Is she still here?

Glimpses of my dog's spirit, two weeks later

Walking makes me think of Roxy. My first long walk back from BC, a neighbour said, “Where’s your dog? The big Rottweiler?”

I explained that Roxy had died.

But it does feel like her spirit is here. I’d never seen so many dogs at the airport!

As soon as I posted about Roxy—I mean the literal second I clicked—Anastasia said, “That dog looks like Ra Ra.” And it did. Just as a smaller working dog.

We’d never heard of Roxy apples before. But of course we had to buy two.

I brought one to the hospital in Kamloops for lunch, and my new doctor friend bought two of my books!

Our wonderful friends and family, her vets, and our neighbours told us they loved Roxy, too. One told me to imagine them as a wall protecting me. I shared this wall of love and protection with my friend Alicia, who also needs some TLC right now. I invite anyone who needs shelter and protection to come inside the circle for comfort. Roxy has a big enough heart for all of us.

I choke up when I come home to Bell instead of Roxy and Bell. And when I’m walking Bell alone, or when I reach for Roxy’s empty leash.

I dreamed about Roxy. She had her back to me. But she gave her tail a definitive side to side shake in acknowledgment. Anastasia said she dreamed about her too, but can’t remember. I plan to collect my Roxy dreams.

If you are lonely and need a hug or a human equivalent of a scratch between the ears, come on in. Roxy is here, giving you her best 360 degree tail wag and perking up her ears.

Writing stuff:

Kobo interviewed me!
Please give it a click for metrics. :) And you can meet cool people like author Grace Bowen!

Canada hosted a free and wonderful fiction festival spearheaded by N.P. Thompson: https://fictionfest.ca/events/. Replays are up for one more week. I did a mystery author reading live from the BC Wildlife Park and then joined “Building a Mystery” from a truck stop in Little Fort, BC. Can’t wait to check it out myself now that I have (more) Internet.

Do you know the Mesdames of Mayhem? You should! Check out the latest shenanigans by these crime authors! A new anthology is coming out this year, The Power of 13:

Yay, Melodie Campbell has a new book:

And who can resist Lisa de Nikolits, who always invents something new?

Don't forget to comment if you want to enter the giveaways for these stunning Canadian YA novels. Giveaway closes July 13:

Oops! My husband told me he was walking Bell, and I had to run to join them. Roxy used to wait for me. More evidence of Roxy superiority, and how much I miss my heart dog.

xoxox

Melissa