Nicola Morgan & Amber

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m the one with glasses - I’m Nicola Morgan, an author, mostly of YA novels and also books about the teenage brain. The four-legged one is Amber, a 9-year-old, female Labrador.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I really wanted to go out and photograph her somewhere interesting in Edinburgh, where we live, but it was horrible weather all week so I hope you don’t mind seeing us having coffee on the sofa in my beautiful study.

What's brewing?

Taylors of Harrogate, medium roast, filter, with milk and one sugar. If I was out, I’d be drinking a cappuccino on an ordinary day or a caramel macchiato with sugar-free vanilla if I’m indulging.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Well, what you see in the photo is my patent recipe: Brain Cake™. I invented this while writing a book about the brain - if you want the recipe, it’s here: http://www.nicolamorgan.co.uk/kyb.php. Genuinely delicious and healthy, full of fruit and seeds and nuts (if you want), lower in sugar than normal cake, and giving slow release energy to fuel your brain. I can’t promise it will make you cleverer but you are welcome to try. I am.

Any treat for Amber on this occasion?

Well, don’t tell anyone but yes, two biscuits to try to get her to stay still for the photo. We’re careful about her diet, for reasons that will become clear.

How did Amber come to be united with you?

We went to choose her from a local breeder and all the puppies looked as cute as each other. So I picked them all up in turn and Amber was the one who didn’t want to be put back again. She snuggled up and went to sleep. How could we refuse?? Then, we were incredibly glad that we got her and no one else, because a two weeks later we realised she had something seriously wrong with her legs - hips and elbows, so all four legs - and we knew that if someone who wanted to show her or breed from her had got her they wouldn’t have wanted to keep her and I don’t like to think what would have happened. We have to keep her weight down as low as possible and be careful about the levels of exercise; she did have some surgery but it didn’t work. We adore her. She’s very special and we wouldn’t change anything about her. Usually …

How did she get her name?

Just that none of us could agree on anything else!

Tennis ball, stick, frisbee...?

Because of her legs we have avoided chasing/jumping games so we tend not to throw things too much, but she has a habit of finding a huge stick on the way back from a walk and dragging it home. When I say huge, I’m talking major branch size, half the width of the road. People have to get out of the way when we pass.

Cat, squirrel, postman, car...?

SHHHHHH! Don’t say squirrel! Or cat. She can hear the squ word within a sentence, or even a word that sounds like squirrel. “Was school ok?” always caused frantic scrabbling as she tried to get into the garden to find that squ.

What's an ordinary day like for Amber?

Lazy. Short walks because of her legs. Having said that, on a good day she can walk for an hour, and even steep hills, as long as we don’t do it too often. It’s a bit unpredictable but actually she’s better than when she was younger. We just play it by ear. But she has my company all day (what more could she want?) and we play very silly wild games in the house.

Who is your dog's best pet-pal?

She has a very sweet French boy-friend called Clouseau and three identical Westies which she thinks are one dog because she’s never seen them together.

What's Amber's best quality?

The incredible ability to make us laugh, manipulate us and make us think she’s human.

What's her proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

Proudest: every time she demonstrates her best two tricks to strangers. (Best two tricks being “left paw / right paw” and “drop catch”. Drop catch is when she, on command, drops a ball, lets it bounce once and catches it again. And sits there waiting for attention.) Most embarrassing: easy - recently we were walking and a ridiculously small dog came along. Amber obviously thought it was a squirrel. I thought it was a squirrel. It ran like a squirrel. And she chased it like a squirrel. I yelled at her to stop, which she instantly did, largely because the squirrel turned round and barked.

Nicola Morgan has written a number of critically acclaimed books for teens, including the Scottish Arts Council Award-winning Fleshmarket, Mondays Are Red, Chicken Friend, The Leaving Home Survival Guide and Sleepwalking, winner of the 2005 Scottish Arts Council Children's Book of the Year Award.

The Scotsman review of Deathwatch, her newly released YA novel, suggested the novel would appeal to readers "who find Twilight and its ilk too wimpy."

Watch the YouTube excerpt of Deathwatch.

