Carlie Sorosiak & Dany

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Carlie Sorosiak, author of I, Cosmo, a middle-grade novel told from the perspective of an ageing golden retriever who’s trying to hold his human family together through a tumultuous year. With me is Dany, my one-and-a-half-year-old American dingo. She doesn’t like the camera very much!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every Tuesday, I take Dany to Starbucks. We go through the drive-thru, then have our goodies in the car before shopping at Hollywood Feed, her favorite pet food store. There, she picks out her treats for the week. Yes, she’s spoiled.

What's brewing?

I’m a sucker for chai lattes with almond milk.

Any treats for you or Dany on this occasion?

I always get Dany a pup-uccino with biscuit topper (basically, a cup full of whipped cream).

How were you and Dany united?

My husband and I picked her up from the Atlanta Humane Society. She was the last puppy left at 5 pm on a Saturday, because she looked terrible. Her face was bleeding. She had four different types of worms. And we said, we’ll take her!

On her forms, she was labeled “shepherd mix.” Turns out she’s a dingo. Who knew?

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

My husband and I are huge Game of Thrones fans. Dany’s full name is Daenerys Dogaryen, Queen of the Iron Bone. She also responds to “dingo.”

Does Dany do more to help or hinder your writing?

Hinder. One-hundred percent hinder. She wants to play, play, play, play… I do love this about her.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

All of the above.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Again, all of the above. Dany does not discriminate when it comes to playtime.

Where is Dany's favorite outdoor destination?

She really loves national parks. If I had to pick, I’d say that her favorite is Cowpens National Battlefield. Lots of great smells! Squirrels aplenty!

Who is Dany's best pet-pal?

A pocket-lab named Chloe. They love to stretch out in the sunshine together.

What is Dany's best quality?

Her intelligence. Funnily enough, that is also her worst quality.

If Dany could change one thing about Georgians, what would it be?

They always want to pet you! Dany is afraid of strangers, so I think she’d prefer if they were much more aloof.

If Dany could answer only one question in English, what would you ask her?

I’d ask her what happened before I met her.

She was found alone on the streets of South Carolina. How’d she get there? What happened to her mother, father, siblings?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Dany could speak, who should voice her?

Emilia Clarke, because it’s only fitting.

What advice would Dany give if asked?

There is no such thing as too much chicken.

Visit Carlie Sorosiak's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Wesley Banks & Story

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Wesley Banks, author and engineer. This is my dog Story. She’s a 6 year old Carolina Dog. And we just got done exploring the outer rim of the Grand Canyon in this picture.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We’re celebrating my new novel, Hope In Every Raindrop, which came out in May! And of course it’s got Carolina Dogs in it.

What's brewing?

Believe it or not, I just recently tried my first ever ice coffee. The jury is still out.

Any treats for you or Story on this occasion?

We aren’t that big on treats, but…we can’t pass up anything fried. I try not to share too much with her, but she has perfected the head-on-lap and sad-puppy-dog-eyes face.

How did your dog get her name? Any aliases?

Story is a play on the word history. She was born at Lynches River Kennel to Mingo and Biscuit. Her father Mingo, was reunited with breeder Don Anderson and the line of black Carolina Dogs thought to be lost, was preserved. Don Anderson, told me this litter was “history in the making,” and that’s how I came up with Story.

I call her “Storebador” most of the time. I really have no idea why. I think it makes her sound like a superhero, haha.

How were you and Story united?

I knew Don Anderson from my previous Carolina Dog, so when I found out he had a black Carolina Dog litter, I drove up there immediately.

How does Story help--or hinder--your work?

Story (and my first dog Pace) were the inspiration for Hope In Every Raindrop. Without them I may not have had the idea for this book.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your novel?

Hope In Every Raindrop is about a best-selling author who happens upon America’s oldest dog breed and the man that raises them. The breed just happens to be a fictional breed called Carolina Gray, which is a cross between a Gray Wolf and a Carolina Dog. A lot of the dogs in the story are based around personality traits of dogs we’ve had in our family over the years.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

I think Story has a special cat radar. I know there is a cat nearby when she stops dead in her tracks.

