To Gee or to Haw, that is the question

Bark River Racing team photo

Find out how tuned in mushers are with their leaders in the latest FUN FACT #3 on the website HERE.

Dogsled Dreams on Biblio Reads

Biblio Reads gave Dogsled Dreams FOUR stars in their review!!

Check out the review here.

The Next Fifteen Minutes by Kim Kircher

CONGRATULATIONS to Kim Kircher for signing with Behler Publications for her debut memoir, THE NEXT FIFTEEN MINUTES.

From Kim's blog:

My memoir, THE NEXT FIFTEEN MINUTES, takes readers on a wild ride of salvation, finding answers to a scary diagnosis in the oddest places, including the bottom of a snowy avalanche and the cockpit of a Beaver floatplane.


As a ski patroller, I use explosives to prevent avalanches and my EMT training to save lives. When my husband got sick, it was the most important job yet: rescue him. My training taught me how to survive any crisis, even a terrible diagnosis: just calm down and breathe. During the twelve months waiting for the liver transplant that would save him, I conquered my greatest fear by returning to the mountains. I mined our lives spent skiing, climbing, and exploring the wilderness for lessons I could apply to our current dilemma. THE NEXT FIFTEEN MINUTES offers a rare glimpse into the strange and fascinating world of ski area work, where steep terrain and deep snow, the twin fuels that run our business, can teach us how to get through the worst trials just fifteen minutes at a time.





Kim's story sounds truly inspiring, as does her lifestyle of adventure as an avalanche specialist and ski patroller. Go check out her amazing blog! Way to go, Kim! Can't wait to read it.

Getting the snowshoes ready

This is a recycled post from my blog's first year. Thought it was a good time to post again since it's one of my favourite activities and from the forecast, sounds like it won't be long now.

The best thing about snowshoeing is looking behind you. Something about that narrow tunnel stamped into a fresh sheet of white snow makes me feel like an explorer. The sole human visiting a magical place with drooping spruce branches and secretive silence. I was here.

What fun can you have with a bucket of bloody chicken parts?

FUN FACT #2 has been posted to my website. Check it out HERE.

Also, you may notice Chapter One of Dogsled Dreams has been officially posted on the top bar.

I've been busy lately considering a CIRCLE SUPERIOR book tour to Thunder Bay and Duluth. I could take in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and visit my old haunts in Thunder Bay. I've been invited by a Thunder Bay musher friend of Boreal Journeys to join them at the race festivities. Dogsled Dreams is based in the outskirts of the city.

This hasn't been officially decided yet. I have a concern with the road conditions in January. But just in case, are any of my dear readers along this route?

book give away winners!

My giveaway this month has THREE winners! Congratulations to

KIM KIRCHER  - you have won

SUSAN FIELDS - you have won

JENNIFER ROBINSON - you have won

CONGRATULATIONS! And thanks for helping me celebrate TWO MONTHS until release day!

Next contest will be for signed copies of DOGSLED DREAMS!!!

Meet the Mushers

Iditarod.com photo credit

The official list of mushers signed up to race the 2011 Iditarod is up on the website. Check out the site HERE to see full biographies and photos of the racers. My secret crush, Martin Buser is running again this year! Good luck to all and happy training!

Put your hands up in the air

This has nothing to do with adventure, or dogs, or outdoor adventure, or writing. And I don't ususally do this here - but seriously, just watch.


jokeroo.com

Don't forget to enter my book giveaway! Closes on Monday, November 15!

Reviews coming in

After the ARC's are sent to reviewers, it's yet another thing to wait for in this business. Will they like it? What if they think it's sucky? Will they write and print a review that it's sucky? What if everyone reads the review and decides not to buy the book because of said suckiness? Really, the waiting can be torture.

With three weeks left till the publisher's deadline for reviews, I still have a while to wait. But, I have received TWO REVIEWS before the deadline and they are most awesome! Someone out there gets the story. They like the writing. Not one mention of sucky.

I was going to wait to share the reviews, but I just can't.






Dogsled Dreams is an inspirational story about a girl learning the rewards of persistence, hard work and bravery. It is much more than an adventure story about a young musher; it is about a girl determined to prove her knowledge, abilities and maturity to her family, peers and, most importantly, herself. Rebecca's experiences are applicable to any young girl ready to emerge from the security of childhood to the freedom of adolescence. Dogsled Dreams is a captivating and exciting debut novel and introduction to dogsledding.

Superior Outdoors Magazine



This is an engaging, often exciting, and sometimes humorous story full of rich details and fascinating information about dog sled racing. Rebecca and her dogs not only came alive, but they brought me along on their adventures.

Cynthia Chapman Willis, author of Dog Gone and Buck Fever

Dogs help you live longer

Last year, Dogs in Canada magazine published one of my articles, WALKING THE DOG. It's now up on the Dogs in Canada website.

The article is about my friend, Alana who has Cystic Fibrosis. Her goofy dogs are keeping her alive. See how by checking out my article here!

Excerpt:
Alana’s neighbours grew accustomed to the sight of her pulling a wagon with Magnus sitting proudly. They could set their clocks by the morning, noon and evening walks.

Celebrating Dog Books




A few of my DOG BOOK collection.

  Lately I've been reading some amazing books about dogs. Wanted to share some of my recommended reads with you.

LOST AND FOUND by Jacqueline Sheehan haunts me still. The characters are rich and vivid and the dialogue is amazing. The author wrote me back after I sent her a fan mail!

LISTEN by Stephanie Tolan. A quiet, thoughtful book about the power a relationship with a dog can have. Loved it. This author also wrote me back!

THE BOY WHO SPOKE DOG by Clay Morgan. Interesting that the dog's speak in this story. And they are fiercely loyal.

PUPPIES, DOGS, and BLUE NORTHERS by Gary Paulsen. It's by Paulsen, so what more can I say about this. Loved it.

IZZY AND LENORE by Jon Katz. Katz has a special way of writing about dogs that worms into your brain. I've enjoyed all of his books. And especially SOUL OF A DOG. Just wow.

DOG GONE by Cynthia Chapman Willis. Great story, amazing characters, emotional read. Loved it!

Have you read any good books about dogs lately? I'd love to hear about them.