Interviewed by author Glenn Erick Miller

I've had the opportunity to be interviewed by Glenn Erick Miller, author of Camper Girl. His YA (Young Adult) novel is a coming of age story about a young woman who inherits an RV and takes a journey of discovery. It is scheduled for release in 2019 from Regal House Publications. Additionally, he has two picture books in the works: Red's First Snow, coming in 2018 from Corncrib Publications, and What Can It Become? from Native Ink Publications.

Michelle Caffrey's book, "Bring Jade Home," tells the true story of a dog lost in the wilderness of Yellowstone and the people who work together to find her.
"Bring Jade Home" is published by Farcountry Press and has earned rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.



You recently completed a book tour. Where did you go? What was your favorite part of that experience?
My husband Paul and I drove almost 5,000 miles. The tour started with a three day signing at Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful Inn. I and her owners—and Jade!— signed over 400 books.
We then went on to book signings Missoula, Helena, Billings, and Bozeman, Montana. Along the way, I did radio and TV interviews.
My favorite part of the experience, other than being with “Team Jade” was visiting Farcountry Press, meeting the people there, and seeing pallets of the book being shipped. It made it very real for me.
How is Jade (the dog) doing?
All involved in the true story were in Yellowstone with me. Her owners, David Sowers and Laura Gillice, have recovered from the accident. Jade is physically fine, but is extremely protective of David, and lovingly clings to him.

What’s next for Jade (the book)?

We hope a film version of the book. 

The reviews for Jade have been outstanding. What’s one memorable comment you have heard from your readers?

“This book should be a movie!”

Read the rest of the interview here: interview with Glenn Erick Miller

Now at the Nature Store in Naples FL

Paul and I have been volunteering at Audubon Corkscrew Swamp as Boardwalk Naturalists ever since we moved to Naples FL four years ago. Many of my fellow volunteers were supportive of my writing and were early readers. Since all of them, like me, are animal lovers, and most love Nature in all forms, they were ideal candidates.

Today, the Volunteer Coordinator sent out this email to all of us:

Hello Volunteers,

We wanted to make you aware that fellow volunteer and author Michelle Caffrey’s book Bring Jade Home is now available for purchase in the Nature Store inside the Blair Visitor Center. Bring Jade Home is the tale of an Australian shepherd dog that went missing in Yellowstone National Park after an automobile accident. The young dog had to fend on its own for more than 40 days. Here’s a link to an article on our website with more details:

http://corkscrew.audubon.org/news/bring-jade-home-book-nature-store

Michelle and her husband Paul are Boardwalk Naturalists at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

_

Steve Parker

Volunteer and Communications Coordinator

239.348.1260 office

314.724.8037 cell

Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

375 Sanctuary Road

Naples, FL 34120

Corkscrew.Audubon.org

Make sure you check out the News Link. Thank you Corkscrew staff!

Television and Radio

I had a my first TV interview in Billings Montana.
You Tube video  After the piece aired, Paul noticed the website BringJadeHome.com was receiving visits from all over Montana every couple of days. It appeared that multiple TV outlets were showing the interview. They include KPAX, KBZK, KTVQ, KXLF and KTVH.

They are from Billings, Bozeman, Helena and Missoula.  Different anchors but the same interview.  Great coverage!

Also, I did a phone interview with The Pet Lady,

Dog Talk ® (and Kitties Too!)

DOG TALK® (and Kitties, Too!) features Tracie’s interviews with authors and pet experts from around the world, discussing far-ranging topics involving dogs and cats, many with dog health information, dog and puppy training advice, and help in living harmoniously with your cat.

This Gracie® Award-winning show, produced and hosted by pet wellness advocate Tracie Hotchner, has been broadcasting for 12 years with more than 585 consecutive shows from its originating NPR station Peconic Public Broadcasting – WPPB 88.3 FM – in the Hamptons, where it is heard from the East End all across Long Island, into Southern Connecticut and Westchester. It is also carried on the local public radio stations:

WHDD Robinhood Radio 91.9 FM, Sharon, Connecticut
WCSQ-LP Radio Cobleskill 105.9 FM Cobleskill, New York

Global Community Radio
WRAQ 92.7 FM Angelica, New York
KIEZ 106.7 FM Monroe, Louisiana
KFZR 93.3 FM Frazier Park, California
KLQS 96.7 FM Agua Dulce, California
KAKU 88,5 FM Kahilui/Maui, Hawaii

Hosted by Tracie Hotchner

You can listen to the whole show here, or skip to my interview at minute 44: The Pet Lady Interview


Finally we made it on the list of "11 Books to Read Before You go to Yellowstone"
List.

