On National Dog Day, Publish Her celebrated the launch of “Publish Her Anthology: Dog Years,” a collection of essays about the bond between women and their dogs. Photographer Angela Knox of Divine Photography captured the event beautifully. A few of our favorite moments are pictured below.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of this anthology benefit publishing services and program grants for underrepresented women authors. The book is available now.
“Dogs and humans have co-existed for thousands of years. We have been hard-wired over countless generations to bond with each other. Oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’ that’s released when we fall in love or give birth or nurse a newborn baby, is also released in the brains of both humans and dogs when we gaze into each other’s eyes and snuggle.
Your brain is sure to be flooded with oxytocin when you dive into the wonderful essays in this collection. In ‘Dog Years,’ the authors explore how dogs provide comfort and bring solace during our most challenging times. The wise dogs featured are a balm for loneliness. They help their humans navigate grief and loss. They teach their humans caretaking and confidence, and what it means to show up every day and be present. These essays illustrate the deep wisdom of our canine companions, and how, if we listen and watch carefully, they can teach us empathy, which allows us to see other dogs, people and ourselves with more compassion.”
—Kate Hopper, editor, teacher and author of “Use Your Words” and “Ready for Air”
“Dog Years” includes the following essays from these authors:
Introduction by Kate Hopper
Blind Date by Chris Olsen
A Breath of Calm by Kenesma D. John, Ph.D.
Clouds by Pat Rippey
Dancing Through Life by Joyce Miller
Faithful Traveler by Cindy Feldmeier
Fantasy Island by Rachel Allyn, Ph.D.
Finding Acceptance by Kim Ramsden
Ghost Dogs by Joy Riggs
A Gift by Susan Young
Healers by Jenn Arevalo
Lady in the Box by Lisa Johnson
Life as I Wrote It by Jaimee Alonso-Lundheim
Life Is Beautiful by Iris M. Mora
Mingus Abroad by Lucinda Cummings, Ph.D.
Nine Years to the Day by Allison Andrews
Not a Dog Person by Jillian Netherland
One Dog, Two Hearts by Dawn Levitt
A Seasonal Gentleman by Evangelina A. Flores
Silent Teacher by Haniyfa Muhammad Branka
Six-Legged Walks by Patricia Conway
Smart Dog by Elizabeth Ashley Holtsclaw
Soul Dog by Amber Byfield
Squirrel by Katie Hanus
Two Face and His Ghost by Jessica Bell
What’s in a Name? by Jen Olson
Who’s a Good Dog? by Suzanne O’Brien
You Know It’s Me by Cindy Lehew-Nehrbass
Cover art: Emilie Robinson
Photos: Angela Divine Photography
Many women face obstacles in publishing today. Even more so if she is a woman of color, a woman with a disability, a member of the LGBTQ+ community or any combination of these. Publish Her is on a mission to disrupt the status quo and remove barriers for underrepresented authors. We do so, in part, by providing access to publishing services and programs through grants. Learn more.
Publish Her is a female-founded independent publisher dedicated to educating authors and elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all.
