Essays
Do you deliberately put a dog in each book? — Tom M. from NY
I think there are actually some books that don’t have dogs in them, not even as walk ons. Most of the time, though, there is at least a walk somewhere in the story. I have long had a love of dogs. I never had a Golden Retriever until 8 1/2 years ago when Trixie came to live with us. Anyone who goes to my website at www.deankoontz.com and clicks on Trixie’s page will find that she has great input to the website so there’s a lot of material there that she has provided.
All dogs are special but, for me, Goldens are just something else. They have such great personalities and sweetness to them, such devotion to people and giving personalities. I look at them and think, “If only humanity could more regularly show the qualities that this dog shows me every day, we’d be a much better planet.”
I’m usually asked if I had a Golden when I wrote WATCHERS. I didn’t. I was familiar with Goldens because I knew people who had them. I admired the breed, but hadn’t had one at that time. I wrote my perception of what a Golden would be like, which was second hand and not what you’re supposed to do, but I did it anyway. It seems to have worked.