Creating Soaring Soren, Part Eight: The Magic of Morgan

If negotiating publishing was my nemesis, the process of creating the illustrations for Soaring Soren was my joy.  Into the manuscript, I put my ideas, my carefully chosen words and my passion for the story.  These were the props ... the rabbit in the top hat, the deck of cards, the wand hiding silk flowers.  Seeing the words transform into a story with a life of its own through illustrations, was simply magic.

The very talented magician who envisioned the story in pictures and then made those pictures come to life, is Morgan Spicer of Bark Point Studios.  As I have told Morgan before, there are many talented artists who can draw or paint lovely pictures.  But the ability to look at words and see a creative and meaningful way to portray the story through pictures--that is a special and unique talent in itself.  For me, watching that process unfold was fascinating--the best magic show ever.

Morgan and her pack at the beach.  All three of her canine buddies pictured here (and one new addition) make a guest appearance in various pages in Soaring Soren.  See if you can find them!

Before we began getting into detailed illustrations for the book, Morgan created some concept art to outline her vision of Soren's character.  She states that for some of her books, "I start with concept art to see if the author and I are on the same page. Concept art is a great way to sketch things out and discover things you couldnt have known until you started drawing. For example with Soren, I had to make sure I didn't make him too tall or lanky, I have a tendency to do that, but for Soren it was so important to have him squat and short."  

Soren's shorter, squatter body type was essential to the story, though I do thank Morgan for making MY character taller and lankier than in real life <grin>.

Morgan's concept art of Soren perfectly captured not only Soren, but my heart.  When I saw these drawings, I was positive that Morgan was the one to bring Soren to life on paper.

When the manuscript was complete and edited, I handed it off to Morgan to create what I learned is called the "dummy book."  This is a mock up of how the book will lay out.  It shows each "spread" (two facing pages of the book), what illustrations will go on each page and what text will go with each illustration.  These are just very rough sketches, but they are critical to mapping out how the illustrations will tell and support the story.

This sample page from the dummy book for Soaring Soren, shows how the illustrator develops the concept of the art that goes with text from the manuscript.  

Morgan, who does her illustrations digitally on a special tablet designed for that purpose, described her process to create the dummy book:  "I have a template that I use for each dummy book. Then I take the text and lay it out over the desired number of pages. The text will sometimes move about as I start drawing, but usually when I place the text, I have a pretty good idea of what each page will look like. I can see in my mind what I will do before I do it, which I think is what makes for a successful illustrator. The image already exists.  You just have to put it down on paper-- or in my case a Wacom Cintiq." 

We then reviewed and discussed the dummy book, and once we were satisfied, since we were working with a publisher, we handed it off to them to okay.  When that process was done, it was time to begin to create the art.  Later the publisher would do the work to place the text from the manuscript onto the illustrations, so Morgan produced the illustrations without text.

Morgan created the cover art for Soaring Soren, and the publisher, Aperture Press LLC, added the text later  (c) Morgan Spicer

I asked Morgan how she how comes up with the concepts for her characters.  She told me, "If the character is based on a real-life individual, I will start by studying photos."  This photo of Alex, a Pyrenean Shepherd, doing the weave poles, was one of the many Morgan used to create characters for Soaring Soren.  

Pyrenean Shepherd, Alex, owned by Deb Rabuck, appears in Soaring Soren.  Photo by Barry Rosen (c)

"I look for aspects that I can exaggerate, so for Soren it was his big, gaping smile, eyes and ears that really captured him, " Morgan elaborated, adding that once she has drawn a character out a few times, the character "becomes real" in her mind and she can draw them in any position.  This ability to envision the character as a real being in her mind is, I believe, at the heart of her unique ability to make a story come to life through her art.

Morgan explained to me how she goes from the dummy book to the finished illustrations:

"I do a very rough sketch of each page in the dummy. Then when I go to work on that page, I already have the basic layout decided. From there I create a new drawing based on the sketch. This one will be more detailed and refined."

Here is Morgan's detailed sketch of Alex, done from the earlier, actual photo.  (c) Morgan Spicer

"Then I start blocking in color and decide where the light should come from. Then its all about the details, getting the markings of the animals right, and making sure they really look like they are where they supposed to be in the illustration."

