DEVIL WITH THE BLUE DRESS ON

More like angel with the sundress on, right?

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!

WILL NEVER HAPPEN!

VINTAGE VALENTINE CARDS FEATURING DOXIES

What do you

think of these

doxie valentines?

Seems that the

dachshund

has been

featured often on

Valentine's Day!

Can't think of

a better

subject.

DACHSHUNDS . . . YOU GOTTA LOVE 'EM!

DACHSHUNDS FOREVER 76% OFF FOR LIMITED TIME!

Dachshunds Forever, Book 3 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES

discounted 76% for a limited time, beginning this Saturday:

That's right! the Kindle Countdown Deal for September begins this Saturday, Sept. 17, and this e-book price will be only 99 cents (from 8:00 a.m. Saturday until 12 a.m. Sunday PST)!

Dachshunds Forever will return to its original price of $3.99 on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Meanwhile, the e-book price will be  $1.99 on Sunday, Sept. 18, and $2.99 on Monday, Sept. 19. 

Why should you read this book? If you're a doxie lover, you'll enjoy Sarge the doxie's comical tales about life, family, and his escapades, all written in his very own doxie style:

"Sarge the precocious dachshund continues the chronicle of his own unpredictable dawg's life, along with his zany family of beloved humans and assorted animals. He travels out west to Arizona with his doxie pal Duke (and a couple of his humans, of course), sightseeing along the way in a motor home. Sarge encounters an Elvis impersonator in Memphis, admires cowboys and cattle across Texas, travels through desert in New Mexico, and enjoys mouthwatering regional food along the way. He'll have readers wanting to join in it all with him!

"The Grand Canyon, which Sarge dubs as 'the biggest ditch I've ever seen,' provides even more adventure to his trip of a lifetime. Duke his protege, the conniving cats (remember the Fuzz Brothers?), and Gizmo the chatty cockatiel--who insists on calling Sarge cutie--will have readers chuckling.

"Affectionately written by Sarge as only a dog can, Dachshunds Forever reveals his clever wit, keen intelligence, and refreshing perspective on life."

To order Dachshunds Forever, click on the direct link to Amazon below:

www.amazon.com/dp/B00NU5VQOQ

Free Kindle reading apps are available for your smart phone, tablet, or computer:

www.amazon.com/kindleapp

I AM SARGE - ONLY 99 CENTS!

Wouldn't you love to know what doxies REALLY think of humans?

I AM SARGE, the book that "started it all," is only 99 cents (e-book) - Book 1 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series of five books

Written from the viewpoint of Sarge the dachshund, readers love his zany human family, his comical lowdown from the ground, and his hilarious shenanigans. Best of all, the golden thread of God's unconditional love is woven throughout Sarge's tales.

Get Sarge's book today! 
www.amazon.com/dp/B00UNQSSDM

Free Kindle reading app for your smartphone, tablet, or computer here: www. Amazon.com/kindleapp

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

We have a winner of the I AM SARGE autographed book giveaway! Ms. Sherry Rogers of West Virginia won the book this morning! Congratulations to her.

She was very happy (and so am I), saying that she never wins anything! Well, she did this time.

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway, and I urge you to try again for the next giveaway, which will be an autographed copy of I AM DACHSHUND. Details to follow soon.

Dachshund BOOKS . . . you gotta love 'em!

SARGE THE DOXIE DROPS A BOMBSHELL IN THIS INTERVIEW!

The post below is similar to a post from a few years ago, but it has been redone, rewritten, and content added.  Sarge makes an announcement, so doxie lovers and readers, read it to find out what it is!

INTERVIEW WITH SARGE THE DOXIE:  A SURPRISE IS COMING!

Here's my interview of Sarge, the precocious dachshund author
 of THE DACHSHUND  ESCAPADES books. We promised our 
readers that we would bring him back to answer some of 
their questions, so we are pleased to have him as our guest 
once again.

MDH: I hear that you have recently visited several dachshund 
rescue societies in various parts  of the country. Would you 
like to share a little about those with our readers?

SARGE THE DOXIE: First of all, thank you for having me back. 
I never miss an opportunity to promote my books! My main
 thrust in visiting the dachshund rescue societies was to 
commend the staff for work well done. My doxie buddies, 
I've found, don't have much interest in books--seems they 
mostly seek treats--so I focused on putting paw prints on
 copies of my book for the staff. They are special people, 
and it is wonderful how they help my fellow wiener dogs 
find a new lease on life in loving "fur" ever homes.

MDH: Well, then . . . what did you find to be the most 
fascinating detail about these rescue societies?

SARGE THE DOXIE: As a dog myself, the most 
fascinating detail for ME in the societies was the
 dedication of the workers. Dachshunds of all 
colors, coats,  ages, personalities, and health are
 accepted and loved. It is wonderful to see 
humans being so accepting of them. If humans 
want to adopt a dachshund, they should check
 out the rescue societies first.

