“The Forever Dog” as a book is a story about perseverance, passion, and just flat out luck.
The inspiration for the story itself was my beloved Golden Retriever “Mo”. Mo was named for a friend named Monica was tragically killed in a car accident in 1992. To say she was a perfect dog would simply be ridiculous revisionist history, but she was indeed “my” dog . It’s entirely cliché, but she was indeed my best friend, despite her need to destroy at least one thing (shoe, book, you name it) every single day. She loved to swim in lakes after sticks, lie on my bed with at least one part of her body touching mine, and strangely, she felt the need to bring one large rock (yes rock) inside every day after taking her walk. My dad thought she was trying to build a small monument and was simply collecting raw materials. 
Well, you know where this story is going, Mo died in 1994 very, very suddenly from, as I understand it, "Doggy Leukemia". To say I was devastated who be a massive understatement.
Within a week after Mo passed, I was inspired to write "Forever Plan". I was on vacation in California and I remember looking out across the ocean on Pacific Coast Highway and clearly still feeling like Mo was somehow still with me. And she always will be. Forever. Indeed, like the character Mike from the book, I did feel warm inside.
After showing the manuscript to a few friends, and particularly, seeing how it seemed to touch people (yeah, Mom you remember reading it the first time),
I decided I should at least pursue having it published. I sent it to about 15 publishers large and small. Within weeks, I had about 15 rejection letters (large and small).
It was only a chance eavesdrop with a friend over lunch during a TV commercial shoot that kept the ball rolling. Turns out I was shooting with a director whose sister's friend's sister worked in children's books. Well, that turned out to be just enough. After sending her my manuscript (twice), and waiting 18 months, I had my contract. Then in a blink of an eye (okay, so it was a 5 year long blink), it was in stores!
Nothing in life is as painful, yet nothing is so inevitable, as losing someone you care for. Whether it be a dog, cat, ferret, parrot, friend or other family member. I deeply hope this story can be even just a little help to someone.
Please let me know if it has, I'd truly love to hear from you.
If you're still struggling with a loss, I recommend these sites for grief counseling.
If you'd like to send The Forever Dog to a friend click here.
