

There are no children in the house. She’s the dog child and the center of the universe. That’s the way she likes it.

What is Bella's best quality?

Her winning personality.

What is Bella's proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

Her proudest moment would have to be starring in a video about the soup that was named after her — Bella’s Carrot Orange Fennel Soup.

Her most embarrassing moment: When she got caught red handed with a large wedge of Parmesan cheese.

Visit the official Rebecca Katz website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Amber Carlton & Mayzie and Ranger

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Amber Carlton, an advertising copywriter by day and my dog Mayzie's blog assistant by night.

My two dogs are Mayzie, a 3-year-old female mutt (DNA tests showed 25% Boxer, 12.5% Bull Terrier, 12.5% Dachshund and 50% Heinz 57) and Ranger, a 6-year-old male rat terrier.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We recently took a vacation to the western slope of Colorado and spent some time in a quaint town called Ouray. We decided to stop by Mouse's Coffees and Chocolates for, well, coffee and chocolates!

What's brewing?

I had one of Mouse's specialty coffees, the Dirty Hippie, which is espresso and chai.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

One of their delicious Scrap Cookies. They make all their own chocolates and all the scraps that are left over are thrown into cookie dough, so you never know what you're going to get with each bite.

Any treat for Mayzie and Ranger on this occasion?

They each got a little bite of Scrap Cookie - without the chocolate, of course.

How were you and your dogs united?

After researching numerous breeds for our perfect "first dog," we settled on the rat terrier. We were fortunate to find Ranger through a wonderful rescue called Ratbone Rescues. Mayzie, on the other hand, chose us. We stumbled upon an adoption fair and, while we had no intentions of adopting a second dog, she made it clear that we really had no choice in the matter.

How did the dogs get their names?

Ranger was being fostered in Texas so we wanted to give him a name that reflected his "roots." He's a law-and-order kind of dog, so we named him for the famous Texas Rangers lawmen. Mayzie was named for the heroine in "What Maisie Knew" by Henry James. The spelling came from the "Amazing Mayzie" character in "Seussical."

Any aliases?

Ranger's most common aliases are "Doodle" or just plain "Dude." Mayzie is often "Baby Girl" or "Sweetness."

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Well, they live with two cats so cats are definitely off limits. Ranger is okay with the postman but for some reason, feels that the UPS man is definitely not to be trusted. Mayzie believes squirrels were put on this earth for her to chase.

Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Ranger didn't care much for toys before we adopted Mayzie. Now his favorite toy is whatever Mayzie has. Mayzie has a particular love of all things stuffie - although they mysteriously become unstuffed in only a matter of minutes.

Where is Mayzie and Ranger's favorite place for an outing?

Anyplace with wide open spaces.

Who are Mayzie and Ranger's best pet-pals?

Ranger really doesn't have any good pet-pals other than us and Mayzie (and that's just fine with him). But Mayzie loves our cat, Ripley, and has a good buddy in our next door neighbor dog, Hope.

What is each dog's best quality?

Ranger is more than happy to do whatever we want to do. If we want to hang on the couch, that's fine. If we want to go hiking, that's great, too! Mayzie had a rough start in life and came to us very fearful of a LOT of things. Yet she has an enormous capacity for love and trust, and has come so far in the 1 1/2 years we've had her.

What is each dog's proudest moment?

Ranger, being a rat terrier, is always very proud when he sends some small animal like a mouse or bird to meet its maker. And he's always very disappointed in us when we unceremoniously take it away from him and throw it in the trash. I'm pretty sure that he'd be thrilled if we would stuff his "trophies" and mount them on the wall. Mayzie's proudest moments are when she can go into a new situation and find out that, "Hey! This isn't so bad after all!"

Most embarrassing?

In his beginning obedience class, Ranger wiped out during a recall exercise by stumbling over a ditch that was covered by tall grass. On the next try, he made a wide berth around the ditch to ensure that didn't happen a second time. Mayzie has no embarrassing moments. She's pretty sure that life isn't worth living if you can't make yourself and others laugh.

Visit Mayzie's Dog Blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Sherrie Madia & Polly

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me—Sherrie Madia—but everybody calls me “Sher.” I’m an author, educator, and trainer—not of dogs, but of people—and only when it comes to how they present themselves professionally.