Morgan's finished illustration of Alex.  The detail, use of light and expression are phenomenal.  (c) Morgan Spicer

Morgan added, "When working on Soren, it was challenging to make sure all the dogs were sized correctly depending on if they were closer or farther away from the viewer. Since I was working off photos of real dogs for most of the book, I had to balance accuracy of character with placement. "  

Over thirty "real" agility dogs make an appearance in Soren's book, as well as Morgan's dogs and a special guest appearance from Sashi the Sheltie, a character in another of Morgan's books.  Having these dogs in the book is such a cherished remembrance of the many friends who shared my agility journey with Soren, and of so many of the wonderful dogs we had the pleasure to compete with over the years.

Whippet Orla and Border Collie Dezi, sketch to finished product, by Morgan Spicer (c)

I asked Morgan about the challenges unique to book illustrations, like how the gutter (where the book is bound) and allowing for placement of the text impact her design.  She replied, "Certainly the gutter is a big consideration.  It is a challenge as an illustrator to make sure the page is exciting and well-designed, while also keeping important aspects away from the gutter.  Of course, making sure there is room for text is also a consideration. I do not allow the text to dictate the layout, but it does come into play.  For example, I do not want the text to be over a character.  I try to aim for text in the sky or in the grass when applicable."

Morgan's rendition of Border Collie Vilya (c) Morgan Spicer

In terms of other more generic challenges, Morgan cites motivation as the biggest one.  "It can be difficult, when the weather is wonderful, to motivate myself to sit at the computer and get work done. Sometimes I go through bouts of working all night and sleeping all day. When the motivation hits I have to go for it. Artistic blocks are very hard.  I would say I have about 3 a year.  Sometimes they last for a week and sometimes they last for a month."  

Start to Finish:  Psyche the Border Collie and CAVU the Pumi   (c) Morgan Spicer

While Morgan may find motivation a challenge, it would appear from working with her that it is a challenge she manages well.  I have witnessed her going through an artistic block, and her staying up all night to finish an illustration during our project together, and she handles it all with grace and unwavering dedication to the project and the deadlines.  I think she and I are alike as far as being driven to work when inspiration strikes, so I can empathize.  Two of my very favorite illustrations in Soaring Soren are the product of Morgan's (almost) all-nighters, so clearly that work style suits her. 

I was curious about how the need to edit plays into the illustrations, since it is such a large part of writing the manuscript.  Morgan had this to say: "Sometimes the edits are very simple and take less than 5 minutes.  Other times they are a bit harder.  I have had to edit things out that I felt made the illustration stronger.  But usually the reasoning behind the edits relates to marketing or the age group. I have been working in children's media for a long time, but sometimes, as a 26 year old, I don't think about how certain things could be viewed by a child, so its always good to have other people review your work and give constructive criticism.  Overall, the more people who genuinely care about the book's success, the better the outcome in my experience."

Morgan told me her favorite aspect of illustrating books is storytelling.  She said, "I am constantly coming up with stories and ideas of my own, but it is almost liberating to illustrate someone else's story.  A professor of mine at Syracuse University once said that illustrators need boxes.  We need to be put into a box, so that we can break out of the box, but only slightly.  We need rules and guidelines but we also push the boundaries and think outside of the box. Unlike fine art, illustration typically tells a specific story and often has a message."

Early on when we started working together, I sent Morgan a video tribute I had made for Soren, so she could get a feel for "who he was."   She had this to say about working on Soaring Soren:  "I like this kind of work [children's book illustrations], especially in the case of Soren.  I love telling stories that touch my heart, and I fell in love with Soren's story!"  

My only regret is that Soren and Morgan never got to meet, as I know Soren would have fallen in love with her right back.

Morgan mentioned that, "Having a positive and constructive working relationship with the author is EVERYTHING. "  I could not agree more.  From the earliest conversation we had about Soaring Soren (back before it was even called that), Morgan was professional and encouraging.  Her enthusiasm for the story and appreciation of Soren solidified my belief that it was a story worth telling.  As a first-time author of a children's book, her input on the story, based on her experience with previous projects, was invaluable.  I strongly believe that our ability to kick ideas around and springboard off one idea to the next, really added to the book.  Morgan was open to and embraced the ideas I had for the illustrations, in addition to the brilliant ideas she brought to the table.  And she patiently endured my sometimes tedious requests to make this aspect or that more like real life, and to add in little details that had special meaning for me.  

