CriminalElement.com has made the first three chapters of Chihuahua of the Baskervilles available to members. It’s free to register, and the site has a ton of great features/content for people who love mystery books.
Tag: chihuahuas
Ada Nieves on David Letterman!
Ada Nieves just sent me an email that she’s going to appear on David Letterman’s show tonight, and I am so excited for her, I CAN HARDLY STAND IT! Ada is a wonderful woman in the Chihuahua community (yes, there is a Chihuahua community). She designs small-dog fashion, just like the gal in my first mystery book (only she’s much younger, more attractive, and Puerto Rican).
Update: She was showing her little clothes for rats! But they still showed photos of her Oscar dresses for dogs, which are fantastic.
Simultaneous ebook release for Chihuahua of the Baskervilles!
This is exciting! I just got on Amazon.com and saw that Chihuahua of the Baskervilles will be released simultaneously in hardback and ebook versions (Kindle and Nook)! The price for both platforms is $10.99. If you’ve pre-ordered the hardback and would prefer the ebook version, I think you can log onto your online bookstore account and cancel the hardback order. The ebook version has a pre-order option as well. Don’t hesitate to buy the the lower-priced ebook on my account. I get a bigger percentage of those sales. 🙂
When Taxidermy and Pets Collide
[NOTE: Clicking on the pictures in this post will take you to their source articles. Have fun!]
Welcome to the world of permanently preserved pets. First of all, I have a confession to make. When our beloved rabbit, Glory Roberta, died, I took her to a taxidermist and had him remove the pelt and cure it for me. Her fur was beautiful, and I wanted something to remember her by. Once the grief wore off, I stuck it in a drawer and mostly forgot about it, but it seemed like the thing to do at the time. Now I wonder how much more it would have cost to go the whole way and have her mounted in a lifelike pose — rolling in her litterbox, perhaps, or chewing a baseboard.
Taxidermists are interesting people. They love animals, and they love a challenge. When a heavily tattooed and heartbroken guy brought in his dead Chi puppy, this taxidermist embraced the difficulties of mounting a seven-inch long animal, and the results are both poignant and adorable.
Preserving pets has a long history, possibly starting with the Egyptians, and certainly achieving heights of weirdness with those wacky Victorians, who made entire tableaus of dressed-up cats, dogs, mice and monkeys. Their motto seemed to be, if it moves, make a pet of it. When it stops moving, turn it into decoration.
And of course, some people preserve pets somewhat less sensitively than others.
If this is a subject that interests you, you’re in luck. Animal Planet has an upcoming reality show which is described thusly.
The show, set in Romance, Ark., follows taxidermist Daniel Ross as he runs family business X-treme Taxidermy with his wife LaDawn and three sons. Together, the family and employees specialize in reassembling family pets, including a chihuahua, a goat and a poodle.
Because of the location, the working title is, “Romance is Dead.” <cue reluctantly admiring groan>
Chihuahua News
New review of Chihuahua of the Baskervilles
Nikki of Obsessive Chihuahua Disorder wrote a review on the advance review copy I sent her. Gotta love a reviewer who includes photos.
Chihuahua of the Baskervilles kept my attention from the very beginning to the very end. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading each time I had to put down the book because it was time for dinner, time to go to work, time to go to class, etc. I couldn’t wait to find out who was behind all the strange activities going on in the Baskerville’s house.
Read full review here.
Chihuahua News Round-Up
Dogs of Mexico: Chihuahua and Xoloitzcuintli
Humane society files charges against chihuahuas‘ owner
URBAN PUP CLOTHING IS THE FASHION CHOICE OF STARS (Note that this is a press release. I believe that anyone can submit a press release to this site, although this site appears to be aimed at Brits.)
Even Pets Suffer Recession as Health Declines
The Wise Articles » Basic Chihuahua Training Tips and hints
The Whole Enchihuahua (still offering free spays and neuters through the end of May)
Family’s Future Uncertain After Fire
(The Chihuahua woke them up)
VIDEO: Running of the Chihuahuas in Chattanooga
Small Dogs Packing Silicon Valley Shelters; Adoption Urged « CBS …
Adoption Fees Waived at Northern CA Shelter, During Month of May
LA councilman Koretz proposes regulation of commercially bred pets
Two Adopted Chihuahuas Doing Well (heartwarming)
First review from the trade pubs: Kirkus on Chi of B
Review Date: May 15, 2011
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Pages: 288
Price ( Hardcover ): $23.99
Publication Date: July 5, 2011
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-0-312-56915-0
Category: Fiction
Classification: Mystery
A magazine staff investigates a ghost dog’s appearance in a quirky Colorado town.
Beleaguered Scotsman Angus MacGregor is sent to resuscitate Tripping magazine (about ghosts, not drugs) with a fanciful story of a ghost dog. Charlotte Baskerville, the owner and operator of the niche shop Petey’s Closet, “Where the Well-Dressed Pooch Shops,” has seen the clothing catalog’s namesake wandering her home’s grounds at night, a year after Petey’s death. Charlotte’s sourpuss husband Thomas insists that her story is further grounds for having the poor old dear declared incompetent, though a skeptic might suspect he’s more concerned for her money than her mind. With bold photographer Suki Oota and cynical writer Michael Abernathy in tow, Angus visits the Baskerville home determined to write the story, whether or not the ghost is real. The Tripping team quickly becomes integrated into the quirky Baskerville household, from fame-hungry Russian dog trainer Ivan Blotski to Charlotte’s own granddaughter and recovering alcoholic Cheri to bizarrely optimistic neighbor Bob Hume, who’s obsessed with acai berries. Charlotte’s living Chihuahuas, Lila and Chum, play non-speaking, emotionally supportive roles for the old girl while Angus and his mates investigate in order to assuage her concerns over Petey’s message from the beyond. The mystery takes a backseat to tensions among the characters, all culminating at the town’s annual coffin race festival.
Allbritten (Bound to Love Her, 2008, etc., as Esri Rose) tells a light and engaging tale with charming characters that will appeal to those outside of both mystery and canine genres.
Chihuahua News Round-Up
Video: Chihuahuas Strut Their Stuff on Delores Park Runway, SF, CA
Video: Two Chihuahuas show up on Albuquerque, NM’s “most dangerous dog” list. (Tip to owner: Instead of chuckling when your Chi growls inappropriately, scold it.)
New Santa Cruz, CA dog designer helps support SPCA.
American Reporter and Husband Return Missing Chi to Owner after Six Years
South Carolina man looking for Chis who were mistakenly rescued. 
Upcoming events:
Chattanooga, Tennessee bluegrass festival and Running of the Chihuahuas.
SPCA’s The Whole Enchihuahua, San Francisco, California
Chihuahua Palooza starts at East Bay, CA area shelters. Video interview of topic.
Chihuahua race as part of Cinco de Mayo celebration, Phoenix, AZ
Cinco de Mayo Chihuahua race in Craig, CO (check sidebar for details)
Esri Allbritten 