Books with author Susan McKay

Jori, locally-famous guard dog poet of the Southwest, is aging but still active, despite encroaching arthritis and other health issues. He is a conscientious canine who loves his guard dog job and is determined to do it well. Ever aware of his obligations to family and pack, he has already written and published his memoirs, ensuring that pack history will be available to future generations. No need to worry about that anymore. Jori can’t be accused of shirking any of his important guard dog duties either. The local rabbits and coyotes will vouch for his continued vigilance and successful defense of the ranch and his “girl”.But he’s decided that now may be the time to kick back, relax and simply enjoy the small, everyday pleasures of life in the high desert. Think of it: Back scratches, belly rubs, chucks under the chin, pats on the head, well-deserved praise for being such a good dog, bunny tracking, bunny chasing, all night barking competitions, group howls, sniffing extravaganzas through the flowers, morning walks, snoozing in the sun on cool days, naps in the shade on hot days, luscious meals, tasty treats, philosophical ponderings …. The list goes on and on.In the poetic vignettes in this collection, Jori paints vivid, memorable word pictures of his adventures and interactions, colorfully presented against the backdrop of a high desert ecosystem in the midst of change. We invite you to share and enjoy his unique canine perspective on life and meaningful living.

Jori is aging fast, as dogs, with their shorter life spans, tend to do. Recently, in between rounds of competition with the coyotes for high-desert best barker, he has been pondering options for passing on the accumulated knowledge of the pack. When the new pup comes into the family, it must be made aware of its place in the line of succession and the hereditary duties entailed. It will need training in pack history and life experiences, but Jori realizes his health is not good and he may not be around to do the job.Perhaps if he wrote a saga, recounting the lives of his predecessors in their own wise words, just as he heard it when he was a pup. That way his successor, who will surely be an intelligent and literate canine – nothing less would be acceptable – can read and learn at its own pace, while growing into its guard dog role. Hmmm, yes…a saga….epic poetry….the mighty exploits of the glorious ancestors…. an on-the-job training manual in case personal mentoring isn’t possible. That might work.