Knock It Off and Listen Up
An exclusive announcement to our Substack community
The time has come. We are excited to share with you, our Substack friends first, that Bethany — with help from Kara — has set the release date for her first children’s book, titled, What Did Duke Do Today?, on Monday, January 29th! (Update: find the book on Amazon here!)
Who is Duke, you may ask?
Once upon a time in 2008, Bethany began dating a human named Adam. Adam had a Weimaraner puppy that was born in 2007 and was given the name Duke (after one of his favorite college basketball teams). The pup had turned full-grown dog when Bethany and Adam met. Duke was no ordinary canine. In fact, by Bethany’s twenty-two year old definition when explaining him to her mom, he was “certifiably nuts.”
Adam and Duke had been living the bachelor life for about a year when Bethany entered their lives. Duke initiated her into their world with multiple acts of insanity. The thing about this dog was, he panicked whenever he was left alone. He would do anything within his strength and intellect possible to escape to the place where he could be with his human or other animals or just be free to explore his impulses.
One of Bethany’s first interactions with Duke was to collect him from the local humane society after he was hit by a jeep that looked identical to his owner’s. While the Weimaraner was doped up on opioids, the veterinarian calmly sat Bethany down to explain to her (the not-even-official new girlfriend of the human owner) that it may be best to get the dog “fixed.”
From his multiple escapades in our first home to his fugitive behavior at the beach, from tormenting his Grandma and Grandpa Bell’s home to breaking the wine glass Adam proposed to Bethany with, Duke kept them guessing and the curse words flowing!
As their time together progressed, Bethany and Adam adopted a rescue from the side of a county road that they named Meg, after finding no one else that was a sucker to take in an American bull dog (pit) mix. Duke settled into a calmer version of himself with Meg’s companionship, albeit learning submission to her alpha-type personality until she passed in 2018. He lived a long and full life until his time came in 2020, one week after Bethany and Adam brought a new Ridgeback puppy, Koda, home. They like to think he stuck around to provide her with notes on their family and to see that they would be taken care of before he felt the freedom to pass on.
Bethany and Adam both grew up with dogs. Bethany and Kara’s family also rescued a mutt in their neighborhood in Boise, Idaho. He was a border collie mix, black with white patches, and Kara selected the name Patches. He was with their family for approximately 17 years, traveling from Idaho, to California, to Florida before his passing. Adam’s family had also had a dog, named Kara (ironically). So, you see, Bethany and Adam’s two childhood families were no strangers to dogs as pets but Duke’s behavior and personality “took the cake” as the weirdest dog ownership experience either of them have ever had.
After Duke had passed away, Bethany was reflecting with her friend Brittany on his many adventures. As Brittany thoughtfully listened, a light bulb turned on: “This should be a children’s book!”
And, here it is, three years later.
What Did Duke Do Today? chronicles the adventures of Duke, the Weimaraner, over the course of seven days, teaching the young reader a weekly cadence. It vulnerably shares the thoughts and decisions Duke makes as he attempts to make sense of living as a domesticated dog with wild animal spirits inside of him. Perhaps, most importantly, it documents the struggle of a human learning how to accept and love his companion for all that he is.
The book is creatively illustrated by the talented Milan Samadder, who also collaborated with Kara and her husband Tyler on his two children’s books, Ducky, Ducky, You’re so Lucky and Otter, Otter, You’re in My Water. Milan crafts the scenes of Duke’s mischievousness so delightfully, Bethany’s two year old daughter was enthralled for the majority of the “advanced reading” (the book is geared more towards the 4-10 year old range). Every adventure in the book is a true story. Not based on a true story. A true story.
If you wish to support this piece of creative work, the paperback book is available on Amazon beginning Monday, January 29th, for $10.99. This is an almost 20% discount off the regular price of $12.99 and is available for our Substack community only until Monday, February 5th!
We think most people are aware by now, but reviews are a necessary evil of sorts to get one’s work out into the world and we are so appreciative if you happen to buy the book and like it enough for a positive review (if not, you can abstain, thanks!)
Thank you deeply to all that take the time to read, review, support and share our work. It’s the best feeling in the world and we are so grateful for you!
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So proud of you and looking forward to reminiscing on all the Duke shenanigans.
Congratulations! I'm sure it will be a wonderful success! Both of you are so impressive! xo