Tillie's Tale by Mindy Mymudes Research for Book & Giveaway

BLURB:

Who is the mysterious ghosty haunting puppygirl Tillie? And why? George, the magical basset hound familiar is on the trail.

It’s not often a basset hound puppy is haunted by an unhappy ghost, but George’s packmate, Tillie, manages to attract one. George and Tillie need to find out how to help the ghost before she turns into a poultry-ghost.

Research for the Magical Drool Mysteries.

Tillie’s Tale.

There isn’t a lot. While my background is in population genetics and I love to research, George comes out of what I already know.

George: I would disagree with that. If I didn’t tell you everything, you’d be staring at a blank page. This lady is merely my hands. Paws don’t work well on keyboards. Of course, we are perfect for what we do, but Peeps keep making things for themselves. With so many flaws, it’s a good thing they are clever.

(Glares down at my character.) Anyway, I’ve been a dog trainer for 25 years. My English Springers and I were top ranked in obedience, as well as earning multiple titles in agility, tracking, hunting, rally, and breed. I also have taught obedience classes, so I run into many different breeds and their personalities.

George: Which is how I found you. You speak decent dog, and already were trained for the hard parts. I still don’t understand why you keep spaniels—they’ll do anything for food, including dumb stuff. Feed me, and I’ll consider it.

(You guys don’t see a basset hound here, do you?) Anyhow, I spent a lot of time with bassets in obedience and agility, and walking on the street. There were also some in my classes and I discovered something. They drool and they’re proud of it. They are also smart. And smart butts. Or at least George is.

George: Back to research. I know all about the magic stuff, so I share what I know. It’s instinct, you know. Very much like I have to teach Karly, my greenwitch-in-training.

(Shakes head) So I already had the dog background. The plant stuff I learned in college, I was a horticulture major, and the environmental stuff from my Master’s Degree, I studied an endangered species. As to the rest?  Friends helped me come up with strange creatures in Wisconsin. Apparently we have a lot of ghosts in this state. That was fun to read about. As things got going, I found out more about the ghost’s (the possible poultryghost) background history. It fell into place.

George: She thinks. I knew it all and fed it to her. Dogs don’t need to search material, so we don’t need to research.

EXCERPT:

“Wrrrrttttle.”

Tillie’s tail is spinning in circles. She’s staring at a filmy thing sitting on the steps of an old, rough-brick building. I know it’s really a large Peeps’ den, but since it’s bad to be in the dog house, I assume it’s bad to be in a house. Why don’t they just call it a den if houses are so bad? From the smelltaste of cooking, Peeps, dust, skin, and the other stuff Peeps like, there are many small dens inside. Tillie “wrrrrrtttles” again and adds a soft “wuff.” Her front goes down into a play bow. The thing she’s trying to get to play is shimmery and clear, with thick and thin spots swimming on the surface.

“Snoof. Snuffle” I lick my lips. There’s a disturbing smelltaste of dustmoldlightningozone.

Oh mousefleas.

It’s a ghosty.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I've worked in a hazardous waste lab, where under the sign for the Right To Know law, was added: if you can figure it out. I've been a metals tech, a bakery clerk, a professional gardener, taught human anatomy and ran two university greenhouses. Along the way I picked up my Master's Degree in Biology, specializing in the population genetics of an endangered plant. I am also a top breeder, handler, trainer of English springer spaniels, with three in the equivalent of the National Club's (ESSFTA) hall of fame. Every time I think I know dogs, another dog comes along and proves my beliefs are totally wrong.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Mindy-Mymudes/486126501426333

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6702514.Mindy_Mymudes

Website: http://mindymymudes.weebly.com

Blog: http://bassetbones.wordpress.com

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