If there’s anything I’ve learned during my time as a reader and writer, it’s that animals within a story will steal the show every single time. Kris Bryant has a raccoon named Wally in her latest novel Breakthrough, and review after review named him the star of the story. Maggie Cummings brought a kitten into the final Bay West Social book and all I could think about was coming home to my very own Spencer Carlin (still not over the name). Let’s face it, animals make everything better. We’re proud to declare ourselves crazy cat people, dog lovers, or lovers of all small creatures because the love of an animal is priceless.

But for me it wasn’t just about adding an additional layer of happiness or cuteness to a story, but a therapeutic release as I mourned the loss of a four-legged companion. In my new release Love at Last Call, Berit Matthews owns the hottest lesbian bar in New Jersey, and she’s also Hugo the Chihuahua’s proud human.

I began writing Love at Last call last summer, around the same time we suffered the unexpected and tragic loss of our own beloved Hugo, a little firecracker of a Chihuahua. Our hearts were broken. This all happened while we were driving to Chicago for the annual GCLS conference. Just as we passed under the Welcome to Chicago sign, we received a panicked phone call from my mother. Less than an hour later he had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. My wife and I cried many tears in front of Cloud Gate, the large silver bean.

I knew in that moment I needed to preserve Hugo’s memory and what better way than to give him to one of my characters? Every scene I wrote with him in it made me smile and as I read through my page proofs I felt my heart warm. His spirit will continue on with every smile he brings to a reader’s face.

Today marks one year since his passing and I miss his spunk and smile more than ever.

You can purchase your copy of Love at Last Call from Bold Strokes Books today.

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