With me is Polly. She is between two and three years old according to everybody’s best guess. She is a “mixed Lab” is how the shelter had her labeled. Given that I don’t know dog breeds from dog biscuits, I chose her “breed blind” because she was lovable and a dog in need. Only after a series of funny stares and “What kind of a dog is that?” did it dawn on me that she looks more pit than lab. So, we get some people who cross the street—they obviously don’t know that this is the sweetest dog they’ll never meet.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We choose “challenge destinations” where we walk a bit longer. Today, it’s Bagel Bin, about a mile from our house, and a nice morning walk. Any reason at all is a good one for Bagel Bin, but you have to arrive early to avoid standing in a line that spills out the door of this small shop. The bagels are handmade and if you go at a time when their machines are on, be prepared to shout your order.

What's brewing?

I’m a simple girl, so plain, fresh coffee with half and half does the trick. Delish.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

It’s all about the goodies! Sundried tomato bagel hot out of the oven and smothered in cream cheese (tastes like pizza—heavenly!)

Any treat for Polly on this occasion?

A bite of the Peanut Butter bagel, then we wash it down with a filet-mignon-flavored dental bone. Her all-time favorite!

How were you and Polly united?

My daughters and I have volunteered at the Animal Orphanage in our town for a number of years. We stopped by one day “just to look” and in less than five minutes knew that Polly would be coming home with us.

How did Polly get her name? Any aliases?

Polly had gone from shelter to shelter, all the way from Lynchburg, VA to the shelter in southern New Jersey—so she’s probably had a number of names along the way. But at the Animal Orphanage, they called her Polly. We had the chance to rename her ourselves, but somehow that felt wrong. So Polly it was.

Since we do enjoy words in my house, our nicknames include Polly Esther, Polly Urethane … you get the picture. Indeed, she is the victim of our corny word play.

Did Polly have any influence on your new children's book?

Actually, it’s a bit of reverse engineering. We found Polly after the book had been published. We knew we loved her the moment we saw her, but couldn’t figure out why. Then it hit us—Polly was the spitting image of Moxy, the dog in our children’s book who learned he could talk. We’re waiting for Polly to say her first word.

In the meantime, we’re excited about promoting this book, and we sponsor a number of pet-festival events. We donate $1 from the sale of each book to the SPCA International.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Joggers, actually. She loves to run over and say hello. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we are not always well-received. We are working on this.

Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Stuffed toys—particularly those that squeak. Polly’s favorite is a duck straight out of hunting season. When Polly grabs it in her mouth, this toy makes the most pathetic, dragging drone—as if it’s been attacked one too many times. Such is the life of a stuffed duck.

Where is Polly's favorite place for an outing?

A beautiful, little lake by our house. It’s scenic and serene, and great for thinking through our days. Me: “How will I get those 57 tasks completed today?” Polly: “Perhaps I’ll gnaw on the wood of the staircase some more. Or better yet, I’ll just take a nice nap.”

Who is Polly's best pet-pal?

Oh, Rusty, without question. Rusty is a Rhodesian Ridgeback from across the street, who has already learned the art of being reasonable, unlike Polly, who finds it necessary to barrel over to him at top speed. Bad enough I’ve been dragged outside with my hair still wet from the shower, or my makeup half on—why not charge the neighbors as well? Fortunately, my tolerance for humiliation is high. A sense of humor helps.

What is Polly's best quality?

She is always eager to do the right thing. Of course, she rarely does – but her eagerness is certainly endearing!

What is Polly's proudest moment? Her most embarrassing?

They are actually one and the same. Polly loves retrieving toys. But she hasn’t quite mastered it yet. So, when we toss a ball or stick, she races eagerly toward it, misses it completely in her haste, races to our feet and proudly drops her invisible catch and wags her tail proudly. She is quite convincing. Perhaps she has a career in acting?

Visit the Alphabet Woof! website and Facebook fan page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Randi Hutter Epstein & Ellie and Dexter

Who is in the photo at right?

Randi Hutter Epstein, with the red hair; Ellie, black and White hair; Dexter, reddish and black.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I’m in my backyard and my dogs don’t leave my side, or my lap.

What's brewing?