Learn more about the author and her work at Nicola Morgan's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Christina Baker Kline & Lucy

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Christina Baker Kline, a novelist (my new book is Bird in Hand), and my floppy-eared companion is Lucy, a five-year-old English Springer Spaniel.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Lucy and I both love our routines. I often write in my sunny corner office on the second floor, and Lucy sits in a big wingback chair (and, it must be said, tends to fall asleep and make funny noises). When I’m ready for a break I'll pad downstairs, with Lucy close behind. I make coffee and she gets a dog biscuit. We often sit in the shade on the bench in our garden, as you can see in the picture. It's one of our favorites times of the day.

What's brewing?

My favorite coffee is Irving Farm Exotic ("rich, intense, and nutty" -- which, now that I think about it, sounds like some people I know). Irving Farm is an actual farm in upstate New York, and the proprietor, David Elwell (who happens to be a friend of mine and Lucy's) roasts the finest beans in the world.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Depending on the time of day and my mood -- all right, any time of day and any mood -- I might steal a piece of dark chocolate from a stash I hide from my husband and three boys. (And, of course, from Lucy.)

Any treat for your dog on this occasion?

As I mentioned, Lucy munches a dog biscuit. She prefers small bone-shaped ones; go figure!

How did your dog come to be united with you?

We rescued Lucy from a bad home. It's kind of a sad story until its happy ending: Five years ago our beloved Springer Spaniel, Maggie, was hit by a car when she was a year old. (We live across the street from a park with a pond; it was a snowy day, and kids were skating on the ice. The road was covered with snow, and Maggie probably thought she saw our three boys over there, skating around, and dashed across the street.) We had gotten Maggie from a well-known breeder -- a dog of hers won Westminster the following year -- and felt we should tell her what happened, so my husband and I went to the Secaucus Dog Show to let her know. Another breeder overheard our story, and asked us if we were interested in taking in another Springer Spaniel, also female, black and white, and a year old. This dog had been badly mistreated -- starved and kept in a crate for up to 18 hours a day -- by her owners, who were going through a divorce; the breeder was removing her from the home. We were a little nervous about it, but the breeder assured us that we could try it for a weekend, and if it didn't work out we could return her. Of course when we saw Lucy for the first time, matted and starved (we could see every rib) and pathetic as she was, it was love at first sight.

How did she get her name?

Lucy had been named "Ceci" by her mean owners. We changed it to Lucy, a name that sounded similar enough that we thought she'd adjust to it quickly (which she did) and which we'd been saving in case we had a human girl (which we didn't!).

Does she have any influence on your writing?

Every morning, Lucy roams around trying to get a feel for whether anyone will be at home, and in which rooms. She tries out one spot – splayed on the hall landing, a watchful eye toward the front door – but soon abandons it for another. She jumps on an unmade bed and turns around three times, sinks down, curls into a ball. After a while she stretches out long, her belly as rounded and freckled as a cow’s.

I have my own version of this routine: a mug of hot coffee, a comfortable chair – no, perhaps the old chaise in the sunroom window – a college-ruled notepad (faint blue lines on white paper, a firm pink margin), an old-fashioned micro-point Uniball pen. Circle three times, curl in a ball, settle in deep.

Stick, frisbee, tennis ball...?

The mean owners didn't teach Lucy to fetch when she was little, so she's not so good at it. (She likes to run after sticks and things, but she rarely brings them back.) She does carry several objects around the house all day long: a stuffed squirrel, a mallard that used to squawk, an orange rubber bone.

Who is your dog's best pet-pal?

My sister's dog, Scout, was also rescued from a bad home. Scout is a part German Shepherd, part Husky, and Lucy used to be afraid of her. But now they're the best of pals. They hang out in Maine together in the summer.

What's Lucy's best quality?

This will sound cliched, but her loyalty and endless capacity for love.

What's your dog's proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

When Lucy gets very excited she sometimes pees a little. She's always extremely embarrassed about it afterward. And her proudest moment, I think, was befriending a small boy who came to visit and was very, very shy. She brought him out of his shell and made him feel comfortable.

Christina Baker Kline is the author of four novels, including, most recently, Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be. She is Writer-in-Residence at Fordham University and lives outside of New York City.

