A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz

Published August 25, 2009.

Dean Koontz thought he had everything he needed. A novelist for nearly thirty years, with more than twenty #1 New York Times bestsellers to his credit, his career was thriving. He had been married to his high school sweetheart, Gerda, since the age of twenty, and together they had forged a happy life for themselves in their Southern California home. It was the picture of peace and contentment. Then along came Trixie.

A Big Little Life tells the story of unexpectedly falling in love with a dog in middle age. It details Trixie's life with Dean and Gerda, the tremendous impact she had on them, and the things she taught them along the way. A lively and joyful read, it presents Trixie in all her complicated glory - her smarts, her lack of vanity, and her uncanny knack of living in the present. But there's sadness here, too. Trixie held a special place in her family's heart, and her passing left a tremendous void. Dean doesn't shy away from that loss: he meets it head-on, with humor, love, and longing.

A powerful tribute to a beautiful friend, A Big Little life will remind readers everywhere that the love of our canine best friends is a love that lasts more than a lifetime. (book back blurb)

I saw this book at BEA, saw it was Dean Koontz and yoink! Mine! In all honesty, I've never read a Dean Koontz book. I know I should. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. But despite that, in my mind's eye he's right up there with Stephen King in the realm of prolific and respect. He wouldn't be where he is today if he wasn't good at his job and didn't garner the huge amount of respect that he does. But still, I had to have this book.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into with it. I was just coming off of a string of not-so-stellar adult books but I remained neutral about this one. It's Dean Koontz after all. And as soon as I started reading, the last thing I wanted to do was put the book down.

Dean Koontz is such a down to earth guy. He comes from beyond humble beginnings and he got to where he is today because he worked his ass off. It makes me happy knowing that he really didn't start reaching success (by writing standards) until he was in his mid-thirties. It gives me hope! The book goes into a little detail about how he met his wife and how amazingly in love they were and still are. So much so that they never had children because they felt that would interfere in their time together. While some (well, maybe many) may look at that and go WTF?, I can totally respect that. Not everyone are destined to be parents. It would appear that the Koontz's were those type of people.

But this book isn't about Dean and Gerda. Not really. It's about Trixie and the profound effect she had on them. Adopting Trixie from the Canine Companions for Independence allowed Dean and Gerda to become parents to one of the greatest animals that ever walked this earth. While I'm talking about dogs in general, the way Trixie is described, she could very well be one of the greatest animals that ever walked this earth. She makes my dogs look feral by comparison.

Koontz comes at this story with a sense of dry humor that can just make you laugh uncontrollably, even in the most dire situations that they went through. Even at the end, when Trixie was on her last legs, the things she did, with hindsight anyway, were worthy of a few chuckles. No, I don't think that's morbid because as a pet owner, the last thing you want to remember about your dog is the sorrow she brought you when she was dying but the joy she brought you when she was alive. And the photos of Trixie and her parents only add to the humor and smiles that the words bring you.

Any pet owner can relate to the intense emotions that Dean and Gerda felt towards Trixie. It's something that's rare amongst humans towards other humans. We can't really give ourselves that thoroughly to one another, allow that must trust because something can still happen. With dogs, their love is unconditional and irrevocable. They love you because you're you. They don't hold a grudge, they don't get pissy with you, they won't burn your clothes. They love you and that's it. And it's to them that you can trust 100% and open your heart fully to without fear of having it stomped on.

This is a memoir of a dog but it's also a memoir of human feelings as a result of that dog coming into their lives. They change us. They make us see the world in a different light and just like any other parents, we dog owners want to protect and love and care for our dogs as if they were our own children. Because they are.

This book also made me not feel so guilty about my mourning of my first dog's death. It was about a year before I actually got over it, it had affected me so deeply. The Koontz's weren't far behind that. Dogs can be children. They can teach us things. They love us. Hell, they even act like people! The part about Trixie actually speaking, and not just woof, was amazing! This dog truly was exceptional and the Koontz's were very lucky to have been bestowed with such a wonderful and pure being.