Soaring Soren is such a special story for me, filled with memories of and love for a little dog who inspired me in so many ways, and was an amazing friend, companion and agility dog.  I feel so blessed to have stumbled upon Morgan, whose talent, creativity and heart brought out the best in this story, and took it to a level beyond my imaginings.  I can't thank her enough for helping me remember Soren in such a unique and treasured way, and I can't wait for kids to have the chance to fall in love with her beautiful illustrations, as I have.

Morgan Spicer with her buddies Kiba and Roscoe Roo

In addition to her passion for art, or perhaps more aptly, at the root of that passion, is her deep love for animals, which shines through in her work and the way she lives her life.  She cites dogs and animals as inspiration for her art, and says that she learns a great deal from watching her dogs play together.  She is very active in animal welfare and rescue and donates a portion of the proceeds from her illustrated portraits to various rescue groups.  The following summarizes her dream to create a sanctuary for animals in need, as well as promote respect and caring for animals among people of all ages.  It is quite an ambitious vision, but if anyone can make a vision a reality, I'd put my money on Morgan Spicer ...

I will open the doors to an animal rescue like no other. At Bark Pointé, children and families will see that no animal can just be thrown-away. Everyone deserves a chance at life, including feral cats, dogs with bad manners,  puppy/kitten mill survivors and disABLEd pets as well. I will offer art classes for all ages, from Life Drawing, to illustration, to painting, to comic-book art. Kids will learn to get in touch with their creative sides while appreciating nature. There will be a movie-theater, where parents can rent the room for pet-friendly birthday parties and fundraisers. . 

The characters from my books will walk among the guests, dressed up humans in animal costumes to create family memories and hilarious selfies! Every Animal that comes to stay at Bark Pointé will be drawn and framed. 

Bark Pointé will be a community wonderland, where people and animals are treated with respect and kindness. Children can play, learn and experience compassion on a new level. Parents can instill responsibility and passion in their children at a young age, and enjoy themselves too!  At Bark Pointé we will cherish animals, and the people who rescue them, in a positive, whimsical manner.  Don't think Animal Shelter, think Animal Oasis --- Bark Pointé will be the Disney World of Animal Rescue.

~Morgan Spicer~

In addition to Soaring Soren, Please check out these other wonderful children's books illustrated by Morgan Spicer ...

Sashi The Scared Little Sheltie & Sashi Adopts A Brother are available for purchase here : http://www.sashi-the-scared-little-sheltie.com/

Stubby And His Magic Boots is available here : http://www.bionicdogbooks.com/

Benjamin Birdie's First Flight  http://michaeldotsikas.com/

Wilson Tries New Foods is available here : https://www.eatwellwithwilson.com/

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Six: Ouch, the Editing

In my wanderings around the Internet to research children’s books, I learned that, aside from quality illustrations, the other critical aspect to success was a quality, professionally edited manuscript.  I discovered that picture books are quite formulaic—typically a certain number of pages, a certain number of words—and my stream of consciousness manuscript was clearly too long and too complex for my chosen audience. 

From my research, it seems people often assume it is easier to write for children than adults.  Certainly it is less voluminous, but there is definitely a challenge in explaining a complex story succinctly and in a manner that children can appreciate.  Whether I opted to self-publish or submit the manuscript to traditional publishers, I needed to find a good, professional editor!

Enter Krista Hill of L Talbott Editorial.  Krista came highly recommended, and with good reason.  She first provided me with an assessment of the manuscript at a higher level, and then a more detailed edit.  Was the story worth telling?  Did the story have a logical flow?  Were there loose ends or inconsistencies?  Were the characters developed well?  Was there too much detail?  Too little detail?  Was the writing appropriate for the intended audience? And finally, the nitty-gritty of spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Each word needed to be carefully chosen and earn its place in the story.

I have to say that editing what you have written, especially in the case of a manuscript based on a true story so dear to my heart as this one, can be a painful process.  You have agonized over each word.  Each detail of the story is full of meaning and memories.  But I recognized that Krista’s suggestions had merit and would improve the manuscript.  Some things needed more detail and elaboration.  Others needed to be simplified or even removed altogether.

Editing the manuscript for Soaring Soren was sometimes painful, but a critical part of telling the story in the best way possible

At a certain point, I had to let go of my emotional attachment to some aspects, and just start rewriting.  Like taking off a band aid, it hurts less when you steel yourself and just do it quickly.  I had to admit that, despite the sometimes painful process, each iteration (and there were many) got better and better.