Bring Jade Home

By Michelle Caffrey

Bring Jade Home: The True Story of a Dog Lost in Yellowstone and the People Who Searched for Her is the amazing true story of one dog lost in Yellowstone National Park.  David Sowers and Laura Gillice were on an auto tour of Yellowstone National Park with their dogs: Jade and Laila.  While driving their car was hit head on by a pick-up truck.  The accident left both David and Laura injured.  They were medevaced out of the park.  When the rangers when to get the dogs out.  Jade slipped free and bolted.  It would be 42 days before Jade was found.   The book shares the stress and unrelenting effort to find Jade.

More News

Bring Jade Home is now available on more sites and formats!

On Apple Devices Available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. 

Composing this blog, I even spotted a new-to-me customer review on the Apple iTunes site:

Customer Reviews

Bring jade home 

     

by Hydro blaster

IS AMAZING I'M on chapter 6 it’s my FAVORITE book! I brought it forever!

Thank you, Hydro Blaster. Glad you enjoyed the read.

Also from Barnes and Noble, Bring Jade Home is available on Compatible NOOK Devices and the free NOOK Apps. 

Click here to see more: Barnes and Noble NOOK

Barnes and Noble also now has the second edition paperback online. Barnes and Noble paperback.

• 
  

National Dog Day 2018

What better day to treat your fur family to a special something?

The above picture is from the site https://nationaltoday.com/national-dog-day/

They've accumulated many interesting statistics. Do you know any of these answers?

What are the top 10 Dog-loving states?

How many people tell their dog "I love you" at least once a month?

Buy their dog a gift at least once a month? 

Allow their dog to sleep with them?

I know Jade and the rest of her pack sleep with Laura and David. 

That's Jade on her back, Laila in the front, and Karros in the back. The only one missing is the Golden Wiki. Either way, there's no room for Laura who was staying home sick that day. 

Do you spoil your pets? Leave a comment as to how.

Chilling Out

Jade was a superstar in Yellowstone and "paw-tographed" over 300 books!!! She now gets to relax with her best buddy Laila and chew on a well deserved bully. Happy pups!

Jade is back in Yellowstone

Jade and Laila resting before she makes her second appearance in Yellowstone this summer!
That is not a stick. It is a part of a bull. She appears to love to chew on ...it.
I'll post more when I get picks from Laura and David. At least they arrived safely late yesterday.
They will be signing  books today through Sunday.
And "paw-tographed" copies will be available at Old Faithful Inn lobby.

Don't miss them if you are in the area!

Catching Up

 At Malmstrom Air Force Base, a young reader proudly holds her copy of Bring Jade Home. It's encouraging that many of the people who wanted to purchase the book were in the "tween" age group and love to read.

Often the people working in the store with us purchased copies too. I am grateful for their help and their support.

At our last book signing in Montana, at Shipton's Big R farm supply store, I was interviewed on Billings TV!

See the interview here:

Billings TV interview

Back in Lake Geneva, we took a breather until my presentation at the Lake Geneva Library.

We had 39 people attend, and I signed a bunch of copies of the book. Many of my friends from the area came and this was really fun presentation. I'll be at the Lake Geneva Beachfront Authorfest on July 14th from 10-4 in Library Park. Looking forward to meeting more people and telling Jade's story. 

Taking a break in Glacier National Park

We've never been to Glacier, and it was on our "Bucket List." 

Our big rented SUV, and our little rented cabin.

 The spring runoff created torrents of water flowing over the rocks.

Tranquil and peaceful; just what we needed for a couple of days.

Signing at Fact & Fiction Missoula MT

We set up outside the bookstore, Fact and Fiction, and waited for the people going to the nearby farmer's markets to stop and listen to Jade's story.

This is me and the sales manager of Farcountry Press, my publisher.

Paul's not in the photos since he is the official photographer along with his other duties. 

Our pitch worked! I'm inscribing their copy of Bring Jade Home. 

And theirs too!!

 And this is me, celebrating the end of the first part of the tour. Yes, those are two glasses of red wine. Perhaps I am holding Laura's glass for her, perhaps not. Today Paul and I are heading to Glacier National Park. I plan to post nothing but vacation pictures next!

Country Bookshelf signing, Bozeman MT

This is the front window display at Country Bookshelf. All of those books are Bring Jade Home, and they even put a small stuffed "Aussie" puppy beside it. How much is that doggy in the window?