Black coffee from Andy’s Deli on the corner, I get my $1 cup when as the three of us walk into Central Park every morning. On this particular morning, I saved my coffee for home.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

For me, it’s usually cereal or toast. For the dogs, it’s Rega-sensabites, for dogs with sensitive bellies. (Dexter has the sensitive belly, but he was eating Ellie’s food, so I had to switch her to his food.)

Any treat for Ellie and Dexter on this occasion?

Always, I walk around with dog treats. Lately it’s some freeze-dried stuff they love.

How were you and your two companions united?

We picked up Dexter from a breeder upstate on the day that I found out I was pregnant with Eliza, my fourth child. We got him en route to our summer vacation in the Adirondacks. It was absolutely bucketing out, and we put this soggy puppy in our car, along with three other children and a four-year-old Golden Retriever. (The Golden is no longer “with us.”) I never wanted a toy dog, but for the past three years, my daughter Martha has been begging and pleading for a little dog that she could hold and cuddle. She promised she would walk the dog every morning and that she would be happy for the rest of her life. I believed every word. I thought it would be really helpful to have my teenage daughter walking the dog before school and then gliding merrily through adolescence. So I got the puppy. We’ve had Ellie for about a year and a half. Martha has yet to wake up to walk her in the morning and while she is basically a happy kid, but I wouldn’t say there haven’t been glitches along the way.

Do Dexter and Ellie influence your writing?

Dexter calmly sits by my side and probably is a soothing influence, particularly when I am forced to take breaks to walk him. Ellie has the personality of a hyper terrier (she has no terrier in her, to our knowledge). She sits by my side throwing balls and me, which I have learned to fetch. She wines and yaps when I’m not attentive. I’m not sure what that has done to my writing except make it more difficult to think a full thought.

Cat, squirrel, postman...? Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Both of the dogs absolutely love these fake bright yellow tennis balls from the Black Dog in Martha’s Vineyard. We went a few years ago, but now I get them online.

Who are their best pet-pals?

Ellie absolutely adores Dexter. She constantly jumps up and tries to bite his tail. Dexter has learned to put up with Ellie, but I think maybe he may even like her.

What are their best qualities?

Dexter is the best guard dog. He’s super gentle but bad guys don’t know that so you feel very protected walking around NYC with a big German Shepherd. Ellie is perpetually happy, actually gleeful. You just can’t be in a bad mood when she is by your side.

If Dexter and Ellie could change one thing about you, what would it be?

I’d stop writing and focus 100% of my time on them.

What are Dexter and Ellie’s proudest moments? Most embarrassing?

For Dexter, I’d have to say his most embarrassing moment must have been last week, when we sat down in the dining room to our fancy Rosh Ha Shana meal and while we were about to eat, Dexter had diarrhea all over the dining room and underneath the table. He is perfectly house trained, but was a bit (more than a bit) sick. We moved into the kitchen. I let my husband clean the floor, as he is a much better poop-cleaner than I am.

Ellie doesn’t get embarrassed. But she is probably most proud of the time that I left a large plate of spaghetti and meatballs for my husband and by the time he got into the kitchen, she somehow got her tiny little self onto the kitchen table and ate his entire meal. I think she was full and very proud of herself.

Randi Hutter Epstein, MD, is a medical journalist who has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Daily Telegraph, and several national magazines. She is the author of Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank.

Learn more about Get Me Out at the publisher's website, and visit Randi Hutter Epstein's Psychology Today blog, Birth, Babies, and Beyond. Read an excerpt from Get Me Out and listen to the NPR story about the book.

Writers Read: Randi Hutter Epstein.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kelly Creagh & Annabel

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, debut young adult author Kelly Creagh and Annabel! Anna is a terrier mix (I think she has some Yorkie in her.) She’s about four years old and a regular spit-fire!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Anna and I are celebrating the release of my first novel, Nevermore, with a cup of Joe and some doggie biscuits.

What's brewing?

I’m in love with a local coffee shop here in Louisville by the name of Sunergos. At this magical shop they roast their own coffee beans and I always have some of their blend on hand.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Always. I especially love noshing on a muffin or a warm cookie.

Any treat for Annabel on this occasion?

Certainly. Anna loves soft chewy treats and sometimes a bit of peanut butter.

How were you and Annabel united?

