The American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel was developed by very selective breeding of the English Cocker Spaniel, although the two now look distinctly different. Through selective breeding in the United States the Cocker Spaniel has become smaller and showier than the original hunting breed. The American Cocker Spaniel is more of a companion dog.

The Cocker Spaniel is a smaller sized spaniel that has wonderful temperament and boundless energy. They are great dogs for families as well as single people and really love being with humans, although they can tolerate moderate lengths of time alone if they are properly exercised and attended to when the family is home. The Cocker Spaniel has a beautiful, silky medium long coat that is relatively easy to care for and maintain, even if the dog is outside.

The Cocker Spaniel is not a timid dog and can be protective and vocal when strangers come into their yard or home. They’re good at sounding intruder alert.

My Lil' Jax w/Sport cut

They easy going and willing to accept other animals into their space. The Cocker Spaniel is typically very good with cats and other pets if introduced to them early. Many Cocker Spaniels that are raised with cats are very affectionate with the cat, allowing the cat to sleep in the same bed or even curled up beside them. My Cocker, Jax, was most definitely the Queen of the house and my right hand when it came to correcting fussing animals or breaking up arguments with kids. She was instrumental in training and keeping an eye on my Dane pup. Gidget may have outweigh her by a 150 lbs but, let me tell you something; she was one submissive pup around Jax even after she reached adulthood.

Jinxie & Jax

Jax w/kittens

Jax was there during my cat, Jinxie’s, labor and delivery. Jinxie was watchful but accepting of Jax’s presence—that wasn't the case with any other animal that came around. Jinxie was a very protective mother. She puffed up and backed down my Dane when Gidget came too close to the babies. Jax had a close relationship with the three male kittens, cleaning them and watching over them. In turn, the kittens often came to her for protection or affection, and where ever she would curl up to sleep you’d find one of the cats either beside her or not far from her.

During the last weeks of Jax’s life, one of the three was in constant attendance. There were times she would have two beside her on my office couch and the other sleeping above her on the back of the couch. I think they brought her comfort.

Jax & Sweet Shy as a kitten

The boys miss her.

Man, I know I do. 

 

The Cocker Spaniel is a happy, friendly and enthusiastic dog that is great with families and children.

More info owning a Cocker: American Spaniel Club

Cocker Spaniel Facts: Life Span: 12-15 years Litter Size: 2-7 puppies with an average of 5 per litter Group: Gun Dog, AKC Sporting Recognized By: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR Color: Black and tan, black, any solid color other than black (ASCOB), parti-colored (white and any other solid color), tan points with the tan less than 10% of the total body. Hair Length: Long, Medium Size: Medium Shedding: Moderate Shed Male Height: 14-16 inches (36-38 cm) Male Weight: 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg) Female Height: 14-16 inches (36-38 cm) Female Weight: 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg)  Jax & Gidget playing Living Area: The Cocker Spaniel is a very adaptable dog that can do well in a smaller space such as an apartment but can also do well in the country. A fenced yard is important for this breed, as they do tend to roam.

  

Monday's Musings: Digital Is Changing Everything...

There is an enormous amount of chatter, gnashing of the teeth, and good amount of jubilation, over the changes impacting publishing world today. Everything is changing.

On the surface, the changes seem rapid although they’re not really. We’re just seeing more concrete results of the impact digital technology has had on the market. These changes have been developing over the past fours years that I’ve been tracking them.  People don’t react well, for the most part, with change. It pulls them out of their comfort zones. So, what we’re really seeing is the knee-jerk reaction to that change.

Like everyone else, I’ve been watching the debate over traditional publishing versus self-publishing, paper books versus e-books on blogs, industry rags, and forum chatter. I’ve seen authors devote a blog post on why their dear readers must help them out by buying their latest books as paperbacks or hardcover as opposed to e-books so they can reach the bestsellers list. I’ve heard the wailing over e-books taking away revenue of authors not smart enough to have their agents negotiate better profits on digital.

I’ve read about publishers decrying Amazon, and like online bookstores, for allowing low prices for e-books. How readers are shying away from buying the book at full price (Winged brow. Well, Duh) Then I came across another argument by a literary publisher against e-books, which had my brows climbing into my hair, followed by an unladylike snort (sorry, Mom), and laughter.

