Synopses & Reviews
"For most dog owners, our dogs are not possessions, they are family. Gay men in particular have found joy in bringing dogs into their nuclear circles. Their dogs love them unconditionally, without judgment or regard to sexual orientation; comfort them when they are in pain; and because most men outlive their dogs, teach them extraordinary lessons in how to cope with loss. . . Paws and Reflect is a celebration of all the dogs we have loved in the past, the dogs we love now, and the dogs of our future, who are only waiting for the right moment for us to invite them to join in our lives." -- From the Introduction
Through interviews and with original contributions, Paws and Reflect explores and celebrates the special and powerful bond between twenty-five gay men and their dogs. Interviewees included Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee, Cannes award-winning director Jonathon Caouette, Academy Award-nominated writer Ron Nyswaner, actor and playwright Charles Busch and Animal Planet's David Mizejewski, with contributions from authors Jay Quinn, Alistair McCartney and seventeen others.
Praise for Paws and Reflect:
"A guy I dated didn't like my Dachshund. One of them is gone, and it isn't the Dashed. As it happens there are two terrific Dashed essays in this book. Both made me cry and one of them has the best punch line I've come across in a long time. Dink in these real-life stories of dog love and devotion." -- Craig Lucas, Playwright, The Light in the Piazza, Filmmaker, The Dying Gaul.
"Dogs don't care about race, age, appearance, financial standing, employment, sexual orientation or any of those other things that people use -- too often -- to judge one another. Paws and Reflect is an eloquent, moving testament that this unconditional love has helped forma a great emotional and spiritual connection between dogs and their humans that just simply makes our lives healthier and more complete." -- David Frei, Co-host, "The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show," USA Network.
"If you don't enjoy reading about the white Shepherd who protected Charles Busch, or the canine friends who kept the home fires burning for Ron Nyswaner, you are not a real dog lover. I was stunned by the emotions this book shook out of me."-- Sue Simmons, WNBC News Anchor
"Paws and Reflect is filled with surprises that sometimes made me weep and often made me laugh in delight. I adore this book. If you love dogs, don't miss it!" -- Susan Conant, author of Gaits of Heaven, and other novels in the Holly Winter series of Dog Lovers'Mysteries.
Review
"A guy I dated didn't like my Dachshund. One of them is gone, and it isn't the Dashed. As it happens there are two terrific Dashed essays in this book. Both made me cry and one of them has the best punch line I've come across in a long time." Craig Lucas, The Light in the Piazza, The Dying Gaul
Review
"Dogs don't care about race, age, appearance, financial standing, employment, sexual orientation or any of those other things that people use...to judge one another." David Frei, Co-host, The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, USA Network
Review
"If you don't enjoy reading about the white Shepherd who protected Charles Busch, or the canine friends who kept the home fires burning for Ron Nyswaner, you are not a real dog lover. I was stunned by the emotions this book shook out of me." Sue Simmons, WNBC News Anchor
Review
"Paws and Reflect is filled with surprises that sometimes made me weep and often made me laugh in delight. I adore this book. If you love dogs, don't miss it!" Susan Conant, author of Gaits of Heaven, and other novels in the Holly Winter series of Dog Lovers' Mysteries
Synopsis
"For most dog owners, our dogs are not possessions, they are family. Gay men in particular have found joy in bringing dogs into their nuclear circles. Their dogs love them unconditionally, without judgment or regard to sexual orientation; comfort them when they are in pain; and because most men outlive their dogs, teach them extraordinary lessons in how to cope with loss....
Paws and Reflect is a celebration of all the dogs we have loved in the past, the dogs we love now, and the dogs of our future, who are only waiting for the right moment for us to invite them to join in our lives." From the Introduction
Through interviews and with original contributions, Paws and Reflect explores and celebrates the special and powerful bond between twenty-five gay men and their dogs. Interviewees included Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee, Cannes award-winning director Jonathon Caouette, Academy Award-nominated writer Ron Nyswaner, actor and playwright Charles Busch and Animal Planet's David Mizejewski, with contributions from authors Jay Quinn, Alistair McCartney and seventeen others.
Synopsis
"Gay people have a very emotional connection with their pets-stronger than the general population."-Jeff Watters, vice president of pet snacks marketing at Del Monte Pet ProductsStatistics back up Watters'claim. The Gay/Lesbian Consumer Online Census found that pet ownership is actually 10 percent more common among gays and lesbians than among their unbent counterparts.Through interviews and with original contributions from published gay authors, Paws and Reflectexplores and celebrates the special and powerful bond between gay man and dog through over twenty-five stories of personal experiences in this well-crafted collection. Touching, powerful, and often humorous, Paws and Reflectis a must-read for dog lovers of all gender orientations and makes an excellent gift.
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Interviewees include Edward Albee, B.D. Wong, Greg Louganis, Charles Bush, Larry Kramer, and Manhattan Councilman Tom Duane, with contributions from Jay Quinn, Hal Campbell, Russ Overton, and many others.
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Neil Plakcyis the author of the gay detective murder mystery Mahuand a contributor to several Alyson anthologies. He is owned by a golden retriever named Sam with whom he lives, along with his partner, Marc, in Hollywood, Florida.
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Sharon Saksonis a journalist and an NBC news producer and writer. She is the author of more than one hundred articles in magazines, newspapers, and the canine press, and is the author of the forthcoming Barron's Guide to Brussel Griffons. Sharon, her dogs, and her horses are currently New Jersey-based.
About the Author
Neil Plakcy is the author of gay detective murder mystery Mahu (Haworth Press, 2005) and has been a contributor to several Alyson anthologies. His fiction an dnonfiction have appeared widely in the gay and lesbian press. He has taught various English and writing courses as an Adjunct Professor at Florida INternational University, Nova University and the University of Miami.