Who is Story’s best pet-pal?

Definitely our other dog Linkin. He’s a rescue, dalmation/boxer mix, and a couple years older. Though sometimes she has a little too much energy for him.

What is Story’s best quality?

It may sound kind of cliché, but her passion for life is unmatched. She goes at everything 110%.

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

She would probably prefer that we live outside and purchase about 1000 tennis balls. Even after an hour walk, or a long hike, she will go sit by the door and hope someone plays catch with her.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Story could speak, which actress should do her voice?

That’s a tough one. I’m going to go with Rachel Weisz, only because she was the voice of Saphira in Eragon, and that seems fitting.

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

Am I as good a friend to you, as you are to me?

What advice would Story give if asked?

There is a book by Mark Rowlands, The Philosopher and the Wolf. In it he discusses the difference in the way humans perceive time, versus the way wolves or dogs perceive time. He eventually comes to the conclusion that humans struggle to fully live in the moment because we are so focused on the past or future, unlike dogs who fully commit to every experience.
I think Story would simply say, “Be great in the moment, and your moments will add up to greatness.”

Visit Wesley Banks's website, Facebook page and Instagram page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Vicky Kaseorg & Honeybun and Lucky

Who is in the photo at right?

​This is me, Vicky Kaseorg, with my female Carolina Dog, Honeybun, and my male terrier mix, Lucky.​

They don't love appearing with me in my umbrella hat.​ It embarrasses them.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

​We are celebrating the publication of my tenth book but my first fiction novel which is about dogs (The Bark of the Covenant!) We like to celebrate by kayaking whenever we can.

What's brewing?

​Starbucks cappuccino. Mmmm!​

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

​Kayaking is a treat in itself, but yes, they get Charlie Bears to keep them on the kayak.

How did Honeybun and Lucky get their names? Any aliases?

​We found Honeybun and thought she was the color of a Honeybun. Lucky was named Lucky because of how he always got himself in terrible scrapes and survived. Lucky is also sometimes called "The Escape Artist" since he does...constantly.​

How were you and Honeybun and Lucky united?

​We found Lucky as a 6 week old pup wandering the under-street sewer system. A few years later, we found Honeybun starving and half dead on a roadside. We weren't looking to have a dog either time, but God had other plans.

Have Honeybun or Lucky appeared in any of your books?

​Both appear in my first book, I'm Listening with a Broken Ear. It tells the story of finding Honeybun, nursing her back to health, and then having her turn vicious towards Lucky and people. The book talks about how we helped her to stop trying to kill Lucky and little Girl Scouts coming to our door.​

​(PS-we succeeded.)​

How do your dogs help--or hinder--your writing?

​They are a constant inspiration, and are what started my career as a published author. They also are furry shoulders to cry on when it isn't going so well.​

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

​Lucky once saved the life of a baby squirrel. Licked it till he warmed it back to life, and brought it to us. But they both will bark all night at possums.​

Squeaky-toy, ball, stick...?

​Lucky loves balls or tug of war ropes. Honeybun doesn't really understand toys, probably because she was feral for at least part of her life and playing took a back seat to surviving.​

What is each dog's best quality?

​Lucky is very loving to everything and everyone.

Honeybun is incredibly grateful and loyal. She follows me wherever I go in the house.​

If Honeybun and Lucky could change one thing about North Carolinians, what would it be?

That they would ask if their dog can meet them before letting their dogs in my dogs' faces. Lucky doesn't mind, but Honeybun minds big time.

And a close second is that people would neuter their pets so no dog would ever have to be homeless and starving like Honeybun was.​

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

​Lucky's​ ​actor would be Steve McQueen.

Honeybun's actress would be Meryl Streep.​

If Honeybun and Lucky could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

​Do you believe in God?​

Visit Vicky Kaseorg's author page at Amazon and her daily blog.

--Marshal Zeringue