“This has always been my problem with e-books: they emphasize immediate entertainment — and gratification — over real 'reading,' which takes more commitment, patience, attention and time.”

Say what?

C’mon, reading is reading, whether you choose to read on an e-reader, paperback, or hardcover. I have news for him; reading is entertainment as well as a pleasure. Reading is also a learning experience. What difference does it make if I get my entertainment, or research, immediately via my kindle, or I-pad? How does this devalue a book, author or publisher? How is this not real reading?

So, we who use e-readers are basically lowbrow plebeians? Apparently we can’t read something of import on an e-reader and take the time to soak in the ambiance and beauty of the words and meaning unless there is an actual paper book in our hands? How screwed up is that reasoning? Shall I send him a catalog of “classic” literature now available as digital files?

Are we seeing a comparison to a certain little Dutch boy putting his finger in a levee thinking it will save life, as we’ve known it?

Don’t get me wrong. I love books and always have. I love the smell of a library, of opening a book, of holding it in my hand because it’s special. Reality is, it’s not the book itself, but what it represents to me, a portal to learning, adventures, new worlds and people. I have colIected books all my life. I have favorites I have read many times over. I don’t go anywhere without a book. I’ve crippled moving company workers who have carried 15 large metal (think 5 ft long x 5 ft wide, and 3 ft deep with locks and padding) trunks of books from one house to the van and unloaded them in another duty station. My husband and I got into one of our first major fights over not only the money I spent on books but also the space my books took up. He’s since learned to grumble under his breath and has accepted the fact that whither I goest so goest my books.

I now have a kindle. I love it--E Ink display is easy on the eyes and simulates  reading a printed page w/out any glare or back light and I can adjust font size. It's light and easy to carry around. I must have a couple of hundred titles (thank god for alphabetical order and author's names). My husband has said a quiet hallelujah to the heavens that they are on the kindle and not physically taking up space. He’s been eyeing my collection and I've given my trademark evil eye, sweet smile, and a growl--don't even think about it, 'cause we're talking death, dismemberment and itty-bitty pieces scattered to the four winds.

While we’re at it, let’s add my opinion to the heated discussion over the pricing of e-books.

I’m eclectic in my reading choices and always have been. My choices on Kindle are no different than what I buy in a bookstore, except I’m more inclined to try out ‘new to me’ authors.  I like how many publishers offer specials—free to $4.99. Publishers and authors recognize this is a perfect way to build a readerbase. I’ve found some wonderful books and authors that way. I’ve also gone back and bought other titles from those authors that weren’t discounted.

The most I’ve paid for an e-book is $12.99 and I cringed. I collect hardback copies of several authors and will buy those on Amazon.  Frankly, shelling out $17-30 for an e-book is not something I will be doing anytime in the future, unless it’s a research book I need and even then, I’m analyzing whether I really need it. If I can’t get it any other way, I’ll buy it.

My thoughts on this: I can understand the price of paper books being high. I don’t like it, but I understand it. You have to factor in all involved between the time the authors submit a completed manuscript (electronically as a digital file), buying the paper, ink, and running thousands of copies on a printing press for mass paperbacks (or even hardcover), the high cost of transporting to the market and exorbitant cost of returns. There is a lot of money built into that book I hold in my hand.

E-book. Transmitted electronically from author to publisher. Design is done by computer and attached to the digital file, format setup by computers to a digital file, electronically submitted to the market place, via digital file,where it is bought electronically, delivered electronically, as a digital file, from online to your electronic reading device.

Hello?

Digital doesn’t have the same built in costs to produce. So why should I pay the same price for an e-book as I do for a hardcover paper book?  Especially when it's first released as a hardcover and the price is the same for the e-book.  As Spock would say, it’s highly illogical.

So, the debate over digital publishing and e-books will rage on until an effective compromise is reached. Pricing will have to factor in the cost of staff to produce a finished product and if we want paper books to hold in our hands or put on our shelf we’ll have to pay the higher price for the privilege.

I can work with that.

Although this article is somewhat of a rant and a bit sarcastic, this whole issue is a serious one.

Your thoughts? 


Trust me, you're not going to hurt my feelings if you don't agree.

.

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

My guest is Alexandra Ivy. She has written and published over thirty historical novels. She recently hit the bestsellers (New York and USA Today) list with her paranormal series, Guardians of Eternity. She says she never expected it and was surprised.

