Barb Caffrey's Blog

Folks, I have not been very communicative lately. I realize that. I’ve been struggling with several things, including plantar fasciitis in my left heel that makes walking difficult and painful. (That’s saying something, as I already walk with a cane and deal with pain daily from my knees and back.) I’ve been saving my energy mostly for editing and writing.

Mind, I do have a few things to report in that area. I’ve been very cagey about it, but I am about done with a novel set in my friend and client Chris Nuttall’s Schooled in Magic universe. I have 105,000 words written, and that seems to be about the right length…now I have to go back and smooth out some rough edges, before I can send it to my four chosen readers (two that know the SIM universe, and two that don’t), to see what they think and what I need to do next.

You might be wondering who I’m writing about. I will tell you this much: it’s not about Emily. It’s not about Nanette (though that did tempt me). It’s instead about a minor character in Adam’s trilogy (starting with The Cunning Man) that I felt was getting a bit of a bad rap, whose story just kind of hit me in the head one day.

I hadn’t intended to write it, mind you. But after reading the third novel, where this character acts a whole lot better (and it did make sense), I had a whole monologue show up, in first person, that I wrote down. I showed it to Chris, and also showed it to another good friend who knows the SIM universe well, Leo Champion…they both said I had to keep going.

So, for the last three years, that’s what I’ve been doing. Sometimes progress has been slow. Sometimes it’s been in leaps and bounds. But I now have a viable story, what I hope will be the first of a trilogy of stories about this character.

After my four readers see it and tell me what they think, I’ll have a better idea as to a timeline as to when it may come out. My hope is for early fall, but we’ll see. I do intend to give “teaser” chapters when the time comes.

“But Barb,” I can hear you asking. “What about your three existing novels? What’s up with them? They’re not back out there yet.”

I have submitted them to a new publisher, and they are in that pipeline. So far, they haven’t been rejected yet (I asked about them a few days ago, hoping I wasn’t jogging the publisher’s elbow too much), but I do have a backup plan in case they are. I hope to have them back out again before the novel in Chris’s SIM universe comes out.

As far as other writing goes, Gail Sanders and I wrote a third story about Lance Corporal Marcus McGruder and Master Sergeant Peter Welmsley for an upcoming anthology (no, I won’t tell you exactly what the story is, or when it may come out, as it hasn’t been accepted yet and I’m superstitious that way). I have a backup plan for that, too…lately, my life seems all about “backup plans,” for lack of a better term.

For those of you wondering about my living situation, it’s in the same place as before. I’ll keep you posted, elsewise.

Other than that, I’ve been trying to help several rescue groups — some nearby, some not — to let folks know that good dogs are available in the various animal shelters. Many shelters waive fees for at-risk dogs (“at-risk” meaning they’re on the equivalent of doggie death row, or euthanasia), and most of the time the only reason these poor dogs are at-risk is because of overcrowding at the animal shelters.

This is the worst time of year for that, mind you. For whatever reason, dogs, cats, and other animals end up in the shelters far more often in the summer than any other time of the year, and they don’t deserve it.

I feel for these dogs (usually the cats are more easily placed, so I’m mentioning the dogs instead). They are kind-hearted, loving dogs, well-socialized, many of them get along with other dogs, with kids, some get along with cats, and the shelters notate which ones are especially good at taking treats gently from your hands or don’t pull on the leash.

They’ve done nothing to end up in the circumstances they’re in. They’ve just loved people, sometimes those who’ve let them down, and sometimes those who through no fault of theirs can no longer take care of them.

Being in the shelter is scary for them. They don’t know why they’re there.

I believe in lifelong pet ownership whenever possible. (Longtime readers of my blog know this.) My favorite dog ever, Trouble, was over seventeen when he died (he was a Shih Tzu mix of some sort, gray, black, and white). My mother’s little dog, Bratty, is now over seventeen, and is still as feisty as ever. (I hope Mom will have Bratty for quite some time yet, but of course you never know.) Mom’s dogs Floyd and Blackie were at least thirteen before they passed (Blackie was a bit bigger and a Cocker spaniel mix of some sort; Floyd was “genuine American mutt,” sweet, loving, but don’t trust him around pizza or seafood!), and the only dog I can recall of any she had dying early was Clyde, who was only six years old but had a neurological issue that caused paralysis, and the vets weren’t able to do anything to help him.

So, I see these young dogs — some are only a year or two old! — in the shelter, and my heart just cracks open for them. They could have decades left if they only find the right person, the right family, for them.

My friend Rosemary Edghill, who died recently, rescued Cavalier King Charles spaniels, especially the older ones. I’ve been doing a lot more dog rescuing work (sharing posts, discussing things with volunteers, and such) since she passed. I’m not sure why this is, except that I admired her, and wanted at least one thing I could do to help remember her by. I hope my efforts, small as they are, will do some good…and at least they can’t do harm.

I am not in a position where I can get a dog of my own. (More’s the pity.) But I can share when good dogs are available, and I’ve tried to do that lately, especially on my Facebook page. There are several excellent rescue places that are nearby, including It’s a Pittie Rescue and Chi-Town Pitties, that often feature wonderful dogs. The Chicago area shelters are full, too, as are the folks in Atlanta (I often share for them), and there are so many wonderful and amazing animals there that deserve their forever homes.

It’s something that can break your heart, if you let it, trying to rescue animals. But my motto is, do whatever you can, for as long as you can, and hope that your efforts will do some good.

That’s my motto overall. About writing, about music, about dog-rescuing, about friendship…help as you’re able, do whatever you can, and hope your efforts do some good even if you can’t see it.

Anyway, that’s what’s going on with me here in Chez Caffrey. What’s going on with you? Let me know in the comments.