MDH: Thank you for giving us insight on that. 
Now, let's get to our first reader question. 
This one comes from a dachshund owner 
named Patrick in Toledo, Ohio, who asks: 
"You have said in the past that Papa Duke 
was your favorite human character in your 
books. Is he still your favorite now in your 
latest book, A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE?  
You also recently disclosed that he passed away 
before your books and you never really 
knew him personally.

SARGE THE DOXIE:  Papa Duke wasn't on 
the scene when I wrote the first THREE books,
 either. You see, I write about Papa like he is 
still alive because there are so many family 
stories about him--that this is my way of keeping 
him with us, so to speak. He loved dachshunds so much.

Regarding the fourth book, A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE, 
Papa Duke is still my favorite human, although I love all 
of my characters, most of whom are people I actually 
know. Papa's friend Sellars is so much like Papa . . . 
I never met him in person, either, but I've heard so much
 about him!  Sellars passed away a couple of years 
ago, but hopefully, "the fishing story" in I AM SARGE 
will keep him alive for years to come. That  incident 
actually happened with him and Papa, you know!  
I wasn't actually there, of course, but I had to put 
myself in the story so I could write it.  Other than
 that tiny detail, the story is true.

MDH: Papa Duke wins hands--er, paws down, I see. 
Here's another question from a ten-year-old reader 
named Reed in Detroit, Michigan: "I read I AM SARGE
and loved it. We have a red dachshund named Princess, 
and I believe your stories because she acts a lot like 
you. Are there be any other dachshunds in your 
books, besides Duke?"

I CHANGED MY MIND: I AM DACHSHUND COVER

The other day I revealed the cover for I AM DACHSHUND.  However, as you can see the cover above, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND on the main photo for it, and added a couple of dog paw prints.

I'm allowed to do that, right?  This cover version is better, more colorful, and I like it.  Hope you do!

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em.

COVER REVEAL OF NEW EDITION, I AM DACHSHUND

Here it is, friends:

The book, second edition, will be released in a couple of weeks barring any unforeseen circumstances.  

Any guesses about who those other three "animules" are on the cover?  

TODAY IS DOXIE PUPPY DAY!

I love dachshunds of all ages, but there's just a special place in my heart for doxie PUPPIES!  The innocence in those little faces, the way they run, their curiosity, those cute little barks--I love everything about them.  Therefore, I proclaim today as DOXIE PUPPY DAY on this blog--dachshunds one year old or younger.

We adopted Duke at eight weeks of age, so here are some of his baby pictures--Duke is introduced in I AM DACHSHUND, Book 2 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES:

"Are you gonna take me home?"

A scared little puppy going home

"I own the place now!"

And, here are some other lovable doxie puppies:

"We iz cute!"

"Where is Mama?  Is she coming back?"

The innocence of sleep

"What is this green stuff I'm sitting on?"

"No!  I don't believe it"

"Sunbathing is healthy"

Precious mama and baby

"Don't bother me--I'm thinking"

"Geez--I'm about to trip over these ears"

A trio of cuteness

"C'mon--you know you want to give me that treat" 

Sardines!

"Say what??"

Basketful of love

Dreamland

"I--can--do--it"

"I am sooooo tired"

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love em--no matter what age they are!

DACHSHUNDS AND VACUUM CLEANERS

The concept about vacuum cleaners is very true of many doxies.  My Duke just takes a ho-hum attitude toward it, thankfully.  HOWEVER, our doxie granddawg Shadow is another story.

He absolutely hates the vacuum cleaner: he tries to bite it, barks and growls menacingly at it, and generally just makes a nuisance of himself.  Not wanting to put up with it after all these years (Shadow turned 14 last month), our daughter Holly usually puts him in the back bathroom with the door shut while she vacuums the house.   That's where I got the idea for Sarge to hate vacuum cleaners in my book series, THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES.

On the other hand, if I get out the Swiffer dust mop, Duke goes ballistic--well, sort of.  He acts like he wants me to chase him with it, because if I push it toward him, he'll bark, run off, but then come back for more, with that classic doxie pose for wanting to play:  his posterior up in the air!

How does your doxie react to vacuum cleaners?

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!

JUST ADDED: Excerpt from A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE

Beneath the title of this blog, there are buttons for its pages.  Today, I just added an excerpt from Book 4, A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE.

In this excerpt, Sarge relates his excitement over the upcoming Halloween festival at the church across the street--he not only gets to attend, but he also gets to wear a costume, too!

COVER REVEAL: I AM SARGE, SECOND EDITION!

Two smiling boys:  our grandson
and Shadow cuddling

Today, I'm revealing the new cover for the second edition of I AM SARGE, Book 1 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series. This is THE book that started it all!  Sarge relates how he came
to be adopted into a busy pastor's family, on up through some of his first encounters with cats, his first time fishing with two interesting characters, and hilarious shenanigans--hence, the title of this series.

