04/20/2024
DWAA interview with Anne Marie Duquette, winner of the 2023 DWAA Writers Contest in the “Canine or All Animal Newsletters” category with “The Four-Legged Wedding Present.”
Congratulations on your win! Tell us about your experience and expertise, and how this relates to your entry. What target audience did you write for, and why?
I’ve not “owned” (I won’t use that word) but been companions with canines for decades. Two of them were my mobility service dogs as I’m a disabled veteran, and I had others as pets. I’ve always worked at home as a writer, so I can honestly say I’ve spent my adult life with dogs 24-7. I wanted to share this lifestyle and how it influenced my family; my two children and especially my spouse of 46 years.
What prompted you to submit this specific entry? Why do you think it struck a special chord with the public and the judges—and with you?
My husband was a career military man serving 26 years in the Navy. Many people assume that dogs would be a burden to a nomadic life. I wanted to tell readers that isn’t true! Despite the circumstances, there ARE ways to “make it work” if you love dogs, and your partner loves you. I believe that’s why my story stood out. True love does conquer all.
I wanted to address “job-related nomads” like my family who have dogs to make a true commitment to them. The, “I’m moving, I have to ditch the dog,” mentality is both flawed and cruel. Dogs should be recognized as family members, not possessions that can be discarded as “an inconvenience.” If you can’t commit, don’t bring a dog into your life. And yes, this applies to many military families, especially those with the possibility of overseas duty stations in the future. We witnessed this inexcusable mindset more than once.
This also applies to the, “In with the baby, out with the dog” mentality. My present dachshund Niko was a product of this situation. We’ve had him for two years, and he still has terrible separation anxiety requiring prescribed anti-anxiety medication. Will he ever get over it? Maybe. Maybe not. He is better than when we first adopted him. Still, his continued suffering is a result of a couple who didn’t have the foresight to consider the dog’s future and their family plans for children when they brought him home. And our hearts ache every time we leave the house. We spend our “away time” frequently checking the security camera to make sure Niko isn’t “freaking out.”
How big a part have dogs played in your personal and professional life? Was there a particular dog that sparked your interest in interacting with the public? Tell us about this special dog, and/or the dogs in your contest entry.
The special dog in my story was my very first dog, a rescued Irish Setter named Brandy. He ignited my rabid “animal lover genes.” Soon after came more dogs and horses and a cat and birds and guinea pigs and rabbits and chinchillas. We weren’t/aren’t a wealthy family or farmers with land. We were Navy. But I loved animals so much, with dogs heading the top of the list. When my beloved Brandy died of old age—before heroically catching a wanted murderer hiding in my house!—I vowed to never be dogless again. For 26 years we moved to new duty stations with two cars full of children and animals, a horse transport following. I would never leave my four-legged companions behind. They were, and always will be, family.
How big a part have people played in your association with dogs? Family? Friends? How have they influenced your career?
My husband played a huge part in my “doggie lifestyle.” The best couples are those who both love animals. Mismatches, i.e. “It’s me or the dog,” ultimatums are traumatic, especially if couples are already in a committed relationship. Someone out of the three is going to get the short end of the stick—usually the poor dog. While still engaged, I made certain my guy loved dogs before heading to the altar. I asked for a dog for my wedding present, and his vow that we would never be separated. That’s a hard thing to ask of a Navy man who could be stationed anywhere in the world. But he kept his promise by staying stateside. I do so love him for that.
Also, the editor of 19 of my 25 published books is a dog lover too. She and I meshed instantly, and she always rooted for my fictional dog characters.
When you consider both your personal and professional canine-related achievements, which one of each stands out the most? And why? What is the driving force that sparks your work?
My greatest personal joy is watching the dogs I’ve rescued, some of them with terrible pasts, bloom. The most abused dog I ever took home had been dumped in a Walmart parking lot during a rescue group adoption event. German Shepherd Dog Sheba came into my life terrified, bleeding, scarred, skeletal, and infested with fleas. My heart broke as she passed tree bark and twigs in her stools for the next three days—the diet of a starving dog.