Richard Russo called her “a relentless storyteller. Once she sets her hook and starts reeling you in, struggle becomes counterproductive. The narrative line is too taut, the angler at the other end too skillful.”

Learn more about Christina Baker Kline's work at her website and her blog, A Writing Life: Conversations about the Creative Process.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jennifer K. Stuller & Giles and Wesley

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Jennifer K. Stuller, and my boys Giles and Wesley. Giles will be four years old this October and Wesley turned one this past June. They are both Maltese – truly the smartest and sweetest of doggies. I’m a writer, critic, scholar, pop culture herstorian, book author, and public speaker. My first book, Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology (I.B. Tauris) is a comprehensive history, critique, and reference guide examining feminist history and potential within popular culture and will be available in January 2010.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We are waking up so that we can start our day! I’ll be busy researching and writing. They have some very important playtime to get to!

What's brewing?

A warm mug of Tao of Tea’s Liquid Jade Matcha. Matcha is a traditional Japanese powdered green tea that is delicious and nutritious. Unlike coffee, which I can no longer drink much of anyway, green tea keeps my energy steady throughout the day. (Though I’ll sometimes have a more caffeinated black tea if I need an extra boost or have a deadline.)

Any goodies to go with the tea?

Fresh fruit smoothie with banana, non-fat yogurt, freshly grated ginger, soy milk, pure cranberry juice, locally grown berries, and vanilla-flavored protein powder. Yummmmmmm...

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

Since it’s morning the boys are having their breakfast. One at a time please! Giles eats his Hill’s Prescription Diet K/D first, then Wesley gets his Natural Balance Duck and Potato.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

We decided to get a dog shortly after we bought our first house. I’d wanted a cat, and my husband had wanted a big dog. My dad and his wife have Maltese, and since we enjoy their doggies, Hubby and I decided to compromise. Once we had our own little white dog we couldn’t imagine it ever being different!

We adopted Giles from a breeder in Gig Harbor, WA in January of 2006 and he makes us laugh everyday. We love him so much that for his third birthday we got him a “little brother.” This time we went to a breeder on the Oregon Coast where we were lucky to find our little Wesley – the perfect addition to our family.

How did they get their names?

I was insistent on naming our first dog Giles after the character Rupert Giles from television’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And since Hubby went along with the choice he got to name the second one. We ran through names like "Bowie" (after David), Duncan Idaho (from Dune), and Xander (also from Buffy). But then he was emailed pictures from our breeder and forwarded them to me. I saw the little guy and thought “Oh my God – he's totally a Wesley!” (as in Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, a colleague of Rupert Giles, and a name neither one of us had ever brought up as a possibility). I decided not to say anything, because I wanted to be fair to the Hubby. It was his turn. But he came home from work that evening, asked if I'd seen the photos and said:

“What if we named him Wesley?”

And we knew we had to! Our little Watchers!

(And for you Buffy and Angel fans out there, we couldn’t have guessed it at the time we named them, but Giles is quite the gentleman and Wesley is a rogue demon hunter.)

How do Giles and Wesley help you with your writing workday?

They are my research assistants!

Stick, frisbee, tennis ball...?

Giles loves his “squirrel.” (It’s actually a Dr. Noys Material Dog chipmunk, but we call it squirrel.) It’s his favorite toy to greet us and guests with. Wesley will play with pretty much anything, as he’s much less fussy in general than G, but he can’t resist the appeal of a dirty sock. (In fact, the naughty boy appears to have a stash of them in his crate.)

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

Morning belly rubs. Potty. Food. Potty. Wrastle. Snuggles. Chase. Snuggles. Potty. Snuggles. Wrastle. Food. Potty. Chase. Snuggles. Potty. Bed. And repeat!

Who are your dogs' best pet-pals?

They are each other’s best friend! In fact, Wesley cries if he’s not right by Giles’s side. They also enjoy the company of our neighbor, Lola – a Dachshund, Lulu – a Cockapoo, and my parent’s Maltese, Agatha, Chloe, and Sherman II.

What are Giles' and Wesley's best qualities?

Their joy. For the littlest things too: car rides, foodstuffs, walks, visitors, our happiness, each other’s company, naps, squirrel ... And it’s infectious. Their wiggly tails mean the world to us.

What are their proudest moments? Their most embarrassing?

