(post written by Susan Meier)
Barbara Wallace, Shirley Jump and
Jackie Braun and I had a blast writing THE BILLIONAIRE’S
MATCHMAKER. We all agreed that Charlie, the Jack Russell Terrier, was
the cutest thing in the world. And he gave the story a layer of
emotion we knew wouldn’t have existed without our wonderful boy!
But we also learned a few things about
putting a dog in a story.
My biggest take away was that an author
who wants to put a pet in a book needs to give the dog a job!
Readers who love dogs know they aren’t
merely cute window dressing.
Lassie and Old Yeller were stars. In real life, dogs are beloved
family members. They have personalities. They’re smart. And they
are definitely part of the action! The story for THE BILLIONAIRE’S
MATCHMAKER didn’t gel until we realized that cute and lovable
Charlie couldn’t just walk from story to story. He had to play a
part. And what’s more fun than a pup who realizes the people he’s
with belong together forever as friends and lovers – life partners.
Dogs are intuitive. Dogs are love wrapped in fur. Making Charlie a
matchmaker was a perfect fit for both him and the story!
Barbara Wallace’s advice is to make
sure the dog fits your “human” character.
“As in real life, when choosing a
dog, you need to select a breed and personality that meshes with your
characters’ personalities and lifestyles. Would your dark,
brooding hero own a Chocolate Lab or German Shepherd? Depends upon
his backstory and current situation. I once wrote a proposal in
which my workaholic heroine had a dog who kept breaking out of her
apartment. My editor rightly pointed out that a workaholic,
city-dwelling career woman most likely wouldn’t make the commitment
a pet requires. Likewise, a jet-setter or commitment phobic
billionaire. The exception to this rule, of course, is if the dog
exists to purposely create turmoil in your characters’ lives.
Again, though, make sure there’s a realistic reason for the dog to
exist. In Billionaire’s Matchmaker, Charlie’s crazy temperament
works because 1) Nicholas Bonaparte didn’t select him personally,
and 2) his crazy behavior is well explained by the fourth novella.
(Hint: It has to do with Nicholas’ backstory.)”
Shirley Jump believes we all need to do
our research!
“Not all writers own the types of
dogs they put in their stories. That means the writer need to do some
research—and real-world research is awesome for writing dogs into
stories. Certain types of dogs are more hyper than others, some are
more standoffish, some are quiet and shy. If you want a dog to do a
trick in your book, then be sure it’s something that kind of dog
can do or would do. My dog, for example, is a Havanese, and that
breed refuses to play fetch. Having a Havanese do something like that
wouldn’t work in a book. Know what makes a dog tick—does the
breed you are featuring like to have his head scratched or his belly
rubbed? Is he more likely to chase a squirrel or lay by the
fireplace? If you don’t own that breed, visit a friend or a local
animal shelter and grab some interactive time! Make notes of the type
of bark the dog has, how the fur feels, what the dog looks like when
he runs, sits, jumps, etc. The more realism you can add, the more of
a character the dog will become.”
Jackie Braun’s advice is to not let
the dog take over the story!
“When a pet is an integral part of
the story, writers have to take care not to let it take over. Dogs
and cats, not to mention puppies and kittens, can be adorable. But
readers, even those who are pet lovers, want to know what’s going
on between your hero and heroine. Adding in a little four-legged
diversion is fine, especially if it helps set the tone or aids in
moving the story forward. But including cute pets in a scene for no
discernible reason can become annoying. Even more problematic, it can
throw off the pacing.
So, if you’re not sure whether the
pet is adding to a scene or stealing it, ask yourself this question:
What does the pet do to enhance this scene? If the answer is nothing,
then leave it out or at least marginalize it to a passing reference.”
We had a great
time writing THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER. We all fell in love with
fictional Charlie. We think you will too, mostly because we were true
to the breed, gave the dog a job, chose a dog that fit our characters
and story and – much as we loved Charlie – we didn’t let him
take over the story!
We’d love to hear your take on dogs
in stories!
Jen's note: Entangled Publishing sent me
The Billionaire's Matchmaker to read (FTC disclosure: I was not otherwise compensated for this post), and the collaborating authors of that work put this collaborative post together for your pleasure! If this post has piqued your interest in reading The Billionaire's Matchmaker,
you can get it here on Amazon:
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