September, 2024
Probably the first thing I should mention is that Celluloid Angels, Mercy Allcutt’s ninth foray into the world of cozy historical mysteries, has been released. Please don’t tell anyone, but I really don’t like this book. It was difficult to write, especially as several icky things happened while I wrote it. I fear my own darkness transferred to the book. But what the heck! Laugh anyway. Here’s the cover and a place where you can get a copy for yourself, your kin, your neighbors, your friends, your enemies, your library…anyone! If you like it (in spite of me) it would be lovely if you’d post a review somewhere online. Authors depend on word-of-mouth, and I’m beginning to think that folks who like my books never talk to other people. Or maybe they don’t want to be embarrassed to admit they read such stuff. My sister thought it was hilarious that I (her sister) wrote trash! With family like that, you don’t need enemies, y’know?
August held some glumth, too. My darling antique Chihuahua, Scrappy, finally bit the dust. He was at least 17 years old, and I miss him. I believe I wrote in another newsletter that he was offered to me (well, the caller pretty much insisted I take him) as an emaciated dachshund puppy. He was definitely emaciated. He was a puppy. That’s where the tagline ended. He weren’t no wiener dawg. He was a Chihuahua.
He also came by his name legitimately. When I received the telephone call about him, I called the New Mexico Dachshund Rescue VPs to ask if I could pick him up and foster him (remember, the caller said he was a dachshund). They told me to take him to the NMDR-approved veterinarian for Roswell before I took him home. The vet visit was to ensure he didn’t have anything horrible that might infect the rest of my herd, which numbered around eight at the time. Whelp, he did have something he might have passed along to my herd: fleas. I swear to dog, that baby had four pounds of fleas on him! When he was finally able to come live with me, I feared for his life because I had at least one grumpy standard-sized dachshund who didn’t like to be bothered by little pipsqueaks. That dog, George, also had Cushing’s Disease, which didn’t make his disposition any sunnier. When I brought Scrappy into the house, all the hounds gathered around us. Scrappy sat on my lap and gave them all such a tongue-lashing, they were actually afraid of him, a teeny-weeny Chihuahua!
I called an NMDR person to say the dog wasn’t a dachshund but a Chihuahua, and she said that was okay, but NMDR might have trouble placing him because folks came to NMDR for wiener dogs, not taco dogs. She also said he sounded quite scrappy. So that was his name, and he was mine. He was a character, too. When we were all very young (well, I was middle-aged, but never mind that), Scrappy, the wieners and I would take a long, long walk in the mornings. Scrappy almost always found a dirty napkin or a snotty Kleenex somewhere along the trail, and he'd carry it in his mouth all walk long, proud of himself, waving his prize in the air and high-stepping like a champ (or a miniature pinscher, of which he might have been part [that construction is really strange]). One day a woman whom we met every day on our walks saw Scrappy with nothing to carry. Shock! So she dug around in her pocket and handed him a Kleenex. A clean Kleenex! Scrappy turned his nose up at it and refused to take it. He wanted nothing to do with a Kleenex (or a napkin) that didn't have anything interesting on it. Bless the lad.
By the time he passed, he couldn't even use the doggy door. Poor little Scraps. He’d drive me nuts sometimes because he’d sneak out of the house and bounce all over the neighborhood every time he found a chance. I swear, it’s astounding that he lived to be so old. I was sure a car would smash him flat when he was on one of his romps. Never happened, thank heaven. I miss Scraps. Here he is on his last day. Whatta change from the young Scraps, huh?
There is, however, some interesting (if not downright scary) dog news on the horizon. Remember Jacob Torres, the former vet tech and now Chihuahua and Papillon breeder, dog-groomer and dog-handler? The guy who gave me Jazzy, the Beautiful Blue Wiener and Queen of all She Surveyed? Well, about three years ago, Jacob became part-owner of a Papillon named Riley, whom he handled to her AKC championship.
When I was visiting Jacob in his dog-grooming studio last week, he casually asked, “Want a Papillon?”
Because I’m an ace with the English language and its usage, I replied, “Whaaaa?”
I was, to say the least, startled. I mean, Jacob and I have known each other for years and years. He knows I’ve had nothing but dachshunds and mutts for as long as we’ve been acquainted. That’s why he palmed Jazzy off on me (I don’t mean that. I’m still grieving for Jazzy. And Scrappy too, darn it). I must have looked as weirded-out as I felt, because he said, “I’ve been trying to think of a home for Riley. It has to be a single-person home, but it doesn’t matter if there are other dogs or cats, because Riley gets along well with other dogs and even cats, but she only likes people one at a time.”
