Guest Blogger Juniper Bell - News Flash: Cat Person Learns to Like a Dog

This is a blog I never thought I’d write. Since I ought to be writing about my new release, “Doll,” the fact that I’m talking cats and dogs tells you this is an earth-shattering event.

I, Juniper Bell, lifelong lover of cats, sad owner of the late lamented Otis, scoffer at puppy antics, disliker of dog hair, vower of oath never to follow any animal around with a pooper-scooper … am happily dog-sitting a boisterous beast named Bubba.

Of course, I call him either Bubbalicious or Buddha, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

As a writer, I’ve always connected more to cats, who are independent and sleep most of the time. I like pets I don’t have to pay a lot of attention to. I’m not the only one. According to Barbara Holland, “A catless writer is almost inconceivable.” Robertson Davies says, “Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons.”

I know plenty of authors who love dogs and even put them in their books. I admit I usually skip those parts.

So how did Bubba the Dog worm his way into my heart?

He’s wonderfully patient with our five-year-old, who adores him. Bubba lets her rain kisses all over his face. He lets her curl up with him in a tangled heap. He lets her teach him tricks like “shake hands” and “howl along to the harmonica.”

Bubba’s a lover not a fighter. He gets along with all the other dogs. He doesn’t even mind when the local bully-dog tries to hump him. He’s a beta dog all the way. And he has a budding (or perhaps already fruitfully multiplying) relationship with the local hottie. Fiona is top dog for miles around. She’s the product of two lead sled dogs who mated during the Iditarod. She’s never pulled a sled herself, but she’s a lead dog at heart. Even the bully-dog bows down to her. When she’s around, no one messes with Bubba.

I never knew how fascinating dog dynamics could be. I never knew how reassuring it feels to have a dog around. I never knew how fun it is to take a happy, curious pup for a walk in the snowy woods. I don’t even mind the dog hair on my sweaters.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love cats. But I finally see the point of dogs. And incredibly, astonishingly, we’re actually going to try to keep Bubba until his owner has a better living situation for him.

It’s not just a good deed. Yes, I admit – I love the silly Bubba-dog.

Where do you stand on the cat versus dog issue? Do you like reading about them? Or writing about them, if you’re an author?

Thanks to the Nine Naughty Novelists for letting me vent about my big news flash.

Also, I have a book out now from Samhain Publishing, a red-hot contemporary called “Doll.” Here’s the link for more about it.

Juniper Bell lives with her sweetie in a cabin in Alaska with no running water and a spectacular view of glaciers. She wound up in the frozen north after leaving her career as a stressed-out Los Angeles TV writer. Luckily, her love for writing survived the move. She’s been writing erotic romance for three years. “Doll” is her second book. Her first book, “The Extremist,” was published by Liquid Silver Books. Her next release, “Training the Receptionist,” will be released on March 2 by Samhain Publishing. Visit her website at http://JuniperBell.com, her blog at http://AuthorJuniperBell.blogspot.com, friend her on FaceBook or follow her on Twitter.