Dachshund Suspense: "Sophie" by Tim Wohlforth

Readers, you are in a for a real treat this week, but here's a warning - get out your hankies!

Author Tim Wohlforth (http://www.timwohlforth.com/) has agreed to share his heartwarming short suspense story, "Sophie" with us!




This is a fitting story as Tim and his wife have owned their own Sophie (see photo) for about 3 1/2 years.

Tim says they came to own their 6 1/2 year old dog in a somewhat similar (though less heartbreaking) manner as in the story. Tim says his wife was driving in a rather "plush" area (not like the one in the story) near a dog park they go to. Lying right in the middle of the street was Sophie. Her dog tag only had a phone number, so they took the dog home and called the number.

The owner showed up and explained that the gardener had inadvertently let her out. They had to leave her alone much of the time while they worked and hadn't really toilet trained her, so they offered Tim and his wife the dog.

Sometime later while traveling near Bend, Oregon, Tim came across a report on a puppy mill there (different breed) overrun with dogs, some so poorly bred that they had deformations, all half-starved, the house a total mess, etc. The ASPCA had to try to place almost 100 dogs. He combined the two stories and wrote a suspense story. "Sophie" was originally published in FUTURES Mysterious Anthology Magazine. The story was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2003.

* Author Tim Wohlforth has had dozens of short stories published online, in magazines and in anthologies. His story, "Jesus Christ Is Dead!," made the "Distinguished Mystery Stories" list in Otto Penzler's 2005 Best American Mystery Stories. One of his stories was chosen for inclusion in the Mystery Writers of America's Death Do Us Part, edited by Harlan Coben and published in August 2006 by Little Brown. A "Crip and Henrietta" story was published in a Plots With Guns anthology. His story, "Juanita," will be published as part of the upcoming Best of ThugLit to be published by Kensington.

A contemporary noir novel, NO TIME TO MOURN, was published by Quiet Storm. He co-authored the non-fiction book, On The Edge: Political Cults Right and Left, published by M.E. Sharpe. *

See the next post to read the gripping story, "Sophie."

Miniature Van Gogh Scene

Since my upcoming young adult mystery, "Searching for a Starry Night," (coming in spring '08 from Quake, http://www.quakeme.com/) features a nosy Dachshund and a missing miniature Van Gogh painting, "Starry Night," I plan to focus on unique dog and miniature projects here.

A Mini Van Gogh

Let me introduce you to the work of talented Dutch miniaturist, Trees Strijker Marsman, who created this fantastic miniature scene of painter Vincent Van Gogh in his studio.

Trees even painted her own versions of Van Gogh's artworks! She began painting in miniature seven years ago for her own dollhouse. Trees, who paints in acrylic, has done large paintings of horses and other animals, along with smaller sized paintings of children, dogs, and more. She also does custom paintings from photos. Check out her great miniature Dachshund painting!

In miniature, Trees painted Renoir's "A Woman in the Rose Garden," and replicated paintings by a famous local artist. People also have asked her to do paintings of their own pets.

Trees decided to make a miniature Van Gogh scene after realizing that a doll she had would resemble the painter with a few minor changes.

The paintings include: Sunflowers 5.5 x 4 cm; self-portrait 6.3 x 5.3 cm; and Café at Arles at Night, 9.5 x 7.3 cm.

Hi from Lydia

Hi! I'm Lydia Filzen. I write my dog-related fiction under that name, and my historical fiction as Lydia Hawke.I have six Collies, show them in breed, obedience and agility. We've started herding now that we've found a trainer here in Northeast Florida. This isn't exactly sheep country, you know.I've worked with dogs all my life, and especially love Collies. Lassie and the Albert Payson Terhune stories got me hooked, but the dogs themselves reeled me in!

I've written a couple of doggy short stories, Getting It! and Angus the Vampire Slayer, plus a romantic suspense set in the world of agility trials, Silent Witness.

My Civil War novel, Firetrail, has been made into a movie, which will premiere August 25 at Augusta, Georgia. Check my website, www.lydiafilzen.us for more about me, my dogs, and my writings.

Welcome!

Welcome to a new blog with a decidedly canine view!

Why? This blog is the perfect vehicle since dogs seem to show up in most of my work, be it fiction, nonfiction, books, or my miniature projects.

My young adult mystery, Searching for a Starry Night, to be published in Spring '08 by Quake, http://www.quakeme.com/, a division of Echelon Press, LLC, features a lovable, but mischievous Dachshund named Petey.

I and my fellow authors, Lee Barwood (http://www.leebarwood.com/) and Lydia Filzen (http://www.lydiafilzen.us) , will be posting some fun tidbits, dog news, book-related items, and more.

We'll also be featuring guest bloggers who include dogs in their work. A special bonus: we'll be running new and reprinted short stories featuring canine characters, so please check back often!

We hope you'll enjoy our view of dogdom. We look forward to your visit and would love to hear from you!

Chris V.