I would think for Giles his proudest moment would be when he gained the confidence to jump up to the couch as well as back down from it. For Wesley, it would be when Giles was comfortable enough with having a puppy around to let Wes snuggle up to him – all Wes ever wants is to be next to his big bro.

Most embarrassing? Well, I don’t think they care, but I’m always horrified when my otherwise well-trained doggies pee on the floor at someone else’s house! Naughty!

Jennifer K. Stuller writes on subject matter ranging from architecture & design to feminist issues, corporate profiles and lifestyle trends, to travel, real estate, history, and popular culture. Her work appears in publications as diverse as Geek Monthly and Bitch to Washington CEO and the Encyclopedia of Gender and Society (SAGE Publications).

Read more about Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology.

Visit Jennifer K. Stuller's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Brian Clegg & Goldie

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Brian Clegg, and with me is Goldie. I write books for a living – popular science titles like A Brief History of Infinity, The God Effect and Before the Big Bang in which I explore interesting areas of science in a way that’s accessible to the general reader. I also edit the www.popularscience.co.uk website. Goldie is a nine-year-old golden retriever.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Goldie doesn’t often get a chance to come out with me to a coffee shop, but she’s my companion as I work at home alone all day. Whenever I sit down with a coffee to have a break from research or writing, she likes to come and sit by me.

What's brewing?

On the rare occasions we do make it to a coffee shop it’s a skinny cappuccino (more often than not from Starbucks) – but I’m too lazy at home to mess around with a cappuccino maker, so it’s either a straight coffee from a cafetière, or something instant.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I try to resist the goodies as much as possible – being an author is a pretty sedentary working life, and I need all the help I can get keeping the calories off. When I give in to temptation it tends to be either a yum yum or plain chocolate digestive biscuits.

Any treat for your dog on this occasion?

Goldie’s a touch over weight, so she should be on a strict diet – but it’s difficult to resist those hungry eyes, and if there’s no chocolate involved she usually gets a smidgen of what I’m eating.

How did Goldie come to be united with you?

Pretty straightforward – we bought her from a breeder. Our twins were six when we got Goldie, and it was really she who chose us. We went to sit in the pen with the puppies. One of them came and snuggled up behind one of our daughters and went to sleep – that was Goldie, and we really couldn’t choose any other puppy after that.

How did Goldie get her name?

It’s kind of obvious – we left the naming to the children, and I guess it could have turned out worse.

Does she have any influence on your writing?

Absolutely. I would recommend any writer to get a dog, because it’s very tempting to spend all your time in front of the keyboard, but having a dog means you have to go out for walks, and I get most of my best ideas on these dog walks. One of my books, Upgrade Me, was conceived in its entirety on a dog walk, and opens with a mention of taking Goldie out. I noticed how much easier she found it walking through a cold field with sharp thistles and nettles than I would without protective clothing, and it started me thinking about how we use different technologies to upgrade the basic human capabilities – the subject of the book.

What's an ordinary day like for Goldie?

It usually starts with her either barking to go outside, or coming up to the bedroom and thumping down on our bed. She’ll spend the day between the garden and the house, coming in to provide a bit of company, particularly during coffee breaks. There are usually two walks, sometimes three. She’s always excited when the children and my wife come home from school, so she can get even more attention.

Where is Goldie's favorite place to go for a walk?

We’ve recently moved from a country village to an urban setting, but if anything she prefers walking around the houses and streets. Having said that, we’re right on the edge of town, so our walks often end up back out in the fields. But pretty well any walk is good for her.

Who is your dog's best pet-pal?

Goldie has no doubt whatsoever that she’s a person, and really can’t be bothered much with other dogs. Pretty well any human being, though is special to her.

What's Goldie's best quality?

An ability to make us laugh. When you’re feeling down and she rolls over on her back to have her tummy tickled, she looks so ridiculous you can’t help smile, and the mood is lifted. Dogs should be prescribed by doctors.

What's your dog's proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

I’m not sure Goldie can claim a lot of reason for pride – but her embarrassment is largely from chewing things up. When she was younger she was always chewing TV remotes. At the time, you couldn’t buy the remotes for the satellite box we used in stores, you had to get them direct from the satellite company. We asked for a replacement so often we felt we had to explain why. The next delivery we were sent not one remote but two, with a note saying that one was for us, and one for the dog.