When we thought we had the manuscript “together,” I handed it off to Morgan to begin mapping out the illustrations.  She came back to me with the news that it was still too long.  We had two options:  make the book longer than we had intended, which added expense and took us farther from the accepted formula for a picture book for children, or find a way to shorten the manuscript.

And so my struggle to strike a balance between reality and telling the story began.

Soren was born in Denmark, and bred by someone who has, over the years, become a cherished friend: Tove Rasmussen of Daulokke Kennels.  Tove has produced many Champion French Bulldogs, and many, like Soren, who are also very athletic, smart and with much humor and much heart for those they love and everything they undertake.  Along the road, Tove has taken great interest and pride in Soren's accomplishments.  She shared my journey with Soren, and I often thought of her as his "first human mom."

Baby Soren in Denmark

In the original manuscript, the story (true to real life) included someone else who has become a cherished friend over the years, Suzanne Orban-Stagle.  

Suzanne on the left

Suzanne of JustUs Kennels, was Soren's "second human mom" and had brought Soren over from Denmark to the U.S. when he was a puppy to be a show dog and part of her French Bulldog breeding program. 

Soren as a puppy, at his home with Suzanne in MD -- even then you could see his intelligence and soulful, loving nature

When Soren grew too big for the show ring, it was Suzanne who recognized how smart, athletic and determined he was, and who decided he was destined for other things besides the conformation ring.  We met through mutual friends in performance sports who knew I had competed with another Frenchie in Obedience, Rally and Agility. That is how, at the age of 1 ½ years old, Soren came to live with me to be my agility dog, and as it turned out, my very best friend.  

Young Soren celebrating Christmas at Suzanne's.  Can't you just hear him saying, "isn't it time to open my presents yet?"

It was Suzanne’s love for Soren, her appreciation of the many things he had to offer and her willingness to let him to have the life he was meant to lead, even if it was different from the one she had planned for him, that prompted her to let him go.  That selfless decision made my story with Soren possible, and her generosity over the years that followed, enabled us to accomplish more than any of us ever could have imagined back then. 

I will be forever grateful for the generosity and love that Suzanne showed in allowing Soren to come to live with me -- as it turned out, it was such an amazing gift for me and for Soren.  

The very first publisher who reviewed the manuscript had suggested that having two owners in the story might add too much complexity for young children.  Morgan and Krista agreed.  But in my heart, this was very much Suzanne’s story too, so it was a difficult decision for me.  Suzanne and I discussed it, and agreed that I would make the change, and that the character that was Suzanne and the character that was me would become one character who had Soren from the time he was a puppy. 

I was not sure how to tell the story that way initially, but once I looked at that character as a combination of the two of us, it seemed somehow appropriate and the rewrite just flowed.  We both loved Soren and vice versa.  Suzanne was the first person I called whenever Soren did something wonderful or something funny over the years, and the one who cried on the phone with me at the end when we had to make the decision to say goodbye to him.  He brought us together and took us on a most amazing journey that will forever bind us in a special friendship born of shared adventure, and I feel incredibly blessed that we have been able to share the ups and downs over the years.  

Finally, when the major rewrites were complete, a long-time friend and author, Rory Janis Miller, who (lucky for me!) is a retired children’s librarian, agreed to have a look at the manuscript and was kind enough to give me her perspective based on years of reading books to children in the age group of my target audience.  Her insights helped me make those final adjustments to the story to ensure it was one children could both understand and embrace.

The manuscript today is quite different from the one I wrote well over a year ago.  One of the challenges, and I suppose the art of a good children’s book, is knowing when to use words to tell the story, and when to let the illustrations do the talking.  In many instances, less is more.  The process, though sometimes emotionally taxing, allowed me how to look at storytelling in a fascinating, new way.  In the end, I believe the manuscript is much stronger for all the rewrites, and I am grateful for the wise and wonderful input that helped make it so.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Five: A Little Help from My Friends

The next big piece of the puzzle I needed to solve for was professional editing.  And perhaps most daunting, I needed to figure out the complex and seemingly endless options for publishing.   The more I read, the more confused I became.  So I decided to throw up a flag on Facebook and ask my friends for help. 

Did anyone know, or know anyone who knew, anything about publishing a children’s book? 