While Trixie makes me look at my own hellspawn and go, "Why must you pee on my bed and eat my sheets?" she also makes me look at him and go, "You are my dude and I will do for you what I would do for my own child."

If you're a dog lover, you'll want to read this book. No doubt you'll be as touched as I was.

On Writing by Stephen King

First published in 2000.

In this master class on the craft of writing, Stephen King reveals the origins of his vocation and shares essential habits and rules that every writer can apply. A truly unique volume, it begins with a series of telling memories from youth and the struggling years leading up to publication of King’s first novel. Offering readers a fresh and often funny perspective on the formation of a writer’s character, King lays out the tools of writer’s craft and takes the reader through aspects of the writer’s art and life, offering practical and inspiring advice on everything from plot and character to work habits and rejection. Brilliantly structured and chock-full of master’s experience and advice, On Writing will enable the work of writers around the globe. (from bn.com)

How I could kick my own butt for taking so long to read this. What a wonderful book on the craft and, really, there wasn’t all that much to it. Not really. Not compared to the multitude of other books on writing.

King takes a different approach to “dictating” how one might be able to write and, I have to say, it gave me a different outlook on my writing blog and is one of the reasons I decided to incorporate more of myself and fewer “lessons” on writing. Because, really, there are no hard and fast rules (something I already knew) but what use does it do to teach others what really only works for me? Most of it, at least.

What I got from the book is that the events surrounding his writing, the places he worked, the people he met, the ears he got lanced, helped to mold his writing better than anything else. When he talked about his work experiences, I was able to immediately pinpoint certain stories of his to those experiences. Not to mention I was laughing my ass off at certain points. The man has a talent for dry wit that I just love, even when talking about getting hit by that van.

I loved his door closed, door open aspect and I realized that he and I really have very similar writing styles (if only I wrote up to that quality). My first draft is always done behind a closed door. I wouldn’t dream of having anyone look at it before I’m ready to release it. After that, all bets are off and I need outside eyes to help me improve. He’s the same way, albeit he has to deal with the insertion of life just like everyone else. His wife, Tabby, isn’t going to fix a broken pipe herself. Hell, neither would I.

The rest of his writing tips resonate with bits and pieces of advice I’ve collected over the years: omit needless words, stab adverbs and so on. I really like his (that he got from someone else) 2nd draft = 1st draft - 10%. That’s a wonderful equation and I think, especially in my writing, it would apply fantastically. Although I could see it not working if people had a tendency to underwrite and were more of putter-inners, as King puts it.

I also like his veiled disdain for writers’ retreats. Sure they can be helpful, although it’d be in more of an experience way than in a writing way. Constant interjection from outside eyes into your work when it’s only the first draft can be detrimental, and just plain counter-productive. I firmly agree with him that the first draft is yours, should be written on your own grounds and not meant to be shared until you’re ready to share it. Not to mention should be written under your own terms as well. I don’t know about you but most of the time, forced writing doesn’t work and when I go back to edit, that forced piece of writing usually ends up on a crumpled piece of paper in my trash. These writer retreats, all they do is force you to write, lock you in a room and you’re not allowed to come out until a certain time. I just don’t have that kind of attention span. I don’t know about you. I agree with King when he says if you want to do it, do it. He (and I) are always up for new experiences. Who knows, maybe it is an ideal writing place for some people. I know I would go batty.

This is something that every writer, and every fan of Stephen King, should read. His writing is pretty simplistic but he has a way with words that make even the simplest sentences sound amazing. I have a hard time figuring out why people consider him a hack. But even though he’s elevated to writing saint status by many people, seeing his unedited first drafts in this book is a refreshing realization that he’s human and writes just as unkempt first drafts as the rest of us. I saw it with my own eyes.

Read this. Read this now. You won’t regret it. Unless you’re not a Stephen King fan. And to that I ask, why not?