CATS OR DOGS?

I have a pet theory (hey, there's a pun): here's the basic question every writer should know about their characters:
Are they cat people or dog people?

And if I can't answer that question, I don't know my character well enough.

Because cat people tend to be independent, solitary--introverted. They live parallel lives to their cats, with mutual support and affection, a relationship between two equals.

And dog people. . .well, dogs respond to the alpha dog. They treat their humans as their "alpha dogs." More social. A dog person likes taking care of the dog. Their relationship is more of master and servant.

I'm not saying one is better than the other. Or that one cannot like both cats and dogs. These are general remarks.

And yes, I'm a cat person.

Mom, Jolene and I went to the pet shelter together. (Oh Mom! Oh Jolene!) Mom wanted kittens; I wanted an adult cat who had a harder time finding a home. I wanted two cats; she wanted only one. So we reached a compromise. We would either get two kittens or one adult cat.

We quickly fell in love with Talia, with her Siamese blue eyes and seal point tail, ears and paws, although tiger stripes covered her face and body over a beige coat. I called her a "Si-Ti" (Siamese Tiger) mix until I learned she's a rare breed, a lynx point Siamese. She's gorgeous. She quickly filled out. All our cats do; I think it's the auto-feeder that does it.

So now Talia and I live our separate but intersecting lives in my nice cool Oklahoma home (those of you suffering the 100 degree heat with me know what a blessing that is!).

I wonder if she ever thinks of Mom (Mom 1. I'm Mom 2) or Auntie Jolene.

Oh, and by the way? In my current project, Blanche, my heroine, is a cat person, and Ike, the hero, is a dog person.

***FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY OF LONE STAR TRAIL AT http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/. Also check out my interview at rivernorthfiction.com about Lone Star Trail.***

I'M BAACCKK

I finally gave in to necessity and have buried myself under a snow of writing. I turned in the sequel to Lone Star Trail, A Ranger's Trail, around the 4th of July.

Then I persevered through writing my next, and as it turns out, my last book for Heartsong Presents. The bookclub which gave me my start is closing at the end of the year; I'm not certain what form my book, Pride's Fall, together with the other two titles from Carla Gade and Susan Davis in our "Love in Four Corners" collection.

But . . . now that book is finished. I am taking a week's vacation. (I slept about 30 hours in 2 days' time. Does that give you an idea how tired I was?!)

My publicist tells me I should get my copies of Lone Star Trail sometime during the third week of August! Coming oh so soon!

River North Fiction (the imprint of Moody Press) is doing things right for the Texas Trails series. We even have our own website! Check out
http://texastrailsfiction.com/. Look at the trailer while you're there . . . it's amazing. Wande is radiant and perfect!

Reviews of Lone Star Trail are popping up all over the place:

http://harstan.wordpress.com/
http://thereadersroundtable.com/inspirational/
http://genregoroundreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/lone-star-trail-darlene-franklin.html
http://www.goodreads.com/

I even have my first-ever review in Romantic Times (4 stars!)

Can you tell I'm excited?!

I look forward to connecting back with my fellow authors, readers, and friends.