And help they did!  Several people knew other authors who were willing to talk with me about their books, the publishing options they used and why.  They were so kind, patient and generous with their time.  One introduced me to a children’s book illustrator with a major publisher who was willing to talk with me.  He gave me lots of great info about illustrations, guidelines for children's books, and he suggested a publisher a friend had used and liked.  Some shared their self-publishing experiences.  A few other friends knew another publisher I could contact. 

I reached out to a friend that had written a number of dog-related books and asked about who she used for editing, and she pointed me to Krista Hill of L Talbott Editorial Services.  I’m so glad she did!  Krista was wonderful, and not only was she able to help me with editing, but she also was a great resource for starting to understand the various publishing options out there.

I was so touched by people’s willingness to help and to share their knowledge.  They were not only enlightening, they were encouraging, and their successes added to my determination that I could and would find a way. 

Little by little, one conversation at a time, the plan forward began to take shape.  I knew if I waited for all the details to fall into place, it would never happen.  So I resolved to just keep taking small steps in the right direction, and keep believing that as long as I kept walking forward, the path would become clear.

Please check out these and other books by these very generous and talented people ...

The Long Road to Antietam:  How the Civil War Became a Revolution by Richard Slotkin

Sashi the Scared Little Sheltie by Linda Greiner and illustrated by Morgan Spicer

Bev: The Invisible Sister by Rory Janis Miller

Six Sisters by P.J. Lazos

PJ Finds a Home by Sharon Wells Wagner

Chester GiGolo:  Diary of a Dog Star by Christina Potter

Grandma D's Bubbles:  A Lesson in Life and Loss by Debra Joy Hart

Paws & Effect:  The Healing Power of Dogs by Sharon Sakson

Woolbur illustrated by Lee Harper

L Talbott Publishing Consultant and Editorial Services

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Four: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

As with any project, half the battle is assembling a great team.   In hindsight, that process began before my Soren book idea was even formed.

A few years ago, I happened to see an illustration of a friend’s agility dog posted on Facebook.  It was precious and really captured the dog’s look and personality in a very “Disney-esque” way.  I loved it and wanted one of my own dogs, so I contacted the artist on Facebook and had her do a portrait of two of my four dogs:  Soren and Remus.  It was wonderful!  That very talented artist was Morgan Spicer of Bark Point Studio.

Audra, illustrated by Morgan Spicer (c)

A while later, shortly after I wrote the first draft of Soren’s manuscript, I decided I wanted to have Morgan illustrate my other two dogs, Audra and Ferris, and do an illustration of a friend’s dog who had passed away recently as a special remembrance to give to my friend.  Morgan did those illustrations for me and I loved them as well. 

Ferris, illustrated by Morgan Spicer (c)

While on the her Facebook page, I noticed some posts about a children’s book Morgan was working on, and the illustrations were wonderful.  I sent her Soren’s manuscript and asked her if she might be interested in illustrating his book, and she said she would be interested.  I was thrilled. 

Charlotte, one of my favorite Frenchies and beloved heart dog of a dear friend.  Morgan Spicer (c) created this wonderful remembrance.

We talked about the publisher she was working with on her current book.  I contacted them and was thrilled again when they were interested in publishing the book.  I learned that, while they provided all the guidance and services needed to publish the book under their imprint, It was up to the author to finance the project, including paying for editing, design and layout services, and printing of the book itself.  They were very professional and supportive, I liked the work they did, their services seemed topnotch and I could retain full ownership of the book and the royalties.  But the price tag was definitely out of my league.  As excited as I was by the prospect of doing the book with them, I just could not figure out how to make it financially feasible.  So back in the drawer it went.  I needed to think some more.

After Soren passed away in January of 2016, my resolve to find a path forward with the book took on a life of its own.  I started reading all I could about children’s books on the Internet, and one thing became very clear:  When it comes to children’s books, if you don’t have great illustrations, don’t bother.  I wished I had the talent to bring the words I wrote to life in illustrations, but I recognized that I could not do it justice.  So I got back in touch with Morgan, and was delighted that she was still interested in working with me on the book.  In my mind, Soren was very much the perfect Disney-style hero, and Morgan’s artistic style seemed ideally suited to portray him that way. 