After my first Poe-related research trip to Baltimore, I returned with the hopes of finding a dog. I searched a lot of rescue websites and no-kill shelters. Although I really wanted to take every dog home with me, I had a hard time finding just the right pooch for my small yardless downtown apartment. Finally, on a whim, I decided to visit the city pound. In one of the cages, I found a tiny puppy pinned with several larger dogs. Needless to say that she was very very excited to see me. I knew right away that, not only was she the smallest dog in the entire pound, but she also had to come home with me. I made arrangements to adopt her, but the pound would not release her to me without spaying her first. So I had to wait. When I picked her up a few days later, I was so excited! However, it quickly became evident that there was something wrong. The first night that I had her, Anna would not eat. I thought this might have been a normal side effect of the surgery. However, she did not want to drink, either. When she finally did drink, she became sick shortly afterwards. She could keep no liquids down. I called a few vets and they all suggested that I keep an eye on her. Anna got progressively worse, however, and I ended up taking her to an animal hospital in the middle of the night. The doctor on duty informed me that Anna had Parvo viris, a highly contagious canine disease that can be especially lethal to puppies. Anna was four months old at the time and the doctor told me that, if I took her home, she would have about a fifty percent chance of surviving. If I was lucky. Of course they offered to keep her but, at the time, I could not possibly afford to pay the medical costs. Defeated, I took Anna home and, cradling her, I cried until morning.

As sad as this story seems, you probably already know it has a happy ending since I’m here now having a cup of Joe with my lovely, happy and healthy Annabel. Let’s just say that I am very lucky to have a Mom who I can count on for anything--no matter what. Early that morning, I got a call from my mom who had found a local vet who would take Anna for a very reasonable fee. Anna stayed at the vet’s office several nights and, like the champ that she is, pulled through her illness. Needless to say, Dr. Swigert became my newest hero and Anna’s permanent vet.

How did Annabel get her name? Any aliases?

In 2006, I traveled to Baltimore in order to conduct research for my novel, Nevermore, which is greatly influenced by the works, life and death of Edgar Allan Poe. I started my search for a pet as soon as I returned and so it seemed only natural to me to name her after one of Poe’s greatest poems, "Annabel Lee." And yes, Anna has many aliases, including Nanner-head, Annabel-banana-bell-pepper, Doom Cookie, Hers, Anna-B, Wookie and Scruffalufagus.

Does Annabel have any influence on your writing?

Whenever I’m pulling a long writing shift, Anna is great company. Her presence is so soothing. Though she isn’t much of a lap dog, she does like to be close, so she’ll either curl up next to me or flop herself long on the floor beneath my chair.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

All three. Especially the squirrel. She’s a terrier through and through.

Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Anna enjoys a good squeaky toy. She also likes little plushy toys with those little plastic music boxes inside. She’s never pulled a toy apart, so I feel safe giving her these to play with as long as I'm home. Anna also likes to play a game I call “hands.” That’s when I’ll put a blanket over my hands and scramble them around while Anna pounces!

Where is Annabel's favorite place for an outing?

She loves going to my Mom’s house so that she can run free in the spacious back yard. She likes to feel the wind in her fur and she loves to bark and chase squirrels.

Who is Annabel's best pet-pal?

Her best pet buddy is my mom’s dog, Izzy [photo, left]. She also loves my brother’s Dalmatian, Maddie. All three are great friends.

What is Annabel's best quality?

She is so empathetic and sweet. If I’m having a down day or if I’m feeling sad or sick or hurting, she always seems to know. On these days she’ll curl herself into my lap or huddle up right next to me and lay her head against my shoulder or my knee. Her affection is such a balm.

What is Annabel's proudest moment?

Whenever she gets out of the bath. Though Annabel doesn’t like taking baths, she loves to be clean. As soon as I finish with the blow-dryer and let her out of the bathroom, she starts prancing around and bounding of the furniture. She loves to show off. She also knows that being a good girl in the bath means that she’s due for a treat.

And her most embarrassing moment?

Sometimes Miss Anna likes to try and get into the trash. She knows she’s not supposed to and, if I catch her in the middle of such a heinous act, she hangs her head and her ears flop down and she looks so ashamed of herself. When she gives me that look, it’s so hard to remain stern!

Kelly Creagh holds an undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

When not writing or curled up with a good book, she can be found teaching, learning and performing the ancient art of Bellydance.

Browse inside her new novel Nevermore, and visit Kelly Creagh's website.

--Marshal Zeringue