She was so young, so traumatized, so beaten down. I was positive she’d be emotionally damaged for life. I was wrong! She copied my first mobility service dog so well that when I retired him a year later, she immediately stepped into his footsteps!
Head held high, she now had confidence, a purpose in life, a joyful job with the person she adored—me. Sheba spurred me into helping GSD rescue groups with a book signing and donations. Canines like her are the driving force that sparked my professional writing career. Of all the dogs I’ve loved, Sheba will always be my shining star. Her only fault was allowing old age to separate us. I still miss her terribly. That crack in my heart will never go away.
What ongoing or future canine projects do you have planned? Are they personal (like cuddling your favorite pooch or volunteering at the local shelter) or professional (like selling articles, training, or conducting medical research)?
Personally, I work with the Mental Health Ministry in my church. Professionally, I am writing my 4th book on suicidal people who have happy endings thanks to their dogs. I am not talking about Emotional Support Animals, but pet dogs. PTS issues (no longer called PTSD) with fictional ex-military heroes and their ESAs flood the market, but there are so many other mental illnesses and issues, especially suicidal children, that need to be addressed. Genetic mental illness often runs in families (like mine, 4 generations and 3 suicides), a little-known fact.
The public thinks trained ESAs are the way to go—but they can cost anywhere from 5 to 10 thousand dollars unless you are a “disabled veteran,” who usually obtain them gratis. I refuse to write a “teachy-preachy” book but strive for engrossing fiction with a happy ending and the message that non-military people, (i.e. those who escaped but still suffer trauma from domestic or sexual abuse), can greatly benefit from the companionship of ANY loving dog. The same is true for others striving for metal wellness.
This was my case. Despite counseling and meds for bouts of clinical depression, some days feeding and walking my dogs were the only things that kept me going. Promoting “Fur Therapy” is a cause nearest and dearest to my heart.
Unlike my previous traditional publishers, I plan to self-publish these books, and am presently researching that process.
What would you recommend to those peers who wish to enter your winning category in next year’s contest?
That’s a tough one, as everyone comes from different places. Here’s my take.
I’ve read many, many stories about “one dog–one human” relationships. But I added my husband to make that a trio, then added my children to expand the umbrella. I felt a story with MORE than a one-on-one relationship with a nomadic family would stand out. And it did!
Sadly for my animal loving husband who starred in my contest entry, all our dogs have, with one exception, latched onto me. During our 46 years of marriage, I’ve always been “the dog magnet” and he’s always second best. We all know human magnets exist, and so do dogs! I can’t explain this phenomenon. Who can? Strangely enough, the only dog who loved my spouse best was my first service dog! Perhaps I’ll write about that oddity someday…
To conclude this interview, what thoughts from the heart would you like to share?
I firmly believe that dedicated breeders and rescuers share equal footing, and strongly feel we are all entitled to choose our canine companions from either category without being judged or condemned–especially those individuals who purchase from reputable breeders. The “puppy mill stigma” has sadly tainted public perception. Puppy mills are a minority, not a majority!
My childhood dog and my first service dog were AKC GSDs with impeccable lines. So was one of my three dachshunds. AKC puppies from kennels don’t come with emotional baggage. Ask the police or military or search and rescue organizations who only use breeders. To be blunt, my rescues were crap shoots. Some I could help blossom. Others I could only nurture and love, getting very little in return.
But for those big-hearted gambling souls who rescue, your reward could be something amazingly precious, like my beloved Queen of Sheba. She was a triumphant phoenix who rose to soar beyond my wildest dreams. As partners, we shared so much joy.
So, breeders and rescuers and contest winners, I salute you. Happy trails, happy tails, and happy tales for you all.
Congratulations again and thank you for sharing with us.
Winning Entry Link – http://Minigems.net / see table of contents / “The Four-Legged Wedding Present.”