Ooooookay. He thinks Riley and I will be a great match. We’ll have to determine if he’s correct. We’re having a weekend meet-and-greet over the Labor Day weekend. I’ll let you know what happen
I’m hoping Riley, Cookie and Bam-Bam approve of each other. That’s because, since I don’t have enough to worry about already, lately I’ve been worried about becoming a dogless dog person. My youngster at the moment is Cookie, who’s going on 11. My Ancient of Days is my absolute most precious heart-dog, Bam-Bam. Bammers is at least 14, and he won’t be with me much longer. When he goes, the entire world will know about it because I’ll be shattered. Again. I swear, pet ownership is a perilous process.
So. That means, I might well be a three-dog person again. I’ve never had a longhaired dog, although I’ve fostered a few longhaired dachshunds over the years. Jacob assured me Riley won’t have her “show” coat when she comes to me, and he’ll set up regular grooming days once a month so that she won’t get ragged and clumpy. I actually brush my shorthaired dogs, so I’m happy to brush her longer coat if I have to, but I appreciate the regular grooming appointments. I’m pretty sure I’m insane, but what would the world be without crazy people to jeer at, you know?
Here’s Riley in her show coat:
If she gets along well here, I’ll post more photos. If she doesn’t, she’ll go back to Jacob. That was his only condition, and it’s one with which I’m familiar. NMDR, along with most other legitimate rescue groups, make folks return dogs to them if they don’t work out. It’s part of the deal, which is to get dogs that need homes into good homes.
Here’s a photo of Jacob Torres with his latest and, he claims, most beautiful ever longhaired Chihuahua. He bred this guy, named Wattson. If you want a champion Chihuahua or Papillon, visit Jacob’s site. Jacob is a good breeder. He doesn’t breed for weird colors that look good but render the dogs unhealthy. Jazzy is a prime example of this. Or was, now that she’s dead. Sighhhh.
Jacob and Wattson
Go here if you want well-bred Chihuahuas or Papillons: https://www.facebook.com/Torro-Chihuahuas-Papillons-109524651734599/
Okay, back to books. I’m still enjoying writing Spirits Adopted. This makes me happy, since Celluloid Angels was so traumatic. Well, the poor characters between the book’s cover had a traumatic time too. See if I ever do that again. Ahem. Here’s the Amazon Kindle link for Spirits Adopted:
I’ve been remiss in my last couple of newsletters and haven’t offered a book giveaway. So, if you’d like win a copy of one of my books, please email me (alice@aliceduncan.net), tell me which book of mine you’d like to have and if you want it in paper or ebook format. I can’t guarantee I’ll have a paperback of all of my books, but e-copies are a piece of cake, only they have no calories. Ha ha ha. If you want an e-copy PLEASE TELL ME WHAT DEVICE YOU USE. You know: Kindle, Nook, Apple and/or whatever else is out there. I can’t read minds. Heck, not even Daisy can read minds!
If you’re on Facebook, please join Daisy Daze! Anyone who has an interest in the 1920s will probably find Daisy Daze interesting, at least sometimes. Daisy Dazers give me plotting advice all the time. They’ve been going at it like gangbusters lately and I’m extremely grateful for their ideas. Daisy Daze was founded by Iris Evans and Leon Fundenberger, both of whom like Daisy and Mercy. Daisy Daze is a great place for Daisy Gumm Majesty Rotondo and Mercedes Louise Allcutt fans to hang out, as well as anyone who is interested in the “Roaring Twenties.” We concentrate pretty closely on the Pasadena and Los Angeles areas, because the books are set there. We also cover a lot of stuff relating to early motion pictures, because both Daisy and Mercy have friends in the biz. Daisy Daze is fun, it’s educational and if you’d like to be a member, check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/905100189878318/
If you’d like to visit my web page, here’s the link, thanks to Lyndele von Schill, who seems to be capable of doing anything and everything. Amazing woman, Lyndele. So glad she befriended me on Facebook! Home | Alice Duncan . If you’d like to be Facebook friends, please go here: (20+) Alice Duncan | Facebook .
Here’s a link to my author page at ePublishingWorks: Alice Duncan Author Page (ebookdiscovery.com)
Thank you!
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