When the Wildlife Wants to Move in...

Here in Central Virginia, we have had some weird weather and some interesting wildlife encounters this spring. We live in a very wooded community near the reservoir, and we’re used to a lot of our furry and feathered friends visiting. But they took it to the next level this season.

It seems they wanted to settle in, and the Pair of Jacks were not happy with all the critters.

It all started with the woodpecker who decided that the side of the house was much more appealing than any of the hundreds of trees in the yard. He started his rat-a-tat-tatting before dawn on several mornings. He did a bit of damage to the wood siding that we had to repair when another bird decided she wanted to make the hole a spot for a nest.

Then the rowdy squirrels got in on the act. They decided to try to breach the wooden vent cover to the attic. Thankfully, the wire netting held, and all they did was destroy the louvered cover.

A few days later, we woke up to a pile of half-eaten pizza crusts on the kitchen deck. The next day, a bag of stale hamburger buns was left with a pile of crumbs. A few days later, I found the remnants of a chocolate muffin and a mangled plastic container. The critters were having late-night parties on the deck, hosted by a frisky racoon who figured out how to raid our trashcan.

I’m not sure if it’s all the cooler rainy weather we’ve had this spring, or that the locals decided to take advantage of the nearby amenities. I’m hoping our fixes take care of the squatters. I’ve also had a talk with the Jack Russells about stepping up the security around here.

Meet the Fuzzy Sidekicks...

Our two crazy Jack Russell terriers (Disney and Riley) are part of our family, so it’s natural that my characters would share their stories with their fuzzy friends. Here are the furry and fluffy sidekicks in my series.

Margaret Thatcher Reynolds is Delanie Fitzgerald’s partner’s English bulldog. She has two speeds, slow/steady and napping. She’s a log with legs, but she’s a great companion. She loves treats, snacks, and rides in Duncan’s yellow Camaro. She’s also helped save the day in several of the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries.

Bijou is a feisty Jack Russell Terrier who lives and works at the Fern Valley Camping Resort in the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries. She’s the official greeter, and she loves long walks, treats, and riding in Jules’s Jeep Wrangler. Bijou is modeled on my JRT Disney.

Chloe is the white French bulldog in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. The butterball of a dog works at the shop and loves hanging out at the beach in her free time. Her arch-frenemy is Neville the Devil Cat.

Neville the Devil Cat was a Mermaid Bay stray who made himself at home at the Christmas Shoppe. He spends his time napping, checking out the new Christmas ornaments, and annoying Chloe. He’s a tuxedo cat who takes his job as the store’s mouser seriously.

Elvis is a Chihuahua mix in my new Pearly Girls series (March 2025). He is a fixture in the office, and he takes his jobs as ambassador and official greeter seriously. He loves long walks in the mountains and car rides. He may be tiny, but he has all the charisma of his namesake.

What Scooby-Doo Taught Me About Mysteries (and Life)

My love for mysteries started with 70s Saturday morning cartoons like “Scooby-Doo,” “The Funky Phantom,” “Speed Buggy,” and “Josie and the Pussycats.” Overly sweetened cereal, Pop-Tarts, and Saturday morning cartoons were a weekly ritual, and I learned a lot about the mystery genre and life from them. (The Cartoon Network or cable wasn’t around then. Cartoons rarely aired any time except on Saturday mornings, so it was a weekly ritual.)

1. Kids like me could be crime or problem-solvers. In all of the episodes, the gang figured it out and brought the villain to justice (before the adults did).

2. Use what you have available to you. Your wits and creativity go a long way in sleuthing.

3. Keep your eyes open and look for clues. Many times, they’re in plain sight.

4. These kids had the freedom (and a van) to travel to different places. (My mother would have never let me ride around in a van with a bunch of teens solving crimes.) They were so cool.

5. If you don’t know or understand something, ask questions.

6. If you’re clever, alert, and situationally aware, you can gather information and put the puzzle pieces together.

7. Don’t ever stop exploring or learning. We all need to be lifelong learners.

8. Everybody needs a pal or best friend (or a few). They are our sounding boards and support. We all need someone to go into a spooky old house, cave, or dungeon with.

9. Even if something is scary, you can face it. Shag and Scoob were not the bravest creatures, but they always mustered their gumption to trudge on.

10. Do the right thing. Stand up for the underdog and seek truth.

The Animals of Writing

Animals have a variety of qualities, and many apply to the writing life. Here’s my list of some characteristics that writers can borrow from their animal friends.

Bull Dogs - Bull dogs and other dog breeds are known for their tenacity. If you want to be published, don’t give up. Hang on, keep going, and work until you get what you want.

Jack Russell Terriers - Harness your energy and focus it on your writing and revising. Put your backside in a chair and get writing.

Turtle - Turtle have a hard outer shell, and writers need to develop a thick skin if they want to survive. You’re going to get feedback, criticism, and reviews. Learn what you can from them, but don’t take it personally.

Squirrels, Magpies, and Racoons - You need to be able to gather ideas and store them away for a future story. Keep a notebook or file. You never know when a character, description, or bit of dialogue will be useful.

Pigs or Hippos - Don’t be afraid to get dirty. Sometimes, you have to roll up your sleeves and dive in.

Elephants - Be steady, strong, and methodical in your work. Learn and improve your craft. And again, the thick skin doesn’t hurt either.