Anne Marie Duquette is a member of DWAA, and the Writer’s Guild of America for her sale to Paramount Studios. She has published 25 books, 20 of them with Harlequin Romance. Her book credits website is https://PaperBackGems.com, and her website with free dog short stories for her readers can be found at Minigems.net.
She would also like to acknowledge the no-kill “Coastal German Shepherd Rescue” organization in Lake Forest, California at https://Coastalgsr.org. They save those that others deem disposable. Sheba was one of them.
BLOG INTERVIEW OF ANNE MARIE BY BELLASTORIA PRESS
*Anne Marie, tell me about the role animals have played in your books. You’re knowledgeable about and interested in the important part played by therapy dogs. How did you acquire this knowledge?
First of all, I think the United States definition of “helper dogs” is needed, based on the updated 2020 ADA—the Americans with Disabilities Act
1) In the U.S., a “service animal” is one that is specifically trained to assist just one person in a physical capacity, and by law is allowed public access with NO certification, including no-pet housing. This are dogs and miniature horses only. Capuchin monkeys no longer fit this category.
2) An “emotional support animal” (ESA) has the primary function of assisting one person with emotional support through companionship, and by law has limits on public access. Depending on circumstances, medical proof of its function might be required, but ESAs ARE allowed in no-pet housing.
3) A “therapy dog” is one that usually provides comfort to multiple people such as those in hospitals, nursing homes, or disaster areas. The dog must have certification, by law has limits on public access, and no exception is made for no-pet housing.
4) However, despite the ADA definitions –the public usually treats “emotional support animals” and “therapy dogs” as “service dogs,” who have public access. But legal exceptions are present and can be exercised at any time, especially to weed-out “fake” ESAs (personal pets), an offense punishable by law.
To answer the question, helper dogs have been in my life for years. I was partnered with (as opposed to “owned”) two trained German Shepherd service dogs that helped me with physical mobility issues due to a permanently injured leg suffered while in the Navy. I learned first-hand the bond we two created. With first Striker and then Sheba, we were a single unit who learned to intimately read and trust each other for the good of “the team.”
But my mobility service animals unexpectedly became ESAs as well. As the wife of a career military man with children, I had stressors with frequent moves, and was often without my husband’s physical presence and parenting help when he was working long hours, nights, or far away.
My service dog doubled as an ESA and gave me companionship, family protection, and peace of mind. My children’s individual pet dogs provided them with “fur therapy” as well. Wherever my husband’s duty stations took us, the dogs were never left behind.
*I know that the book you’re currently working on involves a therapy dog. Exactly how does that work?
There is a strong bond between “helper dogs” and their partners, so strong that I feel a helper dog must be given the status of a main character. And “pet” dogs can also serve as unofficial yet extremely valuable helper dogs. Creating a fictional dog, no matter the legal definition, starts with establishing a full canine profile, not a prop.
For example, the book REBECCA by Daphne Du Maurier, has a dog named Jasper. Jasper lies by the fireplace at night, goes for walks with the heroine, and runs on the beach. That’s it. Jasper could be erased with no effect on the story.
A book I have just completed has a dog who serves as unofficial ESA. This dog is no “Jasper.” The effect of my dog character on the lives of the human partner and their loved ones is profoundly life changing. Without the dog, my story would collapse.
*Animals’ roles in story, of course, have to do primarily with the relationship between them and their people. With the part this animal has played in the revelation of character, the development of plot, the progress of relationships, including romance—and how he/she fits into the particular story type or genre you wrote. Could you expand on this?
The genre I am presently working on is mainstream romance trilogy. In the first book, four characters’ lives are drastically and irrevocably changed by two dogs. The changes are positive for some and negative for others.
Why? Because when a dog is considered “family” by a human, it has a ripple effect. Many people do not consider a dog life as having close, let alone equal, status with a human life. This creates strong obstacles for those people who do. Romances between opposing-view humans can result in confusion, jealously, resentment, anger, even abandonment.
