Penguin Group (USA) Launches Read Humane™ Initiative In Honor Of National Pet Month

I’m always pleased to help spread the word about newly released books and other information pertaining to the publishing industry. Being a pet owner/lover, I’m doubly delighted to share the following announcement from the Penguin Group (USA) with you.

Following in the footsteps of the successful Read Pink™ and Read for the Heart™ initiatives, Penguin Group (USA) has created a new initiative called Read Humane™ in honor of National Pet Month. 

Read Humane will feature an assortment of six animal-themed mass market fiction paperback titles by some of Penguin Group (USA)’s most popular authors in special Read Humane editions. These special editions became available in participating stores on Monday, May 1.

The authors whose books comprise the initiative are Nora Roberts, Rebecca M. Hale, Alison Pace, Miranda James, Linda O. Johnston and Sofie Kelly, and special editions will be printed featuring Read Humane seals on the covers.  

 
In an exclusive video, #1 New York Times best-selling author Nora Roberts, spokesperson for Read Humane, says she's proud to stand with Penguin in their effort “dedicated to protecting the lives of all animals and fighting animal cruelty.” 

 
In addition, Penguin Group (USA) is including information in the back of each book in an effort to make readers aware of The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team and encourage them to become actively involved in supporting the organization. 

 
Penguin Group (USA) also announced a $25,000 donation to The Humane Society of the United States to support the work of its Animal Rescue Team. The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, and it was recently ranked by Philanthropedia experts as the most effective animal group in the country.

“All of us at Penguin care about animals — it’s in our name!  Penguin is glad to share the work of The Humane Society of the United States with our readers.  We hope this program encourages our readers to take action in their own communities to support animal welfare,” said Leslie Gelbman, President of mass market publishing, Penguin Group (USA). 

 
“Anyone looking at the faces of the animals brought to safety by The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team will immediately understand the importance of this work,” noted Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS.  “We’re so grateful for the generosity of Penguin and these wonderful authors in supporting animal rescue.”  

 
For more details about the Read Humane initiative and to view a complete list of the participating retail outlets, please visit www.penguin.com/readhumane. 

 
Here’s a bit of background on the Humane Society of the United States - the nation’s largest animal protection organization, backed by 11 million Americans. 

 
Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also benefit people. The HSUS works with local humane societies and supports their work through training, evaluations, publications, and other professional services.  Additionally, The HSUS operates its own network of animal sanctuaries and rescue operations, providing emergency care and homes to more animals than any other organization in the United States.  

About Penguin Group (USA)
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group.  Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Viking, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, The Penguin Press, Riverhead Books, Dutton, Penguin Books, Berkley Books, Gotham Books, Portfolio, New American Library, Plume, Tarcher, Philomel, Grosset & Dunlap, Puffin, and Frederick Warne, among others. The Penguin Group (www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company. 

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a chance to check out these great titles from the Penguin Group. You will not only be helping a wonderful cause, but also providing yourself with great cozy mysteries to enjoy.
 

Author Linda O. Johnston: Dogs, Mysteries And Me

It’s a pleasure to welcome author and fellow dog lover Linda O. Johnston here today to talk about her latest release, HOUNDS ABOUND, as well as her writing and why she includes dogs in it.

Linda’s latest book was released Tuesday, April 3, and is the third installment in the adorable Pet Rescue Mystery series about a pet rescuer who also solves mysteries. In HOUNDS ABOUND animal shelter manager and amateur sleuth Lauren Vancouver finds herself mixed up in a murder that may close a much-needed shelter. She’ll have to keep herself and her animals safe from an unleashed killer. 

Now Linda talks about “Dogs, Mysteries and Me.”  

 
I’m delighted to be here as a guest on the Thoughts in Progress blog. I’m even more delighted because I’ve been requested to discuss animals--especially dogs--in mysteries, and why I like to include them. 

The answer is easy. I’m a cynophilist. A dog-a-holic! 

I love all animals, but I’ve always been particularly drawn to dogs. I got my first puppy when I was eight years old--from a pet store. Bad idea. My mother took Cuddles to the vet for an exam the next day and she--and all puppies at that store--had distemper. We sadly returned her and couldn’t have another dog in the house for three months for fear of infection. That gave me time to research the puppy I wanted. I decided on a Boston terrier, and we adopted Frisky. She was exactly that--frisky and lovable! 

I wanted to be a veterinarian most of my childhood--until I took an AP biology class that taught me I wouldn’t be able to operate on animals. Enough said. 

On my first trip to London I saw a woman on the Underground carrying two adorable dogs. Love at first sight! They were Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The breed was very rare then in the States but I found my first Cavalier--Panda. He was the first of many, including my two current babies, Lexie and Mystie. 

The pet store issue introduced me to the problems of people handling pets improperly for profit. Too often these days, pet store puppies are from puppy mills. 

That’s an issue that helped me come up with the theme of my first Pet Rescue Mystery, BEAGLEMANIA. It starts at a puppy mill rescue. The second was THE MORE THE TERRIER. In it, my protagonist Lauren Vancouver discovers that her former mentor had become an animal hoarder. 

I’m delighted that the third in the series, HOUNDS ABOUND, is an April 2012 release. It features a very special animal shelter named Save Them All Sanctuary, which gives a home to senior and disabled pets.  

My purpose in writing the Pet Rescue Mysteries is to entertain people. If they happen to call attention to issues surrounding animals, they do it in a way that won’t hit readers over the head with a message. My stories revolve around a no-kill private pet shelter in Los Angeles. One thing I’ve done often is to reassure my readers that, no matter what the circumstances, all the animals in my stories are saved. They are cozy mysteries, though, so people sometimes get murdered. The slogan I’ve adopted is:  “In the Pet Rescue Mysteries, ‘no-kill’ means pets, not people!” 

Do I think people are reading more about animals now than in the past? I don’t know for sure, but I am aware that, statistically, there are a lot more pets in households than there used to be. People consider them family members. I’m therefore not surprised if people enjoy reading about animals more than they used to.  

I certainly enjoy writing about them!

 

Linda, thanks so much for guest blogging. I had to laugh at your slogan, so cute. I think your stories do a wonderful job of enlightening readers to some of the problems pets face that we might not otherwise be aware of.

While she may have wanted to be a vet, Linda is a lawyer and writer of mysteries and romantic suspense. She lives in the hills overlooking the San Fernando Valley with her husband Fred and her two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Sparquie and Lexie. Her two young adult sons visit often. For more on Linda and her writing, visit her website at www.lindaojohnston.com

Do you enjoy books where animals are involved? Are you sometimes drawn to a story just because it features a pet like yours? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be safe and have a wonderful Thursday.