I stopped by earlier with a poster in my hand. Or is it a baguette?
Country Bookshelf is the largest independent bookstore in Montana. Our new game is to find "Bring Jade Home" when we know it's in a store. Besides an entire window, there was a stack by the door, and then below is the display shelf. I think the book cover glows and really stands out!

The event coordinator told us that the book was the previous week's number one best seller!

 Later that evening, David, Laura, Jade and Laila drove over with us. I'm sure the event coordinator had never dealt with such a crew.

Laila and Jade inside their new motor home. Don't you just love the "Jade blue" trim?

That's "Jadette" Jade's stand-in.  The real Jade is off to the side. She loves to bark at strangers. Err, Jade that is. Jadette is very quiet, but then again she wouldn't have survived Yellowstone for 44 days, would she?

I read excerpts from the back cover and first chapter. The people who didn't know the story kept shaking their heads in disbelief. But with Jade there, sometimes kissing David and wiggling her butt, they knew the story had a happy ending. 

We signed "paw-tographed" copies for everyone, including Jade fans who drove over from another town just to meet the dog they had helped search for. 

There's nothing like a true story showing the good in people. 

Signing at Old Faithful Inn lobby

Paul and I setting up the table.

Could there possibly be a cooler venue than the Old Faithful Inn lobby? I don't think so. Paul and I got there early, and set up the table. He took overhead pictures to give you an idea of the scope of the place.

Jade and Laila were kept in soft carriers much of the time. That's David, Jade's owner keeping a close eye on her. Jade has taken a liking to Meagan Forsman, who is a self-described "fan-girl" of Bring Jade Home. She drove four hours down from Helena MT, just to meet Jade, and the team. She bought the book as soon as it was released in November, and bought several of the new ones. She may be our biggest fan.

Some people laughed at the idea of my stuffed Jade look-alike until they saw the kids leading their parents and grandparents over to pet it.

Every time Old Faithful went off, the mass of tourists would flood the building. Not all of them came by to talk, but those who did bought the book most of the time. 

Eventually, we got the drill down. I went ahead and signed cases of books. When Laura, David, Kat Brekken could, they signed too. Everyone who bought wanted a) to see Jade and b) get a Paw-tographed copy. Yes, Laura and David actually inked Jade's paw and put it in the book. Kat Brekken joined in. It may not be the best picture (I took it rather than Paul) but it was quite the production.

I was amazed Jade was so patient. Kat hands David each book opened, He holds the book open, while Jade, sitting on Laura's lap, paw-tographs the copy.

My favorite picture of Laura, the real Jade, and David. 

We've arrived in Yellowstone!

The Badlands -On the way to Yellowstone

After spending a long day driving from Lake Geneva to Sioux Falls SD, we took a leisurely drive through the Badlands National Park.


One of the more interesting signage along a trail described the fossils found of the dog's ancestors:

Dogs for millions of years...and with us today!

And along the road, Bighorn sheep:

Tomorrow, on to Cody Wyoming, where we're staying at a haunted hotel!

Finally! My author copies arrive!

My author copies of Bring Jade Home were scheduled to arrive on the 23rd of May. The UPS on line tracking said "Out for delivery." I waited. And waited. Nothing. The next morning, I started to panic. "No further information available."
The package had disappeared after going through 10 different arrival scans and departures, all the way from Helena MT to Sturtevant, WI. That's the usual UPS destination before arrival in Lake Geneva.
I contacted UPS via email. No response. As the day went on, I contacted the shipper, my publisher, Farcountry Press. They had to follow up on their end.
I talked to the local UPS shop in Lake Geneva. He said, "I've known packages to arrive at seven at night, but no later."
Farcountry's Vicki was wonderful, trying hard on her end to figure out what was going on. She spoke to Farcountry's UPS representative. "It was lost, somewhere in Illinois, and they are shipping it back to Wisconsin."
It reappeared in Sturtevant after a sojourn in the middle of Illinois. Now, would it arrive on Friday, the 25th arrive the following Tuesday? That would be too late to bring with me to Yellowstone. 
On Friday the 25th, I waited hopefully refreshing the tracking screen. "Out for delivery." Five o'clock came and went. My hope started to diminish with each passing minute.
The irony wasn't lost on me. My book is about a lost dog. Still, Jade was found.
Paul and I had dinner, watching the clock. "Do you think it'll come today?" he asked me  around six thirty. I replied,"No."
At a quarter to seven, the "witching hour," I refreshed the screen one more time.
"Delivered."
Was it really physically here?
 I sent Paul to the campground office and....you know the rest.
Thank you Vicki, thank you author book gods, thank Farcountry Press. I have my books and they are flippin' beautiful.