Lions or Crocodiles - Be fierce when you’re editing and revising. If something doesn’t move your story along, it has to go.

Cats - Find a sunspot or a nice cozy corner and curl up with a book once in a while. Reading is research.

Otters - Enjoy your writing journey. Be playful and creative. Have fun.

Writing (and Life) Advice from the Fuzzy Muses

My two crazy Jack Russell Terriers (Terrors) are great companions and guard dogs. They protect us from countless squirrels, birds, and joggers. Each has a bed in my office, and they help me plot mysteries and listen while I talk through dialogue (if they’re not napping).

Here are some things I’ve learned from them.

1.    Enjoy what you do. If not, find something else to spend your time on. There are way too many interesting things to see, eat, sniff, or bark at.

2.    Don’t waste a beautiful day inside. Go outside and have some fun.

3.    Wag and make friends. Relationships are important.

4.    Don’t sit at your desk too long. Everybody needs a break.

5.    Just go for it. If you want something, grab it. They don’t waste time over-analyzing things.

6.    Bark if you really need to, but not too much.

7.    Make sure you nap when you need to. You need to recharge.

8.    Live in the moment. Don’t stress about what has happened or what might happen.

9.    Play hard. Life shouldn’t be all work. EVERYTHING is a game to a Jack Russell.

Pet Sidekicks

I love pets, and I'm drawn to mysteries and thrillers that have pet characters. My sidekicks are two crazy Jack Russell Terriers, Disney and Riley. Disney's been the model for Darby in my story, "Moving On," and Bijou in a cozy mystery that I'm working on. I started listing authors who have pets in their mysteries. I found lots with cats and dogs. And only one with a hamster. And I found lots to add to my TBR (To Be Read) piles.

Dogs

• Robert B. Parker's Sunny Randall and Rosie the miniature American Bull Terrier

• Ellery Adams' Olivia Limoges and Captain Haviland the Standard Poodle

• Robert B. Parker's Spenser and Pearl the Wonder Dog

• Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy and Tee Tucker, a Corgi

• Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie Mystery Series

• Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles and Asta the Terrier

• Judith Lucci's Michaela McPherson's Angel the German Shepherd

• Waverly Curtis' The Barking Detective Series with Pepe the Chihuahua

• My Delanie Fitzgerald Series with Margaret the English Bull Dog

Cats

• David Baldacci's John Puller and AWOL the cat

• Lorna Barrett's Tricia Miles and Miss Marple

• Lilian Jackson Braun's Jim Qwilleran's Koko and Yum Yum

• Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy and Sneaky Pie Brown

Lots of Pets

• Krista Davis' Pens and Paws Mystery Series

• Sparkle Abbey's Pampered Pets Mystery Series (Their pen name came from their pets.)

• Bethany Blake's Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries

• Annie Knox's Pet Boutique Murders

Hamster

• Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and Rex the Hamster

Who else would you add to the list?

Pets in My Stories

Pets are family, and they play a huge part in our lives. My husband and I share our home with two crazy Jack Russell Terriers, Disney (the brunette) and her brother Riley. They hang out in the office when I write. They also listen when I plot story lines or read dialog aloud. So it's quite natural that they'd be a part of my stories.

Margaret the Bulldog is the sidekick to my sleuth's partner. She has a starring role in Secret Lives and Private Eyes and The Tulip Shirt Murders. Margaret is a brown and white log with legs. She's not much security around the office, but she's good company. She's also the slobber queen, and her two favs are snacking and napping. Margaret is Duncan Reynold's constant shadow, and she likes riding shotgun in his Tweetybird yellow Camaro. (Secret Lives and Private Eyes also features a pair of Alpacas, Joe and Myrtle.)

I'm working on a novella called, Moving on. It should be out later this year. This cozy features a little Jack Russell named Darby who uncovers the murder. She's based on my JRT Disney. Darby is a bundle of energy who likes walks, games of rope tug, snuggles, and lots of treats. I have another novel in progress, and it has a JRT named Bijou. Disney was also the model for her. Riley's feeling a little slighted, so I'll have to base the next dog on him.

My short stories also have dogs and cats. They're such an integral part of our world. If you like books with pets, check out the blog, Pens, Paws, and Claws. I blog with nine other talented, pet-loving authors. Stop by to see their latest adventures.

What type of pets do you like to read about?

Advice from the Muses...

Disney (brunette) and Riley

We share our home with two bundles of energy - our Jack Russell Terriers. Disney (the brunette) is the relationship manager and official household greeter. She is always joyfully exuberant. Riley, her older brother, is calmer for a JRT. He's our Director of Security and ensures that no delivery guy, squirrel, or dog escapes his scrutiny.

They're great company, and they hang out with me when I'm writing. In addition to their other roles, they're also the muses. They listen intently when I read dialogue aloud or hash out plot points. 

Here are some other things I've learned from them. 

1. Live in the now. Today is what's important. The past and future don't matter as much as being present today.

2. Play hard. Life can't be all work. Everything is a game to a Jack.

3. Nap when you need to. You need to recharge every once in a while.

4. Don't waste a beautiful day inside. Go outside and have fun. And they let me know when we've been sitting in the office too long.

5. Know when it's time to cuddle on the couch with a good book and a blanket. 

6. Bark if you need to, but not too much.

7. Wag and make friends. Relationships are important.

8. Make sure that you celebrate the wins. These two will do just about anything for treats or cheese.