The Misadventures of Millie - Becky Heishman

There are special goings-on in the Misty Neighborhood. A book born from sadness…the death of a joyful little corgi-mix named Misty, evolves into the decision, a few days later, to adopt a breeder dog newly rescued from a puppy mill.  

 I knew from the moment I read, "Anyone who's ever been owned by a dog…" that The Misadventures of Millie, by Rebecca Heishman, was my kind of story.

Misadventures is the word, and Millie fits the bill. How could six and a half pounds of fur instigate such mayhem, frustration, consternation, and boundless love? Millie's initial dismay at being adopted by "Dis guy wif white hair and a lady wif a limp," turns into "Deez old people are pretty fun" in the story, Livin' Wiff Ode People.  

 A poem (by Millie, of course), I Was Lost, details the horrendous life of a puppy mill dog and the unselfish rescue angels who work tirelessly to close down these despicable operations. Millie is one of the lucky few to escape. She knows it and appreciates her new life.

Stories like, Pasghetti Night, and, best title ever, Before It Rotted, It Had Feathers, are delightfully told in Millie's own doggy diction with her mom and dad's voices thrown in for good measure. But, make no mistake, this is Millie's story and she wants everyone to know she's leader of the pack, even while letting Becky and William think they're in charge. (They really are, but don't let on to Millie)

After shredding sofa throw pillows, Becky declares Millie a canine sociopath, but Millie comes right back with Sleepin' On Dad's Skinny Foot, a heart-rending account of real hardship trying to sleep in a metal cage with little water,  having her puppies snatched from her before they're weaned, and wondering when she'd get her next meal. Yeah, dad's skinny foot is paradise to Millie.

 I must stop before I give away the whole book!

If you're looking for an uplifting tale, The Misadventures of Millie will not disappoint, but just so you know, it's not just Millie's story. It's our story. Anyone one who has fostered, rescued, or adopted a pet will relate to this precocious little dog and her patient, loving mom and dad.

You might, however, want to keep your furry friend from getting wind of this book. Millie's Art of Begging highlights three cardinal rules: "look pitiful, act pitiful, sound pitiful." You've been warned!

Disclaimer: My husband and I have adopted two rescue dogs, so I have a special place in my heart for pet adoptions and rescues.

Buy: The Misadventures of Millie by Rebecca Heishman, Illustrations by Caleb Irwin from Tate Publishing!

Visit Millie and her friends on Facebook!

Mary Cunningham Books - Cynthia's Attic Time-Travel Adventures

An ode to English Plurals

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes, but the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.

One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice, yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I speak of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England . We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.


And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

And in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?


Have you read "Cynthia's Attic?" No? Do I have a treat for you!

Mary Cunningham on OmniLit

How Bad Is The Economy?

Cats can be so dramatic!

(thanks to friend, Kim for the laugh - hey, we might as well laugh!)

A Chocolate WOOFer Celebration

Diana, Melinda and I celebrated the arrival of "Women Only Over Fifty" books last night with chocolate/chocolate cake!

WOOF! It's OFFICIAL!

Got WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty books yesterday!

The pre-order Amazon link is up, too! It's a great week!

I'll be selling WOOF and Cynthia's Attic series at the Decatur Book Festival. If you're in the area, stop by and say, "Hi!"

Co-writers, Melinda, Diana and I are getting together Sat. night for a WOOFers meeting! Should be a "howling" good time! (groan)

Inner Strength

If you can start the day without caffeine

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment

If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct her/him

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend

If you can conquer tension without medical help

If you can relax without liquor

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then...




You are probably the family dog.



(Thanks Kim!)

WOMEN ONLY OVER FIFTY (WOOF)

(drum roll, please)

Ahem. Ladies and gentlemen. Boys & girls. Dogs and cats (well, maybe not cats!). I'm thrilled to unveil the new cover for our upcoming release, Women Only Over Fifty (WOOF)! A funny, light-hearted break from the normal spin of the world. An odd but humorous little book to give us all cause to howl at the moon!

Yep. Diana, Melinda and I can't wait for the book release by Echelon Press. Looks like July 1.

Watch for updates, because we'll soon be launching the Woofers Club Blog, including a forum were you can "unleash" all your funny stories, frustrations, and vents about the "joys" of the aging process.

So, get ready for the Wild, Wacky, Wonderful World of WOOF!

Doggone, we're good!

Mary Cunningham Books