I'm Nan Fischer, an author, and that's Boone beside me. He's a Vizsla and almost 15 years old!
What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?
I always bring a coffee down to the beach - Boone's favorite spot. You can't see my mug in the photo - Boone would knock it over. The beach is his favorite place and even at 14.5 he gets the zoomies once he hits the sand.
What's brewing?
I drink my coffee black, use a Jura machine for perfect crema, and prefer Stumptown beans.
Any treats for you or Boone on this occasion?
Boone doesn't get any treats from me at the beach because pretty much every dog owner down there has some in their pockets! Boone didn't always trust strangers so it's a great way to get him to interact in a positive way with people he doesn't know and learn to like them.
How were you and Boone united?
I grew up with rescue Beagles from a medical testing facility, but allergies led my husband and I to get a Vizsla as they're super short haired and easy to keep clean. Even so, my husband had hives around his eyes for a full year before his body got used to Boone! Our dog was rejected from the show ring (of course we think he's
perfect) and so the breeder wanted a home for him where he'd have tons of love and exercise and we fit that bill.
How did your dog get his name? Any aliases?
I was flipping through books looking for unique names and saw Boone and it just fit as he's a gift and treasure in our lives. Aliases include Monkey, Sweetpea, Boonimul, and Lovebug.
Does Boone do more to help or hinder your writing?
Boone definitely helps my writing! He sleeps under my desk, keeps me company, and forces me to take breaks to exercise us both!
Has Boone inspired you to create any fictional canines?
Boone is in every single novel I've written! But in The Book of Silver Linings he was the inspiration for a dog named Growler who has behavioral problems and is in danger of being euthanized. Boone, too, had some pretty serious behavioral issues. If my husband and I hadn't been incredibly committed, he probably would've ended up at a shelter with a very
bleak future. But we were devoted, stayed consistent, loved him even when it was hard, and he's come a very long way and we couldn't be more proud of him.
Cat, postman, squirrel...?
Squirrel for sure!
Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?
Boone loves every stuffed toy he's ever gotten and never rips them apart. His favorite is a giant fleece bone.
Who is Boone's best pet-pal?
Boone has never met a little dog he doesn't love. He's over the moon for my sister's dachshund mixes, Sydney and Oskar.
What is Boone's best quality?
Just one??? He's goofy, devoted to us and also lives in the moment.
If Boone could change one thing about people of the Pacific Northwest, what would it be?
He'd probably say that we shouldn't go outside when it rains and is cold. But that would be a lot of the winter.
If Boone could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?
What do you need most from us as you're getting older?
If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Boone could speak, who should voice him?
Wow! That's a fun question!! Maybe Ashton Kutcher? He strikes me as an actor with an enormous heart, like Boone!
What advice would Boone give if asked?
Live in the moment, try not to bark at strangers, and snuggle whenever possible.
Visit Nan Fischer's website.
Writers Read: Nancy Richardson Fischer (October 2019).
My Book, The Movie: The Speed of Falling Objects.
The Page 69 Test: The Speed of Falling Objects.
--Marshal Zeringue