New blog post on my editorial website

Over on my editorial website, I have a new blog post about my experience with book mapping. https://kendraolsoneditorial.com/blog/

 

My review of Dogged Optimism: Lessons in Joy from a Disaster Prone Dog, a memoir, by Belinda Pollard

I say to Mum, “What do you think? It’s not as if I’m going to buy a puppy today. But you can cuddle one, I’ll buy you some coffee and cake, and then you can come back home for a nap.” She smiles. A glance passes between her and Dad.

When Belinda decided to adopt her first dog, she had no idea what she was in for. Killarney Karinya, named by Belinda for two special places she visited as a child, was an old-fashioned Australian terrier and the runt of her litter. While Belinda had grown up with dogs, she had never raised a puppy of her own. In this delightful memoir, Belinda recounts the difficult but happy years they shared together and how her time with Killarney changed her outlook on life.

Belinda relates several experiences which any pet owner may be familiar with, such as when she worried about Killarney’s health, her concerns about Killarney’s behaviour and training, and the many unexpected messes she suddenly found herself responsible for cleaning up. She also relates several incidents which won’t be familiar to most pet owners as they were unique to her life in Brisbane, Australia–an area known for its deadly reptiles and amphibians. Belinda talks about chasing poisonous cane toads around her yard, in an effort to keep them from getting near her beloved Killarney, who liked to chew on them, and calling the vet on numerous occasions due to Killarney’s being bitten by poisonous snakes. Of course, over time, Belinda learned to strike just the right balance between keeping Killarney safe and letting her learn her own lessons. And Belinda and Killarney had a lot of fun together too, spending time with family, making new friends and having new life experiences. Along the way, Belinda learned to accept the eccentricities of Killarney and the unpredictable nature of life itself.

Belinda’s memoir is heartfelt, funny and, occasionally, sad but it’s ultimately uplifting. Dogged Optimism will resonate with pet owners everywhere, regardless of species.

You can purchase Dogged Optimism as an ebook or in paperback from Amazon.

In the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dogged-Optimism-Lessons-Joy-Disaster-Prone-ebook/dp/B018VVJ7KS/

In the US: https://www.amazon.com/Dogged-Optimism-Lessons-Joy-Disaster-Prone-ebook/dp/B018VVJ7KS/

Follow Belinda on Twitter: @Belinda_Pollard

Check out her website: http://www.belindapollard.com/