A man-woman relationship is drastically different when a dog-person and non-dog person hook up. Two lives become three. Those relationships must evolve to survive. Even something as simple as making love can cause problems. What happens if the human-dog partnership allows the dog unlimited access inside the house? What if the other wants the dog locked out of the bedroom during sex?
Especially in the case of helper dogs, important decisions/compromises must be made while not interfering with the dog’s function.
*Have you written (or read and loved!) any books using an animal point of view?
My first thought is the classic BLACK BEAUTY by Anne Sewell. But as a very young child, I was not mature enough to “enjoy” it due to the animal abuse, despite a happy ending. When older, I discovered and loved all the “LAD: A DOG” series by Albert Payson Terhune, although they had darker elements as well.
I only used three paragraphs from a dog’s point of view in THE KAMAKAZE CLUB: BOOK ONE. I worry that readers who aren’t “dog crazy” might be put off. But perhaps I shall reconsider this in the other books in the trilogy. I did write a short story entirely from an animal’s point of view, but it was specifically written for my animal stories website http://minigems.net .
*Have the animals in your own life influenced the animals and your characters’ relationships with them in your books?
My goodness, yes! My dogs (and horses, too) have been put in my books in one form or another, right down to breed and names. I wrote on one book’s flyleaf, “The characters in this story are, of course, fiction. But any resemblance to my own dog is purely intentional!” Dogs have enriched me emotionally and assisted me physically, and I respect and admire them greatly.
They are a marvel of God’s creation. Pope Paul VI said it best to a grieving boy whose dog had died. “One day, we will see our animals again in the Eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.”
Amen to that!
And my own favorite quote? “Love me, love my dog!” In fiction or in real life, canines are magical. I’m grateful for all the dogs who have blessed my life. Thank you for letting me share my love of them with you.
BLOG INTERVIEW OF ANNE MARIE BY BELLASTORIA PRESS
- How do you come up with your characters? Of course, there are no simple answers here!
When writing, I consider myself the equivalent to the casting director of a movie and mentally interview imaginary characters for the primary roles. I’m a people watcher–of family, friends and strangers–and there are always certain quirks and mannerisms, good or bad, that appeal to me as a writer. I take those unique ones and start creating. Every fictional character needs something that people like about them, and something people dislike, too. The trick is to find the right combination.
- Again, no simple or obvious answer, but do you find the story idea comes first or the characters do? Or does it vary from book to book? Of course, they’re so connected, it might be hard to say!
For me, the story idea always comes first. Now I’m the movie producer looking for that “X factor.” For example, one divorcing couple went to court to fight over custody of a dog. Those two anonymous people in the news morphed into characters for a book I sold. Who should the reader root for and why? Was the dog loved or was this just a fight for power or revenge? How did those around them react, and whose side did they chose? Who was the winner? Who got the dog? This situation had that “X” factor, and the readers of my story loved it.
- In some of your books, are there parts of your own life and history that affect or influence the characters you create?
Yes, of course. I use my life as a baseline, but there’s much more. I mentally explore how my characters react. This time I’m not “the movie director.” I reset my mind and become “the actor.” I then “try out” for the role, as if I’m in Hollywood. Then I do the same with other roles. I remain “in character” when I write for each character, good or bad. I feel their emotions as if I were actually them. For me, it’s artistic fun. It’s also quite effective.
- Re: cultural appropriation. What are your views on this? Are there characters, backgrounds, situations you don’t feel you should write about? Do you think it’s acceptable to write about “other” characters from the viewpoint of your characters?
I try to write about cultural situations that I’m familiar with. For example, I’ve spent the latter part of my life living in San Diego where Spanish is spoken by half the city and English the other. I’ve come to know the culture and feel I can accurately present this within a fictional framework. Any inaccuracies will only distract my readers. Of course, fiction allows many liberties, but I would never write about something totally foreign to me, such as African American or Asian cultures. I leave those stories to other writers. This decision also allows my writing to flow, and I don’t have to stop and wonder if I have things “right.”