What’s your dog’s favourite moments of the day?

Although her walks are certainly a highlight, the moment of the day Goldie treasures most is after her evening meal, when she’s given a rawhide dog chew. This treat is her idea of ultimate luxury. She holds it between her front paws and gnaws at it in canine heaven.

Would you recommend having a dog?

Absolutely – for all the inconvenience and cost, we wouldn’t be without Goldie. Apart from the company she gives me as someone who’s at home alone a lot, she has been with us as our children have been growing up and she has been a special part of their lives.

Brian Clegg is the author of A Brief History of Infinity, The First Scientist: A Life of Roger Bacon, Light Years: The Extraordinary Story of Mankind’s Fascination with Light, Upgrade Me: Our Search for Human 2.0, and Before the Big Bang. He holds a physics degree from Cambridge and has written regular columns, features, and reviews for numerous magazines.

Follow Brian Clegg at http://www.twitter.com/brianclegg, and visit his website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Tricia Stohr-Hunt & Sydney

Who is in the photo at right?

This is me (well, the back of me!) and Sydney. My name is Tricia Stohr-Hunt and I am on the faculty at the University of Richmond. I have the honor and pleasure of preparing future teachers. I also have the not-so-fun job of chairing our department. (I love teaching, but the administrative stuff is my least favorite part of the job.) Sydney is a doberman-terrier mix. She'll be 12 at the beginning of November.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Saturday mornings are my special time with Sydney. I get up early to write and she always joins me. I settle into a comfortable chair and she lays at or ON my feet. If I don't give her enough attention, she unplugs my laptop (I'm convinced she knows what she's doing) and puts her paws on the keyboard. If I'm writing in a notebook, she tries to grab my pen. Did I mention she's sometimes ill-behaved?

What's brewing?

I don't drink coffee, so it's always loose tea. It's made in Harney & Sons teapot and is either Supreme Breakfast or Earl Grey (also Harney & Sons). In the winter I sometimes drink Hot Cinnamon Spice or Indian Spice. If I'm feeling really energetic, I'll make up my own batch of masala tea.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I don't usually eat while I'm drinking tea, but afterwards I often whip up a batch of banana muffins.

Any treat for your dog on this occasion?

Sydney gets an extra-big milkbone or peanut butter slathered inside an old bone.

How did Sydney come to be united with you?

We'd been living in Richmond for more than three years, but I'd refused to get a dog while we lived in an apartment. During spring break 1997 my husband and I went to the local shelter. The day we went was cold and rainy and there was no heat in the kennels. The poor dogs were all crying and shivering. I saw a puppy that was sitting up, wagging her tail, and licking folks through the bars. I was immediately smitten. She only had one day left before she was due to be euthanized, so we took her home right then and there. (BTW, I'm happy to report that our local SPCA no longer puts dogs down.)

How did Sydney get her name?

She came to us with the name Honey, but we couldn't see calling her that, so we changed her name to something that sounded a bit like it.

Stick, frisbee, tennis ball...?

Actually, her favorite is a stuffed wiener dog. I can't tell you how many she's had. She loves to fetch it when it's thrown, though she never gives it back. She much prefers to play tug-of-war with it. It's the first toy she brings to all our guests.

What's an ordinary day like for Sydney?

Sleep, sleep, sleep. I swear that's all she does. Her favorite place to sleep is our bed. She does have a dog door, so she can come and go as she pleases. When she was younger she ran outside to chase squirrels, but now that she's older, she's not as active. If we forget to close the bathroom doors she'll wait until she's alone and then dig through the trash and pick at the Kleenex.

Who is your dog's best pet-pal?

Sydney is a big baby when it comes to interacting with other dogs. She acts tough but they frighten her, so sadly, no other pet-pals.

What's your dog's best quality?

Sydney loves to be in the middle of things and with people. If I'm cooking, she's lounging in the middle of the kitchen floor. When I talk to her she thumps her tail, sometimes without opening her eyes. When I'm writing, she's on the floor next to my chair. If we're watching a movie, she's in the middle of the living room rug. It's rare that she's not close by. If we forget she's there, she reminds us by nudging a newspaper or book out of the way, licking any patch of bare skin, and sometimes doing her best lapdog impression (which at 50+ pounds, she's not).