What I appreciate about Alex's story is the fact that she didn't let years of rejections stop her from reaching out to her dream of being published. She had a goal, a belief in both herself and in her ability to reach the goal. She didn't take no for an answer. Instead she used the rejections as a learning tool to perfect her craft as a writer. I have to admire that sort of perseverance.

Her topic today is about the long road to be published and being in the right place at the right time.


I’m always delighted to be given the opportunity to talk about my writing career. Not because I was a fabulous overnight success. Or because I was pulled out of the slush pile and hit the New York Times bestseller list with my great American novel. Or because the movie deal was in the mail before the book hit the stands.

But because it was just the opposite :-)

I began writing after the birth of my first son, (yep, it was a verrrrrry long time ago) . At first I just wanted to see if I could actually finish a book. Or maybe I was just crazy buzzed with the post –birth hormones. Anyway, it took awhile, but I did at last type THE END. It wasn’t very good, in fact, it was freaking AWFUL, but I learned a lot through the process and it gave me a place to start editing (I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to finish a manuscript). From there I started researching publishers who might be interested in my masterpiece…(clears throat) or rather my lump of coal and started sending that baby out.

That should be it, you say? Presto I’m a published author?

Not quite. In fact, it took ten more years and countless more manuscripts before I ever got the CALL. Most of my friends and family thought I was nuts to keep trying. After all, who keeps putting themselves into the position of being rejected over and over and over and over…well, you get the picture. And each and every one hurt as bad as the first one.

I told myself I was persevering, although I think my husband muttered something about being stubborn, mulish, and pig-headed :). In any case, I at last did make my first sell. It was a traditional regency and while the sales were hardly earth shattering, I was over the moon. I, at last, was doing what I loved, even if I did have to keep my day job.

For several years I continued with the traditional regencies. They had a small, but loyal audience and enjoyed writing them. But it became increasingly obvious that the traditional were a dying genre and so I moved to the longer, meater historicals. Thank goodness I had an editor who believed in me because once again I didn’t set the world on fire. I had decent sales, but the trend was for the tortured brooding hero (which I adore to read) while I always ended up writing a comedy of errors.

I didn’t mind. A midlist author isn’t a bad gig. I loved being able to write and I was delighted to be able to connect with readers. I wasn’t world-famous, but hey, I didn’t have to worry about getting mobbed at the grocery store or having my face pasted all over the web (something I can guarantee that none of us want). I was getting steady contracts and doing what I loved. How many people can actually say that?

Fast forward another ten years and I made the plunge into paranormals. I wrote When Darkness Comes just for myself. I not only wanted to see if I could write the book, but I wanted to do it without the pressure of a deadline. It turned out that I had an absolute blast with the Guardians. I could combine my love of horror with my naturally smart-ass nature…a perfect fit :-)

Astonishingly the book led to more books and I recently hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, which shocked the heck out of me. I never even considered the possibility. Sometimes being in the right place at the right time really does pay off!

In any case, I do have a point to this less than dazzling story of publication :-)

I believe that in the end that it’s the tortoise not the hare who wins the race, and that if you continue to follow your dreams, no matter how many obstacles or set-backs you have to overcome, or how many disbelievers tell you to quit, you will eventually reach your goals.

• What's your attitude towards reaching goals: Tortoise or Hare?

Back Cover Blurb:

Salvatore Giuliani is not a happy werewolf. It’s his duty as leader to track down the pureblood females who can keep his people from extinction. But the moment he catches scent of Harley, a pureblood held by a pack of mangy curs, his savage need for her obliterates all other instincts. And the only thing worse than being captured is finding that beautiful, independent Harley defiantly refuses to become his mate.

Harley has been taught to distrust all Weres, especially their arrogant king. She won’t be used for breeding or bonded against her will, not even to a man who makes every nerve tingle with awareness. Yet Salvatore is her key to saving the family she never knew she had—if she dares to succumb to his dark, predatory desire, and face a vicious enemy sworn to destroy them both…

Read a Excerpt/chapter

• Information on the series

Alexandra Ivy's Blog/News

~*~*~*~*~*~




I’m not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother’s knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library. Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on.



Years later (no, I’m not admitting how many) I’m still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!



I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander. Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams. They are truly my heroes.