A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers

Interview with author, Tanya Sousa

Interview with Tanya Sousa about her story, "Sisters" coming out in the book, A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers:

Tanya Sousa and her Border Collie, "Buzz", have worked together as a Literacy Dog Team for at least four years. It was such a hit with the school, that she wrote a non-fiction book about the program and how other schools might set one up too. A K-8 Guidance Counselor with a degree in writing, Tanya prefers to get messages out there with printed words; her latest dog-related publication is the story "Sisters", that will appear in the book A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers coming to bookstores in August.

"I write a lot about dogs. Most of my pieces are magazine articles, but I do write fiction and memoirs too-anything that will show how important it is to recognize dogs and other animals as intelligent, feeling creatures that deserve kindness and respect." Tanya says. "I hear some horrible stories from children in school about how their pets are treated, and stories manage to teach young and old." She continues. "I work with the children in school and send more information out there with my writing."

Her love for dogs began when she was about four-years-old and her family adopted a female shelter puppy they named "Simba". Sousa says, "It was obvious to me that this "simple animal" was like a wise older sister by the time she was a year old, and my parents never discouraged my innate respect for her. That's what the story is about. I respected Simba, so paid attention to warnings Simba gave my sister and I when we wanted to go into our old barn one day. Thank goodness I did! The barn collapsed shortly after, and we would have been inside."

She says having a story published in this particular collection means a lot to her. "All the stories celebrate dogs. If one person reads my story or any of the others and is kinder to animals because of it, a wonderful change has taken place."

Tanya Sousa will do book signings and readings around the Northeast Kingdom (northeastern Vermont) of Vermont this summer and fall, and the book itself will reach much further. "Words are powerful," she says. "I hope mine make a difference."

If anyone has thoughts or questions, Tanya may be reached at naturese@together.net.

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