What's your dog's proudest moment so far? Her most embarrassing?

Sydney's a wonderful dog, but she hasn't done anything particularly special beyond putting up with us and loving us. That in itself is pretty amazing. There are lots of most embarrassing moments, but throwing up on my husband's shoes when he was carrying her outside is probably at the top of the list!

Tricia Stohr-Hunt blogs about poetry, children's literature and issues related to teaching children and their future teachers at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

--Marshal Zeringue

Dave Freer & Roly and family

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Roland, the Old English Sheepdog. That’s Pugsley (the blonde) and Wednesday, who are Labrador cross travelling salesdogs and the lap-rug is Buttons the elderly blind Maltese. The lap-rug is sitting on dad, who pretends to be a writer of Fantasy and Science Fiction. In reality, I write the books, but I love him and let him claim the credit. It makes him feel good and that’s good enough for me. He is Button’s seeing-eye human, actually. I let him type for me though, when he’s not too busy doing important stuff like walking or feeding us or petting us. I believe humans call him Dave Freer, and blame him for writing books like Dragon’s Ring, which comes out in October. He used to be an ichthyologist once, but he’s participated in writing 10 books since then.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Well, we live a long way from most commercial coffee places, so we usually meet up at the Hard Rock (in the picture, being leaned against) before we go into the office for Dad to pretend to work (the books are actually written telepathically by my big black nose, while I am asleep at his feet. If only he could type faster they would get written faster). It’s nice to sit in the sun and enjoy a scratch behind the ears, and maybe a treat. We actually also have tea first thing in the morning. It’s nursery tea, mostly milk, but it’s a reward for getting Dad up at first light. I sneak into bed with him for a cuddle, and somehow that makes him get up. I think it is because Puggles also wants to be cuddled. Wednesday just wants him to get up so she can run around and bark. Buttons is allowed to sleep on the bed. Most unfair.

What's brewing?

Dad claims he really doesn’t think he could cope with the famous big black nose being any wider awake. So we get very weak tea with lots of milk. He roasts and grinds some beans he got from someone who grows them near Eshowe. Personally, I don’t think it smells very good, but dad likes it. He says he needs caffeine at first light. I think he needs to stop being so lazy. There's a wonderful world all new-smelling and exciting out there for us to share with him.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Beenos! (Doggie treats)

Any treat for dad on this occasion?

Well, we let dad have a oat-ginger cookie if he’s been especially good. Most of the time he is. He’s very well behaved, but throws some terrible smells sometimes.

How did dad come to be united with you?

I was born on my dad’s lap. My dad had been told that Old English Sheepdogs have 2-3 pups, and the vet said that having pups might help my mum's hormone balance - so he had homes for three. My mother had 9, and dad found homes for the rest. The others are adoptees. Pugsley and Wednesday escaped being put down because Mom and Dad adopted them. Same with Buttons. She was adopted from an old lady who had to move into a place that didn’t allow dogs.

How did Roly get his name?

"Roly-poly pudding and pie, kissed the girls and got a black eye!" That’s me! I’m famous! Even if it was only the other puppies and I had black (grey now) fur over one eye. I’m Roland for formal. Pugsley and Wednesday got famous movie personalities named after them, and Buttons was named for her bright little eyes. She went blind about 15 years ago, and Mom and Dad drove her to a specialist vet 600 miles away, but he couldn’t help either.

Where is the usual place you take dad out for fresh air?

We’re lucky we live on a little farm in the middle of a big farm on Mount West in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. It’s a wonderful place to be a dog. We have a stream and dam with glorious mud. Our garden is 4 acres, and early morning we check the fence for wild pig holes, interloper buck (not allowed to eat them though, just see them off) Rabbits, hadeda ibis and moles. Moles are very dangerous, and you have to dig for them immediately. Dad does not understand, but fortunately Puggle and Wensie do. I go for a snurfle without dad sometimes as long as someone is with him to look after him. We watch him all the time. Then late afternoon we take dad and mom out of the gate and onto Arrochar Hill. That is the best thing in the whole world.