Has the story changed?  In a word, no.  There are some "tweaks" to make the story better, however, with added detail and richer description.

I AM SARGE will be released in paperback first (very soon, I promise), then followed by the Kindle version:

If you follow this blog or The Dachshund Escapades blog, my website (www.MavisDukeHinton.com), Facebook (www.facebook.com/mavisdukehintonsbooks), or Twitter (@writer4dawg), you already know that Sarge the dachshund "author" is based upon our "granddawg" Shadow, and the photos on the front of the cover are actually of Shadow himself.  The small photo on the back cover is of our doxie Duke.  Many of the stories in Sarge's books actually happened, so readers of the series will probably agree that "truth is stranger than fiction."

Next up on my publishing agenda is the second edition of I AM DACHSHUND, Book 2 of the series.  I already have the new cover completed, and I'm working my way through the manuscript to polish it up as well.  After that, (Lord willing) I plan to release Book 5, A DACHSHUND'S MERRY-GO-ROUND LIFE, this summer.

Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em!

Shadow with cat buddy Piper

BOOK 5, A DACHSHUND'S MERRY-GO-ROUND LIFE, IN THE WORKS!

I told myself I wouldn't write another dachshund book . . . that was when I was working on Book 3,  DACHSHUNDS FOREVER.  In fact, as I was writing that book, I kept thinking of things to include, so it kept getting longer and longer!  That's when I decided to split it into two books, so that's how Book 4, A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE, came about.

But Sarge the doxie still has things he wants to say, so I'm in the planning stages of Book 5.  It is, at this time, entitled A DACHSHUND'S MERRY-GO-ROUND LIFE, and I have a great cover idea.  In fact, I've actually put together a cover design, and I'm liking it . . . A LOT.  Sorry--no previews yet until I'm farther along the road to writing the book itself!

In any case, I'd appreciate prayers as I embark on this exciting new project.  A book's characters often take over, and that's exactly what Sarge has done--he has more he wants to tell his readers, apparently!

I have two other projects ahead of Book 5, but will keep readers posted.  I'm planning to release it this summer.  Stay tuned!

"This photo of me 'might' be on the cover!"

FOLLOWING MY HEART

"A fiction book's plot, especially Christian fiction, might not go the way the reader desires; in fact, the ending might not be what the reader wanted, either. However, I have to be true to myself and write what I believe the Lord is leading me to write--with no apologies."


I wrote the paragraph above, not because of any criticism or problem, but because I want to make it clear to readers where I am coming from. At a book signing several years ago, a customer asked, "Does the dog die in your book? I don't want to read any more books where the dog dies at the end."


I replied that the dog did not die. That is the crux of the matter: as a Christian, I am keenly conscious of the leading of the Holy Spirit as I write. I realize that bad people, bad actions, and bad situations are a part of life, but I don't wish to glorify such. I believe that everything has a purpose, and if that purpose in my writing is not to glorify God, then I don't write it. If having the main character die in a book does indeed further the cause of Christ, then I will write that into the plot. People die. People hurt. People suffer. But there is a better day coming for those who know the Lord.

I want readers to come away from reading my books feeling encouraged, uplifted, and understanding--that God loves them unconditionally, and He made a way for them to spend eternity with Him. A writer does not need to sound "preachy" to accomplish that. A well-thought-out and well written story can "show, not tell" readers that God's unconditional love is available for all who accept Him, no strings attached. Only then can a person begin to live his or her life according to God's plan, not by hit or miss. Only then can a person find inner peace and joy. Happiness is fickle--it is swayed by circumstances and things. Joy is God given and enduring, very unlike finite happiness.

THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES are written from a dachshund's viewpoint. But Sarge's view, of being on the outside looking in regarding Christianity and his understanding of it, illustrates how we are before receiving God's grace wrapped in a bow: salvation for eternity made possible by Christ's death on the cross--He took my place and took my punishment for my sins. We humans can understand how to accept such a wonderful gift, but often we choose not to. What a shame.

"For by grace are you saved through faith; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no person can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

"For, everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE

Book 4 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series, A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE, will be released in paper back in just a matter of days!  *happy dance*

It has been out in ebook since November, and for those who prefer a book to hold, you'll see it soon!  Stay tuned.

PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR DOG LOVERS!

Have you ever wondered what your dachshund was really thinking? Then Sarge the doxie's warmhearted tales are for you! Enjoy Sarge's Christmas holidays with his human family and animals--each book includes a different Christmas tale in his life. (And feel free to share this post to reach more potential readers.) 

He tells all--beginning when he was adopted at eight weeks, through "helping" raise three human siblings in a busy pastor's family, sharing life from his "lowdown from the ground," and coping daily with zany human behavior!

The four books of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES are the perfect Christmas gifts for dog lovers of all ages, available in e-book or paperback. Click on the link below for more information or visit www.MavisDukeHinton.com:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mavis+duke+hinton&sprefix=mavis+duke+hinton%2Caps%2C188