Eva:
How long did it take you to write Bedtime stories for dogs?

Leigh Anne:
It took me about a month and a half to write Bedtime Stories for Dogs. But, I had been thinking about it for a long time. So much of writing is stuff you do in your head without even ever sitting down to put stuff on paper.

Eva:
How long have you been writing?

Leigh Anne:
I have been writing for a living for six years next month. Before that, however, writing was always a part of what I did for a job. And I loved writing in school -- specifically, poems and short stories. I write all kinds of things now from books to magazine articles to greeting cards to movie scripts. I like the freedom of expressing myself in many ways.

Eva:
How many dogs do you have? What are their names?

Leigh Anne:
I have two dogs now. Their names are Maddy Lou (3-1/2 year old dachshund) and Justin (8 month old dachshund). But we are also watched over by two dog spirits -- Copper and Slate, both dachshunds.

Eva:
Thank you for your interview. Now I’d like to introduce a FREE excerpt from Leigh Anne Jasheway’s book, Bedtime Stories for Dogs

All of the taunting made the three little Pugs very sad. And there’s nothing sadder than a sad Pug face. Oy.

One day, Mother Pug had to go to the beauty parlor to get her nails clipped. Since Herman, Ira, and Stan were big boys, Mother Pug decided it would be okay to let them play outside until she got back. Big mistake.

It was a nice warm day. The three little Pugs got hot playing "Mark the Hydrant" and decided to take off heir dog collars. They were naked and free. This made the three little pugs very happy.

But their happiness didn’t last long. Donny the Doberman-the biggest bully in the neighborhood-came by. Not only did he cover their scents on the hydrant, he ran off barking, "I’m going to tell Dastardly Dogcatcher you’re playing in the street without your dog tags!"

And wouldn’t you know, before the Pugs had a chance to get their collars back on, Dastardly Dogcatcher showed up! The Pugs could hear dogs barking from the back of his dog-catching van. Dogs whose only crime had been roaming free, enjoying the beautiful spring day were now going up the river.

Herman was so scared, he made a puddle on the sidewalk. When Dastardly Dogcatcher tried to catch him in his net, Herman ran and hid under a big pile of leaves. Herman was not the brightest Pug.

Dastardly yelled, "Get out of that pile of leaves, you Pugly, or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow them away." Herman shook in fear, but he didn’t come out. So Dastardly Dogcatcher took a very deep breath and he huffed and he puffed and he blew the leaves away. And he put Herman in the back of the van with the other innocent dogs.

Ira was so scared he could’ve plotzed. He ran and hid in some tall grass. Dastardly Dogcatcher saw the grass moving and yelled, "I know you’re in there, you Pugly. Come out or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow that grass away." Ira was very scared, but he did not come out. So Dastardly Dogcatcher took a very deep breath and he huffed and he puffed and he blew the grass away. And then he put Ira in the back of his van with Herman and the other innocent dogs.

Stan, on the other hand, was a very smart dog. He took one look at the situation and hightailed it to a nearby deli and bolted the door shut. Dastardly Dogcatcher could see him through the window, right below that said KOSHER MEATS. He yelled "Come out of that deli, you Pugly, or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow it away!"

Stan grabbed some corned beef and then he unlocked the front door and ran to the van. He let Herman and Ira and the other poor dogs out. And being not only bright, but caring, too, Stan ran back into the deli and dialed 911 to make sure Dastardly Dogcatcher hadn’t has a heart attack. After all, reasoned Stan, he was just doing his job.