Welcome to D&G
Once upon a time, three writers decided to do a novel about three ordinary women who meet at a dog obedience class and discover they’re descended from ancient Mesopotamian priestesses. Well, you had to be there. Much happened after that (click the link in the menu bar above that says “The D&G Story” for details) including a staff change, but the book remained a Fun Book, something to write for the sheer manic pleasure of doing it, and now the current three (that’s Us) have decided to make this blog to workshop pieces of our scenes and to post our Sunday online meeting transcripts and to invite other people to talk about collaborating in the category called “The ‘We’ in Writing” and to see what kind of weirdness shows up in the comments. There is no Plan. Posts will show up when they show up. Do not come here for order and illumination. We are not the Order and Illumination Sisters. We fully realize that our book may never be published. In fact, we fully realize it may be never be finished. We don’t care. This is our Fun Blog for the Fun Book. We’re having a good time.
The book is called Dogs and Goddesses, and we’re Anne Stuart, Lani Diane Rich, and Jenny Crusie.
Three writers. One blog. No plan.
Dogs and Goddesses.
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I’m just testing comments. We’re not just divine, we’re also chatty, and we’d like you to be part of it!
Okay - now I’m testing while not logged in…
Aaaaaaand we’re up! Comment away, kids!
in case you missed it, i love this!
there are not enough talking dogs in the book world (plenty in the real world though)
I love it here, and can hardly wait to see what happens between women talk, dog talk, comment talk… good summer ahead!
We did the obedience training thing with both rhodesian ridgeback hounds, both sorta flunked and we were told we could come back any time for refreshers.
they were more inclined to lay on the lawn and sniff the weed flowers rather than anything, and i mean anything that includes begging. have you ever seen a 6′4” man begging a dog to at least try to sit/stay? we should have sold tickets to comedy night.
When I first got my German Shepherd from the rescue, I had no idea of what training she’d had. In obedience class, I using commands in German. The man next to me (who had a Rhodesian Ridgeback, now that I think about it) turned to me and said gravely “I always speak to my dog in Mesopotamian.”
In light of this new book, that comment makes sense.
OMG! Yeah. I’ll follow this. I’m in. I don’t have a dog, but I have three kids that sometimes I scracth them behind the ears and play fetch with them and once I even feed them on the floor - don’t ask, long story. I used to have dogs, but then hockey came and well, yeah.
Anyway, I really don’t need another blog to follow, although it seems I’m stalking Jenny, and Lani knows I’m stalking her… hmmmmm, Hi Anne!
Seriously, this will be fun. I love you all and I’m in for the ride.
“was using commands in German”
sheesh.
this is really off topic, but everytime I see “D&G” I think about Desnoes & Geddes, the Jamaican drink company that created many popular island sodas including TING & Red Stripe Beer. That’s probably as far from Mesopotamia as you can get. Oh well, enjoy the randomness of it all.
http://www.jamaicadrinks.com/aboutus_dg.htm
Wheeeee!!! I certainly hope that the book is finished and published in some form. I’d definately pay to read it even though the thought of dogs is making me sad right now, my oldest “fur sister” died peacefully last night at the ripe old age of almost 15. Her name was Raisin (Fireside’s Raisin a Ruckus) and she could certainly talk. She would relay messages from the other dogs to my mom. If they were out of water or had to go outside, the others would tell Raisin and she would go tell Mom, it was the funniest thing to watch.
My husband’s dog could not only talk (though she only spoke Dog) she could understand English. Before we got married Paul always took her to work with him, he works in the oil field and lives in camp so there’s no problem with that, but after we got married he would sometimes leave her at home with me. She would always get excited when Thursday rolled around because she thought she would get to go to work - her favourite thing. One Wednesday Paul told me that since the forecast was good he thought he’d take her (she was 13 and arthritic at this point). Please note he did not tell her but she was in the room when he said it. On Thursday morning he said to me “With all the groceries and the other stuff I have to take up there won’t be room for Belki in the truck, I’ll have to leave her home.” She was laying beside us and she lifted her head and gave him the dirtiest look. It was a serious death glare. She knew exactly what he said.
He made room in the truck for her.
I can totally get behind a book with nine talking dogs.
Dogs and goddesses, yes!
My favorite dog-training story: when my dog came to live with my new husband and me after a too-long stint on a farm and we took her for a walk every evening, we decided to teach her to stop when she reached a curb.
So picture this: tall, handsome man kneeling in gutter explaining to dog (ears cocked, head tilted in fascination) that THIS (he points) is a curb.
Even now, years after she died, this picture makes me smile.
P.S. She learned.
Office Wench - I’m so sorry to hear about Raisin. Big hugs to you. Fifteen is an age you can be proud of, though. That’s wonderful she was able to stay with you so long.
