June 16, 2009 – One of the issues that’s come up in my novel is what to call the hero – the female border collie. Writing the book, I’ve been calling her “Rose” because that’s familiar to me and I can draw from my life with her. The issue is whether to keep that name for the novel or find another. I’m kind of leaning towards keeping the name, but there is understandable concern about that. The danger is that it might confuse people. Rose is a well-known character in my non-fiction, and the novel takes a lot of reality – my winters here working with her – and moves this reality into a fictional account of a dog in a big storm on a farm.
   Much of what occurs in the novel is actually true. But that is a launching point for a fictional account of a dog trying to keep the farm going in a massive storm. I can make this clear in a disclaimer pointing out that Rose is a real dog, but the book is a work of fiction. Ultimately, it’s up to Random House and my editors there, but it’s an interesting issue.
  Would readers grasp that even though Rose is the name of a real dog, the story is not literally true? I think so. Will they read a novel and then understand that the non-fiction books are, in fact, true, even though the dog’s name is in both? Can’t wait to see what we decide.
  For me, writing using Rose’s real name gives the book authenticity and clarity, since I have been through so many storms with her. Almost a mix of genres.