May 19, 2013

Chick Lit Chit Chat Blog Hop: What's On Page 25?

This week, I'm participating in the What's on Page 25? blog hop. If you read your way through the whole hop, you can enter to win a fabulous prize! Read on! (I'll be back to my regularly scheduling blogging next week!)

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Here's what's on page 25 of What the Dog Atea self-contained scene with the main character, Maggie Baxter, and her chocolate Lab, Kona. (This scene takes place after Kona's vet extracts a pair of tiny thong panties that aren't Maggie's from Kona's gut. When she confronts her husband, Dave, about it, he leaves her for the other woman:


The rest of the week, Maggie went to work on autopilot. She was committed to fulfilling her notice period, but she put in half her usual hours. What could they do; fire her? Mornings, she came in late, wearing the same khakis she dragged from the heap she’d left them in the day before. At lunch time, her staff offered to take her out, but one day she used Kona’s appointment to have his stitches taken out as an excuse not to go. The other days, she’d claim a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment. She’d drive to the beach and stare out her closed car window. She didn’t want to feel the sand under her feet; be rejuvenated by the fresh sea air. She just wanted to be away from the office, away from everyone. At five each night, she headed home while her staff looked up from their desks like prisoners watching a fellow inmate being paroled.

The few minutes when she first got home were the highlight of each day. Kona, happy to see her and even happier to be free of his cone, would wiggle his way to her and cover her with kisses. After she fed him and changed into sweats, they’d squeeze onto the sofa together. She channel surfed; tennis matches, disasters, talking heads, people selling diet aids, car chases—it all passed by in a disjointed blur.

One evening she lay there, marveling at the fact that while her world imploded in slow-mo, someone somewhere was engrossed in a rerun of The Golden Girls. She studied Kona, sitting, staring at the door. He leaned against the sofa, near where her bare foot dangled off the edge. His nostrils flared as he let out a loud exhalation.

Wonder if he’s thinking about Daddy; wondering why he doesn’t come home.

Kona lifted his back leg and began to lick his crotch.

“Kona, stop it. You kiss your mother with that mouth?” Well, maybe that’s not what he’s thinking. But really, where is Daddy? I can’t believe he didn’t even fight for Kona. I mean, he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on; Kona was my birthday present. Still, I thought he loved Kona. But then, I thought he loved me, too. What the hell do I know? She snorted in disgust and changed the channel. (Win the grand prize! The 13th secret word in the 25-word sentence is: writers)



Learn "How to Hop & Win!" New to blog hops? Want to learn how to win the grand prize? Find complete information here.

The link above will give you all the info you need to be able to have a chance at the grand prize of a FREE Kindle Keyboard 3G, with Free 3G + Wi-Fi, and a 6″ E Ink Display. That lucky grand prize winner will also receive a “chick lit starter library” filled with great chick lit books written by the indie authors participating in the blog hop.

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40 comments:

  1. Sounds like I'm gonna be busy today! Great and creative idea! How fun!

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  2. We agree with Max. Have a marvellous Monday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  3. We are going to download the book and read it this week!
    stella rose

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  4. Woof! Woof! What an interesting hop to join. Happy Monday. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  5. Oh what fun! pg 25 is just as pawsome as the rest of the book!

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  6. What a cool idea, looks awesome.

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    1. I can't take credit for the idea, but I was definitely happy to be asked to join in!

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  7. I've never seen a hop set up like this before, how fun!

    And of course it was great for Mum to remember some of the book - so love this book!

    Wags to all

    Your pal Snoopy :)

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    1. Aww, thanks Mum!

      I know - I've never been part of a hop set up this way either. Definitely different from the usual dog blog hops! :)

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  8. Your book sounds great! I'm absolutely loving finding all these new Chick-Lit authors from the blog hop. My library queue is about to get 25 books longer...And my dog eats EVERYTHING.

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    1. Thanks, Colleen for stopping by! I know - there are a lot of fun books on the hop. I've read several and definitely need to pick up the rest!

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  9. This was so much fun! Love this idea!!

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  10. To answer the question:
    As a reader, in your personal opinion, what makes a great 25th page?

    The obvious answer is: whatever makes me want to read page 26. But nah, at 25 pages a book is still an infant. It has barely learned to poop in its own diaper. I don't judge a book on the first 25 pages. Now, by God, by 28 and 3/4 pages... you better have me hooked ;)

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    1. Yes, I think we readers are more willing to wait a little while for a book to "get good." Unfortunately, agents and publishers want you to hook them from the first sentence, then the first page and then keep them hooked! It's tough!

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  11. Looking forward to reading more about Kona :)

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  12. Reading this passage totally makes me want to read your book again. :)

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  13. I love the book, I adore you, Jackie, and I'm so happy I know you!

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    1. You're so sweet! I'm SO glad we met! You're the best.

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  14. Such a fabulous book! I have GOT to remember to tell my mom about it. She will totally love it. :-)

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    1. Oh, yes - love it when folks have their moms read it. :) My one friend bought a copy for her 80 yr old mom! I was a bit worried what she might think about the smattering of curse words, but she assured me her mom swears like a sailor! :) (Told my own mom to please close her eyes at the swear words.)

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  15. This is such a great way to find out your husband is cheating and SO PERFECT THAT KONA IS A LAB!!! I can say this because I have a yellow lab (English Lab) and a White Shepherd. The yellow lab only eats the crotches of our underwear. Very strange. Very much a dog thing.

    So glad you are hopping on the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop! I'm having such a great time cruising from blog to blog - I wish everyday was a blog hop!

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    1. Yes, Kona absolutely had to be a Lab! We had a beagle at the time when I was writing this, and my hubs really wanted the dog to be a beagle, but it had to be a LAB!

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  16. Poor Maggie and sweet Kona--this seems like a great read! Thanks, Jackie!

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    1. Thanks, Dee! Looking forward to seeing what's on your page 25. Still need to work my around all the other hoppers (been having major computer issues all week!).

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  17. Another great read for the summer! This is such a fun hop.

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  18. Awwww...you really made feel for her!

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  19. If I hadn't already read and LOVED this book, I would so want to read it again. And I just might anyway :)

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  20. Love this excerpt! :) WHAT THE DOG ATE was such a great read and I'm looking forward to reading your next book, Jackie!

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  21. Love this excerpt, Jackie! Can't wait to meet Kona and Maggie.

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  22. Okay, you hooked me. ;-) I'm adding this to my Kindle wish list.

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