Is Roly’s bark worse than his bite?

You mean you are supposed to bite things besides Pugsley?

Tennis ball, Frisbee, stick, other?

I’m a droving dog. I like to herd things. People will do. I also like to take dad’s sleeve in my mouth and lead him to suspicious objects, like visitors. I eat tennis balls so dad throws pine cones.

What's Roly’s proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

I leapt in to the big dam over the hill to rescue my dad after he’d been kidnapped by a float tube. I love water but all the fur makes me not a great swimmer. And most embarrassing... I sniffed a puff-adder. It bit the black nose and was nearly the end of me.

What's entailed in moving to Australia?

Mom and dad and the boys have got visas to emigrate to Australia. They planned to take us too, because we’re family and they believe in responsibility for their animals. Then they found out about the costs of our quarantine, and they were in a flat despair. Dad even said well then they should not go, which even an Old English Sheepdog thinks is not a good idea. But dad can be very determined. He says we’re his responsibility and he doesn’t think it would be easy or even possible to re-home us after living as we do. So he’s decided to do this anyway somehow, even if we end up in a shed in the outback, or have to do it in stages (We’re going to go and live in the middle of nowhere anyway. It’s where we live now. We’ll be Okay as long as we have dad). So he and a couple of his fans started http://savethedragons.nu/ to sell off one his books and raise some money for moving us. He’s just over half way to the minimum-somehow-it-might-be-possible, and is starting to sleep more at night. He knows that times are tough, but asks dog-and-cat people to at least repost about it.

And I need to stay with dad. Australia is far away, and I don’t swim that well.

Dave Freer is an Ichthyologist turned author "because he'd heard the spelling requirements were simpler. They lied about that." He currently lives in a remote part of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

His first book The Forlorn (Baen) came out in 1999; his A Mankind Witch was published in 2005. He has co-authored with Eric Flint (Rats, Bats and Vats, Pyramid Scheme, The Rat, Bat and the Ugly, Pyramid Power, and Slow Train to Arcturus) and, with Mercedes Lackey and Eric Flint (Shadow of the Lion, This Rough Magic, Wizard of Karres) as well writing as various shorter works.

Dragon's Ring is due out in October 2009. Read the story early and find out how to get a signed copy.

Visit Dave Freer's website and blog, and the Save the Dragons site.

--Marshal Zeringue

Merrill Markoe & Jimmy, Ginger, Puppyboy, and Hedda

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Merrill Markoe and I laughingly refer to myself as a writer. My dogs are: Jimmy, age 6, Flatcoated Retriever and his wife Ginger, age 6, Golden Retriever, Puppyboy age 12, Tijuana Shepherd and Hedda, age 6, Southern California Shepherd.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

When I am writing, which is always, I make frequent trips to the kitchen to get more coffee because (along with paying bills) it is one of the few acceptable excuses for not writing. That coffee is apparently bad for dogs doesn't prevent all 4 of them from going with me 100% of the time.

What's brewing?

Trader Joe's Cafe Femenino is what I have been making lately. Overwhelmed by their puzzling assortment of oddly named house brands, I have tried various Trader Joe's coffee blends and temporarily settled on Femenino because it is spiky yet mellow. And this is despite the fact that the name embarrasses me. It reminds me of the Dodge La Femme, a car from 1956 designed for "her" which came with a car coat, hat, and luggage that matched the upholstery. Though now that I think about it, that was a pretty good idea. I'd like a car like that. Maybe I better stop being so judgmental.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

None for me. I have been on a diet every second of the live long day since 1926. Which doesn't mean I don't sneak a snack and pretend I didn't.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

My dogs believe that they live in a 24 hour treat cycle. Chances are they just had a treat. But now are ready for another treat. And as soon as I give them this one, they will be ready for another one. I don't want to be an enabler but it may be too late because they believe that if they just stare at me hard enough there will be treats until the end of time. And they're not wrong.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

The married couple (Jimmy and Ginger) were given to me by my vet after their father was arrested for ponzi schemes. Puppyboy was found at an L.A. nightclub called Largo by my boyfriend, Mr. Andy Prieboy. Hedda was from New Leash on Life, a rescue I visited after I performed at a benefit for them.