We decided to take a baby step, while still researching options to publish that might be more financially feasible for me, and did some concept art of Soren’s character.  At Morgan’s suggestion, I also had a friend of hers submit some concept art.  Both designs were fabulous, but when I looked at Morgan’s drawings, they were just so “Soren” that I was moved to tears.  The moment I saw Morgan’s concept art of Soren, there was no doubt in my mind—I knew that she had to be the one to bring Soren’s book character to life.  

This concept art by Morgan Spicer (c) touched me so much, I knew that she was the one to bring Soren's book character to life

We still had a long way to go to assemble the team we needed to move the book ahead, but I was very excited about my "first pick" and felt confident that with a compelling story and a very talented artist to portray it in a powerful and endearing way, Soren's book was on the road to becoming something special.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Three: As the Method Actor Said, What is My Motivation?

So now I have a story, it’s down on paper and it’s tucked away in a drawer, or in actuality, typed in a Word document and stashed in a folder on my hard drive.  Now what?  There it stayed for about a year.  Occasionally I opened it up, re-read it, tweaked a word here and a comma there, and put it away again, unsure of the next step.  I envisioned book signings with Soren by my side, giving kisses to adoring kids, but I just didn’t know how to get from here to there.

In October and November of 2015, I started to notice little things about Soren that didn’t seem quite right.  A few times I had to carry him home from a walk as he was clearly struggling to go on.  I chalked it up to getting older, or maybe a little more out of shape since his retirement from agility the year before and his new, less-active lifestyle.  But in early December, he ran to see who was at the door and collapsed in the hall, and I knew in my heart that the time I dreaded for many years had come.  Something was not good—not good at all.  He seemed fine shortly after that, and I hoped maybe we’d dodged a bullet and it was just a fluke.  But a few days later, he collapsed again, and again.  The emergency vet and my own vet were unsure of what was wrong.  On New Year’s Eve day, he was not doing well and we returned early from a trip to see our vet.  His heartbeat was erratic.  They did an ultrasound and he was definitively diagnosed with a tumor on his heart, wrapped around his aorta, and inoperable.  After a lot of tears, we agreed we would try medication to stabilize his heartbeat and hope for some time.  A few weeks later my own heart, and the hearts of many others who loved him too, would break when I had to make the gut-wrenching decision to say goodbye to the little dog who had truly changed my life over the past decade.

The loss of my best friend was devastating, but out of that loss came a new resolve to honor Soren’s life by telling his incredible story.  It would be the perfect way to capture all my love, admiration and precious memories of such a special soul.  I knew that, somehow, I had to find a way to share with others the inspiration Soren brought to me and to so many who knew him over the years.  I thought of the book stored in the folder on my laptop, and I remember thinking, “Soren wouldn’t be stopped because it’s difficult to figure out what to do next.  He’d just do it.”  And so would I.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part Two: Light Bulbs

A light bulb is full of potential.  We know that it can provide light by which to work, play, read.  But without a lamp to put it in, electricity to power it and a switch to turn it on, it is, well, just a light bulb.  So many times over the years, a thing would inspire me to say, “that would be a great book.”  I am sure many people have had similar thoughts.  But actually doing something with those ideas was another thing entirely.  I had a mental drawer where I stashed my light bulbs, and for the most part, they were out of sight, out of mind.  But sometimes an idea is so powerful, it just won’t be ignored.  When that happens, we are compelled to actually do something with the light bulb.  For me, that powerful idea was Soren.

I have had a number of dogs over the years and loved them all.  But when a little French Bulldog named Soren came along, there was a magical and almost instant connection and a little voice that whispered in my ear, “this one is special!”  That little voice was right, but at that time I had no idea just how special.  Soren was a unique being whose super power was his ability to bring out the best in everyone he met.  When he settled next to you with his calm, self-assured presence, he let you know you were someone special.  If you were hurt or feeling down, he knew it and he was by your side, offering quiet comfort.  His happy, go-for-it, can do attitude about life was infectious.  Soren made good things happen, and there was nothing that would stand in his way when he made up his mind to do something, whether it was an agility course or breaking out of a parked car to find me.  He loved his friends, he loved agility, and above all, he loved me.

