Lisa Begin-Kruysman & Hooper

Lisa Begin-Kruysman and Hooper the Portuguese water dog are making their third visit to Coffee with a Canine. They were also guests of the site in September 2010 and again in June 2011.

Are you and Hooper celebrating the release of your new novel, Full Snow Moon, with any special brew or treats?

If we were up north in New Jersey, we might be having a lot more hot coffee (although it’s been pretty warm up there we hear). But right now, we are back in Key Colony Beach, Florida, where it is in the low 80s every day, a good place to take that left over morning coffee and make a cool iced-coffee concoction in the afternoon! This is a special place for us because it was here last year that we wrapped up the dog-centric Something's Lost and Must be Found. We are happy to bark that this book has been ranked consistently in the top fifty at the Kindle Store in the Dog Category and now has 34 five-star reviews!

Please tell us about the new novel.

Full Snow Moon tells the story of a hapless surfer who is persuaded by a restless spirit to find a missing cache of Jefferson Peace Medals buried on the property of the spirit’s boyhood home. It is a coming-of-age story with plenty of American and Meteorological History, tied together with a spiritual and paranormal theme. Most of the action takes place in my town of Brick Township, NJ and Asbury Park, NJ. I am confident most people will learn something new in this book.

Are there any dogs in Full Snow Moon?

I think most people were expecting my second book to be a dog book. But, the only “woof” of a dog is a reference to Lewis and Clark’s (the givers of the Peace Medals) dog, Seaman, a strong and brave Landseer Newfoundland who accompanied them on their expedition.

What's new with Hooper since you were last a guest here on the blog?

Hooper is still the same silly, loving and headstrong Portuguese water dog. Although she does not care for the heat of Florida, she does love to swim in the Gulf here. She often sits at my feet inspiring me as I work on my next book, the biography of Will Judy, the man who founded the National Dog Week Movement (McFarland 2013).

Did you and Hooper make it to Woofstock in Islamorda again this year?

Yes, we did. Woofstock was held earlier this year and we almost missed it. Woofstock is an extraordinary event and it is good to see it is going strong after three years. Unfortunately, it was a very hot day and we had to leave after an hour so that Hooper could cool off in The Gulf. I love the spirit of Woofstock, all these happy dogs wearing “Adopt Me” vests being walked by volunteers. Many of these dogs are surrendered due to the death or illness of their human or by families who can’t keep them. You just want to help them all. I am confident they will go to good homes because the volunteers and “fosters” are so dedicated.

In the writing of the Will Judy book, I always remind people that National Dog Week was launched not to bring more dogs into the world, but to make humans more responsible pet owners. I urge people to heed this message and to spay and neuter their pets appropriately.

Read Lisa Begin-Kruysman and Hooper's September 2010 Q & A and their June 2011 Q & A.

Visit Begin-Kruysman's National Dog Week Movement blog and connect with the National Dog Week Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue