 |
| I love the cover of this book. |
Linda
Coggin is an actress, poet, author and animal lover. Her latest book, “The Dog,
Ray” is a novel about a twelve-year-old girl killed in a car accident. She
briefly visits “heaven” – a Government-run job centre – only to find herself
returning to earthly existence in the body of a dog. I thought I could predict
exactly how the plot would turn out, but it surprised me. And the book provides
some interesting insights into the human-animal bond. Linda was happy to chat
with us.
 |
| Linda Coggin with one of her muses. |
What is your day job?
I
don’t really have a day job. I write! But sometimes I make gardens for people.
I have had lots of day jobs in my time though. I’ve been a mime, tv presenter,
actor, stylist, gardener and cleaner. But I have always written.
Can you give us a
short synopsis of your book The Dog, Ray?
The Dog, Ray is about
a twelve year old girl called Daisy, who dies in a car crash and comes back to
earth as a dog. But she retains the memory of being her twelve year old self so
has opinions and attitudes and ideas that no one can understand. She meets a
boy who is living rough called Pip, who gives her the name of Ray, and together
they go on a journey to find his father.
You wrote that your
dog Beezle was the inspiration. How did you meet Beezle and what about him
inspired you?
Beezle
is nearly thirteen, about the same age as the girl, Daisy, in the story. We
have had him since he was a puppy. His mother was a lurcher and his father a
very handsome whippet.
 |
| Beezle, as drawn by Linda's daughter Chloe. |
Beezle
let me into the world of dogs. He is always busy just being a dog. He likes chasing
things, burying things, chewing things, having his head stroked and lying around
a lot. He is a very gentle, loyal dog and because I’ve spent so much time with
him I’ve been able to observe the important bits which I hope make Ray in the
story believable. Like how his ears move. Beezle’s ears are very expressive.
 |
| Beezle with his expressive ears. |
Your book highlights
the ways (good and bad) that different people treat dogs. How do you think we
should treat dogs?
I
think we should treat dogs in the same way we should treat any sentient being.
With love, kindness and respect. Never to punish but to show them what you
think is right and to praise them when they do well. I think dogs can easily
behave in the same way as their owners. I’ve seen nervous, neurotic dogs with
nervous and neurotic owners. If something goes wrong with a dog’s behaviour it
usually comes from the owner.
What other non-humans
do you share your life with and how did you meet?
As
well as Beezle, we have an Irish wolfhound called Pixie, who does not behave
like a dog and was no good at inspiring dog like things for the book. Although
she is very large, in her mind she is a lap dog. We also have two cats, Pocket
(quarter Bengal) who features a lot in my blog as he’s always bringing some
dead animal home. Well it’s usually alive when he enters the threshold through
the cat flap. Also a black cat Nancy who we rescued. Then there are two horses,
Harry a gypsy cob and Trude a rather aloof Friesian and seven Indian Running
ducks. Last year we had a pet rook too who had fallen out of a nest.
Any advice you’d like
to share with veterinarians and future veterinarians?
Advice
– oh! Only that I’ve learnt to try and
be calm around animals. To be patient and non-threatening and not to force
anything. We all have to gain their trust.
Thank you Linda. The Dog,
Ray is published by Hotkey Books and available for $16.99. You can
read more about Linda on her blog lindacogsblog.blogspot.co.uk, Facebook
pages (The Dog, Ray; The Boy with the Tiger’s Heart; Linda Coggin), and follow
her on twitter @LindaCoggin.