Soren soaring over a jump.  He was amazingly athletic and loved competing in the sport of agility.  Photo by Barry Rosen Photography (c)

You would not think a little bulldog the likeliest candidate for an agility dog, and I admit that I was a skeptic at first.  But from the first time Soren saw agility equipment, it was love.  He lit up like it was what he was born to do, and he was a natural.  When he ran agility, people stopped to watch, and could not help but smile.  It was one of life’s greatest gifts to me to have him as my agility partner, and he brought much joy to others with his humor and passion for the sport.

We started out with few expectations—have some fun, maybe earn a few titles.  But it became clear that Soren had bigger plans.  Though he wasn’t the fastest agility dog out there, he was fast enough, and, over time, became one of the most consistent agility dogs around.  What began as a little joke—maybe he’ll get an agility championship—quickly started to look like a real possibility. 

Soren always loved to pose for photos.  One of my favorites, by M. Nicole Fischer Photography (c)

I won’t give the story away, but suffice it to say that Soren left some impressive paw prints on French Bulldog history.  And more impressive than what he accomplished, was the way in which he accomplished it.  He was full of spirit, enthusiasm, good humor and determination, and everything he did, he did with all his heart and his own special style.  He made friends wherever he went, and no friend was ever forgotten.

In 2009, Soren was featured on the cover of Clean Run Magazine.  Amazing photo by M. Nicole Fischer Photography (c)

I often thought over the years, that Soren would make such an endearing character for a children’s book:  his sweet, comical expressions, his positive attitude, his kind and loving heart.  And his fierce determination offered a powerful lesson for children and adults alike, that we are not defined by our limitations, but rather by our will and ability to reach beyond them.

Soren and Audra with their friend, Emma

A few years ago, I decided it was time to take that persistent light bulb, and screw it into a lamp, and so on a whim, I sat down and started writing.  It was like the wisps of ideas that had floated around my subconscious for years had formed themselves into a cohesive thought in my conscious brain, and I needed to write it down before it could float away again.  I confess it was a bit stream of consciousness, but I just began and, from there, let it take me where it would.  Down the road, it would go through many iterations, but more about that later.  For now, the important part is that I started writing, and that enabled all that would come after.  I wasn’t sure yet where to put the lamp, but finally the light bulb had a home.

Creating Soaring Soren, Part One: In the Beginning

Here is this shiny, new blog on my website.  I've announced that Soaring Soren is in production.  Now what to do with all this blank "paper?"  So I thought it might be fun to do a series of posts about the process to create this book.  This will be the first installment.

Soaring Soren is my first children’s book to make it beyond a concept floating around in my head.  Because it is based on the true story of Soren, a dog that was extremely dear to me, it has been a labor of love for me—both a tribute to Soren’s extraordinary life and the bond we shared, as well as the fulfillment of a long-time dream of mine to write a book for children.

In the beginning, my focus was on the book I would ultimately create:  what it would include, how it would tell the story, how it could bring Soren to life in a way that would be meaningful for children.  What I’ve discovered along the way is that the process to get to the point where that book is in my hands, and the hands of others, is truly fascinating.  What began as the telling of my incredible journey with Soren, has become quite a journey in its own right. 

As much as the story itself was inspired by Soren, the creation of the book has also been inspired by him, as I have drawn on his courage, determination and heart every step of the way, first by believing I could find a way to make it happen, and then by continuing to put one foot in front of the other in a forward direction, even when I was uncertain where the path was headed.  I have joked that Soren is my silent partner in this endeavor, but in a way it’s not a joke.  The very lesson I learned from Soren, and hoped to share with children via this book—believe in yourself, believe in your dreams and don’t let obstacles prevent you from making them come true—is one I’ve had to embrace to make this book a reality. 

I’ve been amazed at how, once I was determined to move ahead, things fell into place, from finding the perfect illustrator, a terrific editor and a wonderful publisher, to friends and family who supported me throughout the project, and many kind and generous people who went out of their way to help me sort through the process and options.  I’m so grateful to every one of them for their advice, wisdom, encouragement and support.

Quite a few people have told me that they also have dreamed of writing a children’s book (or have done so but weren’t sure what to do next), so I thought it would be fun, and pay it back a bit for all the help that has been offered to me, to share the process I’ve gone through.  Of course I am no expert, and don’t play one on TV.  The way I’ve gone about this is certainly not the only way, the best way, or even a good way … it’s simply my experience.  But I’ve found this process very interesting and rewarding, and to the extent it might interest others, or inspire them to give their writing dreams a try, I would love to share my experience through this blog.  More to come …