“The dog ate my manuscript!”

Apparently I didn’t come up with a unique name when I selected “Toby” for the lead canine in my latest kids’ book Minding Toby.

Author John Steinbeck also had a dog by that name. Here’s a fun anecdote about Steinbeck’s Toby, brought to my attention by author Tamie Dearen. (Check out her sweet romance books at https://www.tamiedearen.com)

Steinbeck’s dog was a setter puppy at the time that he ate the first half of the manuscript for Of Mice and Men.

Steinbeck wrote about the incident in a 1936 letter to his agent, saying the dog “made confetti of about half of my manuscript.” The destruction set Steinbeck back two months, since he had to rewrite the entire section.

In his letter Steinbeck famously remarked, “I was pretty mad, but the poor little fellow may have been acting critically.” He forgave Toby, deciding not to ruin a “good dog for a manuscript I’m not sure is good at all.”

Dogs do know how to get into trouble! In Minding Toby, the dog thirteen-year-old Ember is pet-sitting goes missing. Read more about it below —

Ember had one job: Minding Toby. Now he’s gone.

Life hasn’t been great for Ember. Her mom barely notices her, her dad’s visits are awkward, and school is a daily battle with a tiresome bully. Her big sister has just left home for college, and now her dad has a new girlfriend! What’s next?

Pet-sitting Toby, the sweet, goofy mutt from next door, is the only bright spot in Ember’s life.

Until everything falls apart.

First, Toby’s owner lands in the hospital.
Then Toby disappears.

As Ember searches for the missing dog, she uncovers family secrets, makes new friends, and discovers new strength in herself.

FInding Toby isn’t just about bringing him home. It’s about finding her own place in a changing world.

Get your copy of Minding Toby at your favorite online store. Or ask your library to carry it.

And please leave a rating or review wherever you share information about books.

Hear podcaster Dan Simpson recommending Minding Toby on this recent episode of the Writer’s Routine podcast.

"The dog ate my manuscript" and other author excuses