Blog Challenge for June

The Herding Cats & Burning Soup June blog challenge is Growl.

 

This challenge isn’t a challenge for me. As the zookeeper of the Kirchner Zoo, I hear growling, barking, and meowing daily. I always get asked “Why do you have so many pets?” I love animals and have been involved in rescue for a long time. I’m the neighborhood go-to person when a stray shows up. My zoo is made up of rescues, and sometimes, it just works out that you can’t find another home for them. That’s okay. Fortunately, my husband loves animals, too. I can’t imagine not having them in my life. Yep, they’re lots of work, but I don’t need to buy them shoes or send them to college, so it’s all good—I have two human kids as well that wear shoes and go to college.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I’ll let the beautiful faces of my furry kids do the talking after I answer the most asked questions about them. Yes, Rebel and Starla (11 years old) are twins (Aussie/Labs). Chanel is 14 years old…she used to be solid black. No, I didn’t Photoshop Fireball’s ears…they are really that big. She’s a one-year-old chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund). Yes, they all get along.

Rescued animals are not damaged. Shelters are packed with wonderful animals who are looking for a shot at happiness. If you’re looking to adopt, consider a rescue.

Welcome to the Fluffy Bunny…

 

Welcome to the Fluffy Bunny, an adventurer’s bar, named after the blade used to slay the ancient dragon Thorenoak. The Fluffy Bunny is a place where tales are spun. Pull up a chair and join in on the adventure.

Among the wonderful tales about unusual names are A Pirate’s Dragon Tale. Find out what or who Puddles is and why the moniker.

Anthology available April 6, 2018.

Visit WolfSinger Publications.

 

 

Pairings That Go Well Together

The right pairings of anything can make a spectacular combination. Mouth-watering combos that prove the point include pretzels and ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate, and apples and caramel. Duets that combine musical artists of different genres, such as country singer Kenny Chesney with rocker Pink (Setting the World on Fire), can create wonderful results as well. In writing, plot points are also paired, and the combinations can make or break a story.

Winning and Losing – A Game of High Stakes

Well-defined plot points, or plot elements, are what give a story depth and stir emotions in a reader. The most important element that a character needs is a goal or problem, which must be resolved by the story’s end. A goal cannot stand alone. It is paired with another element, consequence. Failure to attain that goal or solve a problem leads to the consequence. If a character is willing to do anything to avoid failure, a story will have high-stakes tension. Life and death situations are an example of a high-stakes goal/consequence.

A Good Rollercoaster Ride

Along the way to conquering a goal, a character must have smaller successes and failures. These plot points are called requirements and forewarnings. The combination of these is what gives a story the rollercoaster effect—humps to get over, picking up speed downhill, sharp turns—the fun stuff that leaves a rider (and reader) on the edge of their seat. Requirements give readers a sense of relief that the protagonist is well on his/her way. Forewarnings are setbacks that make a reader turn the pages to see if the protagonist is going to get out of another jam.

Pairings: Dog Quiz

Now for the fun stuff. Speaking of things that go well together, some pairings in the dog world can make adorable pooches. Take the following quiz to see if you can determine what these hybrid canines are. Answers are at the bottom of the blog. No cheating, and yes, there are duplicates.

On a side note, most of the pictured dogs were rescues. Rescued does not mean damaged—it just means a wonderful dog hasn’t met the right person. Consider a rescue when you are ready to adopt. I can personally give you five good reasons why, and four of them are pictured here.

A  Jack-A-Ranian (Jack Russell Terrier/Pomeranian)

B Aussiedor (Australian Shepherd/Labrador Retriever) looks like an Aussie

C Aussiedor (Australian Shepherd/Labrador Retriever) looks like a Lab

D Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund) Also known as the Taco Bell dog meets a Weiner Dog, no her ears aren’t Photoshopped!

E Morkie (Maltese/Yorkshire Terrier)

F Doxiepoo (Dachshund/Poodle)

G Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever/Poodle) A large, standard poodle and light golden mix

H Chiweenie (version 2) This one looks more like a dachshund