Please welcome Anita Higman to the story behind the story. Her latest release, Summer’s List, is obviously the perfect summer read.

1. Who is Laney?

Laney is my daughter-in-law’s beloved Chihuahua mix. Unfortunately, Laney passed away a year and a half ago.

2. Why did you include Laney in your story?

Two reasons really. I knew it would bring a lot of joy to my daughter-in-law, Danielle, to read about her pet in my novel. Laney was special to say the least, since she helped Danielle get through a life-crisis when she was younger. The second reason I included Laney in Summer’s List is because I’ve learned that adding a dog to a story brings readers a great deal of pleasure.

3. Were there any challenges you faced in writing about a dog?

None at all. I interviewed Danielle, asking her all kinds of questions about Laney, and then I tried to infuse my dog-character with all of those same traits—like playfulness, attentiveness, mischievousness, and of course, a profound sense of loyalty.

4. Did your editors have any comments one way or the other about including Laney?

They were supportive and excited. By the way, Laney is on the back cover of my novel. It’s not an actual photo of Laney, but I think the designer did a great job!

5. Is this the first time you’ve included an animal in one of your stories?

No, I’ve done it before. I added a dog named Mops to a short novel entitled, Home at Last. But Mops wasn’t based on a real dog.

6. Do you have plans to include other real life pets in future books?

Yes, I do. It would be a pleasure to do so, so look for more pets in my future novels.

7. What are some of your fondest memories of Laney?

I don’t have many memories of Laney, since I wasn’t around her very much before she died, but Danielle did tell me about the little dog’s many fine qualities and how she made such a huge difference in her life when she was going through some rough times. Danielle also loved the way Laney reacted when she walked through the door. Laney would run around in happy circles as fast as she could, and that adorable “welcome home” never failed to brighten Danielle’s day.

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has forty books published. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, traveling to exotic places, and brunch with her friends.

Please check out Anita’s latest novel, Summer’s List, through Moody Publishers. Feel free to drop by her website at www.anitahigman.com or connect with her on her Facebook Reader Page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnitaHigman. She would love to hear from you!

You can purchase Summer’s List on Amazon and other fine retailers.