- How do you decide whether to use a particular character’s point of view? Or various characters’ points of view?
I tend to use the hero and heroine’s point of view, and a pet’s or child’s POV, as well. People react differently to the latter, but these are characters who can mirror the trueness of others. The secondary or supporting human characters’ contribution is mostly part of the narrative and the action, rarely explanatory thoughts. They’re like pin ball levers the main characters bounce off. You never know where those main characters will land, and that makes the story interesting.
- Do you feel you have to like your characters? At least the main characters? Do you feel your readers should? Or does it vary from character to character, book to book?
In all my books, I want readers to feel the same emotions that I feel for my characters, but their reactions should be as varied as the characters are. All are flawed, some more than others. Yes, I want the readers to have someone to root for, but I want to show that even “the villains” have understandable qualities. Everyone in life is motivated by SOMETHING. Certainly protagonists are, as well as antagonists. Creating stories in which readers can identify with all the players at some point or other is difficult but can really add depth to the story.
- What are some of the major elements in your characters’ lives that determine who and what they are? Any examples you want to mention?
I start with the basics that every character wants: home, health, happiness, family, love, independence and reputation. Take one or more of these from a character, and you have a story. In my work in progress, I have a hero accused of murder and threatened with jail. After six long months of sweating out his trial, the jury is hung, and the district attorney refuses to re-prosecute. The hero doesn’t go to jail, but his reputation is gone. He was never proclaimed innocent. All he has left is his independence and his vow to seek justice. He must choose what is most important to him during this quest; decide who or what to put aside perhaps forever—and why. How far will he go to seek the truth, and what price will he pay? I feel those decisions will engage readers.
- This may change from book to book, but do you have a clear sense of your characters before you start, or does it develop as you work?
For every book, I always develop the main characters before I write one word. They drive the story, so it’s foolish to have a car with no steering wheel.
- Do your stories sometimes (or always) feature conflict between your central characters?
Yes, always, but the conflict is never the same, especially with internal conflicts. For example, a mother might wish to protect her lawbreaking teen, while the father could want to turn him over to the police. Emotional conflicts are always the best, although the external conflict—the threat of jail, for example, is the obvious one.
Dogs can express internal and external conflict. One dog, one bone, no story. Two dogs, one bone, yes, story. A pack of dogs and one bone, a blockbuster! Animal instincts [emotions] also come into play. Is the dog hungry? Feeding his mate? Establishing dominance? Protecting his territory? The human characters’ internal and external conflicts and motivations must become clear for the readers.
- Who, among the characters you’ve created so far, are your favorites (if you have particular favorites)?
I wrote a science fiction book in which the hero was in love with “twinners,” twins who were so mentally linked that if one died, so would the other. The hero was a defeated man whose wife and two children were killed by twinners in an interplanetary war, yet he reluctantly falls in love with a good woman whose twin is an evil spy. The hero won’t act on his love, but when the enemy starts using the loving couple as pawns in the war, he changes.
This is the only book I wrote where I started out with a beta male who morphed into an alpha male, yet still retained the quiet, humble qualities that made him a good man. I think Captain Bane Garrett in my book Gemini Turns represents some of the best writing I’ve ever done. (I wanted to write a series, but the publisher folded.)
- Are there any favorite characters from other novels you’d like to mention—and why you feel that way about them?
The character of Sarah by Patricia MacLachlan in Sarah, Plain and Tell stands out. She left New England for the Great Plains to see if she wanted to marry a widower pen pal with two children. She loved her family at home and was financially independent, but wanted a family of her own. She described herself as having no suitors since she was “plain and tall.” To be brave enough to leave established happiness at home for the chance of greater happiness in a strange land was quite heroic. It’s a book for older children but a brilliant characterization of a remarkable heroine. I would recommend it to everyone.
- I hope this gives my readers some idea of how I create fiction. Thank you for interviewing me. Anne Marie Duquette
