Romance by Susan Kelley

I have two writing lives.  In one, I'm an author or YA and epic fantasy.  My first published series, The Futhark Chronicles, has the first two books now available with books three and four coming out next year.  I have another fantasy series I hope to find a home for this year.

In my other persona, as Susan Kelley, I write fantasy romance.  I have five romances published already, another under contract to be released later this spring and one I'm busy working on right now.  I'm doing the second draft, something that for me usually means a total rewrite.  I managed nearly 10K words this weekend between laundry and cooking. 

This day reminds me of all the romance I'm lucky to have in my life beyond that I read and write.  My husband never forgoes a chance to shower me with gifts.  He buys me flowers at least four times per year and often he'll have a gift card to a bookstore attached.  He knows what I love.  (I love him most of all)

People ask me who I model my heroes after in all my books not just the romances.  My husband always jumps in and says they're all him. 

Well, he's not a great swordsman or an expert horseman.  He's never taken on otherworldly demons or evil witches to save me and our children.  But he has always worked long hours to see we have everything we need.  He sat for hours during my labor in the hospital holding my hand.  He's been a role model for our children and their friends, coaching their sports teams and playing games in the front yard.  He'll do the laundry or the dishes without being asked.  He is a hero.  And if some foul demon creature bursts into the house someday, I know he'll take up the fireplace poker and step in between it and me. 

Did you remember your every day hero today?  Happy Valentine's Day!

All Dogs Go to Heaven

It's been a while since I blogged but it's been one of those weeks. Not everyone is a pet lover but those who are know the joy of unrestrained love and loyalty from a warm, furry friend.

We moved to our current location fourteen and one half years ago. Our first summer here, my son asked for a puppy for his birthday. We wanted a large dog but one with a reputation for gentleness and intelligence.

I have a dear friend in the dog business and she warned me against golden and Labrador retrievers who have been vastly over bred due to their popularity. Not that there aren't wonderful examples of those breeds out there but they would probably be out of my price range. By some chance of luck we saw someone with a Chesapeake bay retriever at a baseball game. The proud carriage and settled behavior of the dog convinced us. We lucked upon a breeder who had one litter being raised in his own home.

We drove into the mountains and selected a male with reddish brown curly hair. His official name was Gunner and he had a long line of police working forefathers in his pedigree. Gunner is no name for a family dog. In our house nicknames are used more than real names. Within hours my stepson dubbed our new puppy, Schrambie. Most of the time we called him Schram. The vet had fun with that one.

Schram would have turned 14 in April. On Tuesday he didn't eat but he had been doing that once in a while over the last year. But then he didn't eat on Wednesday morning either though he was still drinking. I worried about him while at work and when I returned home, he didn't want to get up at all. I carried water to him and he drank some and looked more alert.

He didn't seem in discomfort so we took turns sitting with him. His conditioned worsened throughout the night and at times I wished I had taken him to the vet. But he was afraid of the doctor's office so I put it off.

I knew by two in the morning he was never going to wake up again. I stayed up all night and woke my daughter at 5:30 to say her farewells. Schram had become her dog after my son went away to college. Before she got dressed and came down stairs to see him, Schram died. I knew he would want to be at home on his favorite rug and was glad I didn't take him to the vet. It was quick for him and without pain except for us.

I rejoice in 14 years with the most loving, loyal pet in the world. He growled at strangers, fought off any male dog on his territory, let all the female dogs visiting him steal all his toys and he carried more frogs and toads than I can count back to the house. He loved the snow and rain and hated the heat.

There's an empty spot in our house and a scar on our hearts. It's been tough to write this week but I'm at a part of my book where people have to step up and be heroes. They have to be willing to sacrifice everything. Some of them only need to be loyal and stand beside their families and friends through hell and beyond. Perhaps when I can think of him without crying, Schrambie will inspire me to catch the deep emotion I need.

Rest in peace, beloved friend.