How did they get their names?

Hedda came with that name. Puppyboy was named by Andy before I ever met either of them. (Andy, by the way, was named by his parents.) Jimmy and Ginger seemed utterly unfamiliar with the unpronounceable names the Ponzi schemer called them. Jimmy was named because after we brought him home, I kept saying "Excuse me while I kiss this guy." Which is (not really) a line from Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix. Andy and I have really struggled to re-name Ginger but I guess we've given up. Though not a day goes by that Andy doesn't say something like "Pie! That's what we should have named her!" or "Circus Dog! We should have called her Circus Dog!" Or today he said "Residue! We should have named her Residue!" I wish my parents had put that much thought into naming me.

What's your favorite Stupid Dog Trick?

I would like to answer this with a video of my dog Puppyboy in "I'm Forever Chasing Bottles." (Original soundtrack by Mr. Prieboy.)

What's the craziest celebrity dog behavior you've witnessed?

I don't have an answer for this. I don't know any celebrity dogs. My dog walker does. Once she brought a couple of the Barry Manilow dog children over. They were certainly pleasant enough.

Are the dogs of Nose Down, Eyes Up modeled on your own pets?

Yes, Jimmy is modeled on...uh... Jimmy. Ginger is the model for Fruity. (That's what we should have named her! Fruity!) Puppyboy is the model for Cheney. Hedda doesn't know she wasn't included. Please don't say anything if you meet her.

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

They rush in to wake me up at 6 AM even though breakfast isn't served until 9. They like me to get a good 3 hour head start, and also they believe that if they keep waking me up earlier and earlier, they will arrive at a moment where one breakfast melds with another and there is a continuous 24 hours of breakfast.

After that they follow me in to my office and sit in various locations around me, staring while I pretend to write. I always wonder what they think I do for a living. Then 4 times a week two of them get picked up and go off hiking with a dog walker. Her name is Dawn and I used her for the model of Dawn in Walking in Circles Before Lying Down. I used to be able to afford to have her walk 4 dogs 5 times a week. Now it is two dogs 4 times a week and I walk the other two on those days and all four on the other three days. (Boy, talk about more information than you needed). There is hell to pay if I don't schedule any walks so don't think I can just let it slide.

After that, there's a lot of hanging around barking at each other and me and people who work for me that they have met hundreds of times but still do not recognize. Puppyboy checks everyone's ID a lot, especially those of the other 3 dogs. Puppyboy is like a birther. He thinks there is something suspicious about everyone that he needs to check in to.

The day ends with Andy singing a special song written for the last treats of the day. A lot of people I know sing to their dogs, but Andy is a professional singer-songwriter and as such is the first person I have ever met who writes personalized stupid dog songs for our dogs that have a verse and a chorus, then another verse. When Andy starts to sing the "last call for treats" song, for the dogs it is like the Rolling Stones doing Jumping Jack Flash or Bruce Springsteen doing Born to Run. It is that rousing anthem that satisfies the fans.

What are your dogs' best qualities?

Puppyboy is very smart. His penetrating stare makes me laugh. Jimmy is very affectionate. Ginger has the best running dive in to a swimming pool I have ever seen anywhere. And Hedda wins "most enthusiastic." Her boingy springy bouncey thing when she thinks a walk is imminent is not just hilarious but oddly touching, because of how much faith she seems to have in how great this walk is going to be. Makes me want to deliver a really great walk. And I try. Except on the days when she sees a rabbit and pulls me in to a hedge at the speed of sound.

When have your dogs made you proudest? Embarrassed you the most?

Well, this video would have to be my proudest moment. It is my dog Jimmy distinguishing himself by giving his opinions on the issues that challenge our country.

And this would be my most embarrassing moment: The way my dogs responded to my rescue needs.

Merrill Markoe is the author of three books of humorous essays and the novels It’s My F---ing Birthday, What the Dogs Have Taught Me, and Walking in Circles Before Lying Down, and Nose Down, Eyes Up. She has also co-authored with Andy Prieboy the novel The Psycho Ex Game.

And she has won multiple Emmy awards.

Visit Merrill Markoe's website.

--Marshal Zeringue