I can see that you’re exactly the kind of person who would enjoy this book - glad you found us!
You do not go on the ‘net for one day and see what you miss ? Mutts and Mythos.
Sneaking in here - the kids think I’m getting dressed to take them to school but I HAD to comment.
I’m with Jennifer T - stalking all things Cruise and most definitely in for the ride.
I have 2 black labs. I’ve never really been an animal person - was attacked by a dog as a kid (no I wasn’t provoking it, just riding my bike minding my own business)so I’ve always been, and still am, wary of dogs I dont know but my husband is a dog man from way back ( says a lot about a man I reckon) and I really wanted the kids to grow up with dogs so my best friend in the whole world breeds labs and we got one….then two. And they complete our lives. Don’t know what we’re ever going to do if we lose one. They both went missing once for 2 hours and and I cried and cried. Turned up on the door step 2 hours later looking wet and bedraggled with a “man have we been on an adventure” look.
The kids - they’ve just sprung me too BTW - adore them and there’s nothing nicer than hearing them laughing and playing with the dogs in the afternoon. One of my favourite noises.
Gotta go - my son is looking at me with a “jeez mum, you’re the one who insists I get an education, enough already and take me to school!!” look.
I’ll be back. I still haven;t had a proper look around.
Jill, what you said! Squee!!
This is just so perfect!
Jenny,
One of my best friends had a black & tan dachshund named Wolfie. If your Wolfie is anything like him, you have my sympathy (and envy). Her Wolfie was smarter than most humans I know and definitely had more personality. He ruled his household with an iron paw and got away with it because he was so cute (as I type I can hear him correcting me even from the grave-telling me to replace cute with ’strikingly handsome’). See, talking dog ghosts–no problem!
Wolfie is not smarter than humans. Wolfie is pretty much a waddling Id. If he sees it, he goes for it. If he has it, he holds onto it. If he wants it, he whines for it. IF he can’t have it, he sighs. Then some visiting person will say, “But he’s so cute” and give it to him and I know there’s no hope that he will ever achieve insight, wisdom, or maturity. Kind of like me.
OfficeWench, I am so sorry about Raisin. It’s the one big flaw in dogs: those damn short lives. Fifteen is a good run, but it’s not long enough.
OfficeWench- very sorry about Raisin.
i have a feeling i’m going to be crying a lot and thinking about the three dogs that had come and gone, and that my puppy (i use the term very, very loosely) is going to go soon.
Oh, Downundergal, I know exactly what you mean. I was bitten on the face by a dog when I was five, and have been scared of them most of my life. But we got two shiba-mix (mutts that look like a real breed (-:) puppies, and raising those guys really broadened my horizons. I’m much more comfortable around all dogs now. Not sure if I’d ever be an old lady living alone with an Alsatian, but I love these guys.
Office Wench - So sorry about Raisin.
I really do love dogs, but with 3 kids playing travel hockey the dogs would end up in the kennel most weekends.
We used to have two dogs. A German Sheppard named Shasta and a mix doberman/sheppard named Casey. They were both great dogs. Casey was the watch dog. She could be very scary when she wanted to be. We actually had to give her away after my daughter was born becasue she had issues with kids. She used to growl at my stomach when I was pregnant. Near the end of the pregnancy, she wouldn’t come snuggle with me on the sofa. It was weird. We tried and took her to dogie school and all that, but ultimatly, I was afraid she would bit the baby. Shasta was a spaz. She was a tail chasing dog. Friendly and wouldn’t intentionally harm anything, but she was big. 80 pounds. Loved that dog. I miss her.
The kids want a dog, but the youngest is highly alegic and has allergy induced ashma. That and the traveling make it impossible.
I’m settling in to watch this wild barking ride LOL. Seriously, we should all write without a plan. You’re starting a revolution, ladies!
Love the tag line. I nearly choked on my coffee while reading it! You three truly are goddesses.
Pets really do complete a family. I have a cat, not a dog, but she talks too. We have quite involved conversations. She lets me know when she has used the litter box and when she is going upstairs to take a nap on the bed.
I passed your condolences on to my mom and she asked me to thank you all.
You’re right, Jenny, fifteen years is a good run but not long enough.
OH - here’s wishing you and your puppy many more good times.
Now I have to go before I start to cry. Again.
I just recently found the book and absolutely love it. I’ve read it 20 times already, at least! I am so glad to have found this blog and I’m looking forward to reading it immensely.
Thank you all for the laughs and tears. It truly is a fantastic book. It definitely left me wanting more, much more.
Kimberly - thanks for stopping by! Sorry it took so long to get to your comment - for some inexplicable reason, a lot of very normal posts got in the spam folder, and for many reasons most of which relate to my airheadedness, I haven’t checked the spam folder in forever. My apologies, thanks so much for coming by, and we’re thrilled you loved the book!