Author Jeff Wells. |
What was your inspiration behind the book?
At social gatherings, my friends often would ask me to tell stories about my experiences. They always seemed to be entertained by the crazy life of a mixed-practice veterinarian, so I decided to put my stories into a book.
What was the most difficult part of writing the book?
Writing the book was the easy part, as I had 20 years worth of stories to work from. The difficult part was navigating the publishing world.
What was the most rewarding part of writing the book?
The most rewarding part of writing the book has been the feedback from readers.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have been fortunate to have received great feedback. I have had people tell me that they would read a chapter before they went to bed every night and had read the book multiple times. My favorite comment was from a woman who said she read the book to her dying farther because it made him smile and laugh
What is your writing process?
I have kept lists of stories to choose from, so when I am ready to start a new chapter I pick one that fits my mood at the time. I try to mentally put myself back into that specific situation. This helps me to remember my surroundings the people, and the animals.
Do you have any other books?
My first book was A Veterinarian’s Handbook for Horse Husbands. If you know any horse owners then you understand why I wrote it.
Do you own a cat or other pets? Tell us about them!
My wife and I have two cats and an Akita. The cats are Hank and Ike. They are both grey neutered males, with very different personalities. Hank practically licks people he is so friendly, while Ike hangs back and observes them from afar. The first question I usually get pertains to how the dog and the cats get along. Beau, the 130-pound Akita, loves the cats and the cats tolerate him. Akitas are not known for their love of cats, but Beau plays with them and licks them so much that the hair on their heads stands straight up. This gives them a sort of wild “Mohawk” look.
Do your pets influence your writing?
I think that they influence my writing the most by just being part of our family. Watching these interactions helps me understand why pets are so important to us as humans.