Ask the Author: Kate Titus
Answered Questions (6)
Kate Titus
My advice for aspiring writers is to write about what you love. Capture ideas and thoughts as they come. Don't expect the muse to show up at an appointed time just because that's when you've decided to write. We all have a writing rhythm and the sooner you discover yours, the sooner you'll reduce the frustration of sitting in front of a blank page. All the books told me to get up early and write. I've tried that and it doesn't work for me. I work better in mid-afternoon and in the evening before bed. Find your time and don't be shamed into writing when someone else tells you it's the right (write?) time.
Kate Titus
I've always been fascinated by the idea that dogs calculate a lightening fast cost/benefit analysis before they take any action. "I'm thirsty, but that slippery floor I have to cross to get to my bowl is scary. I've fallen before and it hurt. Am I thirsty enough to risk falling and feeling pain?" When I introduce that thought process to concerned owners, they begin to see the world from their dog's perspective. There is so much focus on diagnoses and treatments that the role of emotions is overlooked. That's what "From Emotion to Motion" hopes to address.
Kate Titus
Dave the boxer mix with an underbite made it clear I needed to start writing. I met Dave at my PCP's office after his owner had died and willed him to my doctor. I came to the office to massage him (I'm a canine massage therapist) and help smooth the transition. He spoke very clearly to me and I felt driven to write it down. After that, I spent about two years writing vignettes for my blog about my experiences with dogs who came to my facility.
Travis, my wife's senior Tennesse hound mix, joined the family soon after I met Dave and he became (and still is) my muse. Trav has passed but he shows up at just the right moment, although I wish he'd select more convenient times (like not when I'm in the shower!)
Travis, my wife's senior Tennesse hound mix, joined the family soon after I met Dave and he became (and still is) my muse. Trav has passed but he shows up at just the right moment, although I wish he'd select more convenient times (like not when I'm in the shower!)
Kate Titus
I'm working on "From Emotion to Motion: The role of the mind in dog mobility". The mind is the most underappreciated element of canine mobility. I hope to shed some light on 'why' a dog moves in conjunction with 'how' a dog moves which I covered in "Sit. Stand. Go!" Emotions (like fear, anger, love, and joy) trigger motion either toward or away from a situation. This book will introduce canine emotions, the emotional side of pain and how it changes behavior, and how to engage your dog's positive emotions to create a better quality of life at all life stages, not just the end.
Kate Titus
The best thing about being a writer is hearing a reader tell me what a difference my book made in their dog's life. That's the reason I fight through the writer's block, frustration, effort, and long hours of writing. That makes it all worth it.
Kate Titus
I hate writer's block! I work hard to convince myself that a walk with the dogs and a wandering (and wondering) mind will clear the roadblocks. More often than not, that works, but sometimes I just have to take a nap. Who doesn't benefit from a good nap?
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