Kerry Alan Denney is
The Reality Bender
Add text
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
    • STALKING GIDEON CAIN >
      • STALKING GIDEON CAIN - Free Sneak Preview
    • BEYOND THE VALE >
      • BEYOND THE VALE: Author C.E. Clayton review 12/24/2017
      • BEYOND THE VALE: By Rite of Word review 12/6/2017
      • BEYOND THE VALE: Desert Rose Reviews 12/28/2017
      • BEYOND THE VALE: Author Amy Shannon Review 12/23/2017
    • BEYOND THE VALE Sneak Preview
    • A MIGHTY ROLLING THUNDER >
      • A MIGHTY ROLLING THUNDER - Free Sneak Preview!
    • MARIONETTES >
      • Rave 5-star review for MARIONETTES - Sherry Fundin at Fundinmental - June 16, 2016
      • MARIONETTES Facebook Release Party - June 5, 2016
      • The Bookie Monster - Rave "5-Monster" Review for MARIONETTES May 28, 2016
      • The Reader's Hollow reviews MARIONETTES May 3, 2016
      • MARIONETTES Sneak Preview
    • DREAMWEAVERS >
      • DREAMWEAVERS: 1st Ever "Editor's Choice" at The Daily Druid - November 30, 2015
      • DREAMWEAVERS Book Release Party on Facebook - August 9, 2015
      • DREAMWEAVERS Spotlight Feature on The Bookie Monster 8/6/2015
      • DREAMWEAVERS Cover Reveal on The Bookie Monster - June 9, 2015
    • JAGANNATH >
      • JAGANNATH Spotlight Feature on The Bookie Monster 2/19/2015
      • Horror Fiction Fanatic features JAGANNATH 2/4/2015
      • JAGANNATH Cover Reveal on The Bookie Monster
      • JAGANNATH 2015 Book Blog Tour Extravaganza! >
        • 2/4/2015: Author Clarissa Johal features JAGANNATH
        • 2/7/2015: Clarissa Johal Blog features "Kerry Alan Denney Interviews Corporal Kimi Jayden, Heroine of JAGANNATH" 2/7/2015
        • 2/9/2015: Fantastic Indie Authors interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
        • 2/9/2015: Book Freebies and Giveaways features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/10/2015: Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/11/2015: Cryptic Reads features Kerry Alan Denney's "Interview with Lily, teenage heroine/ protagonist of JAGANNATH"
        • 2/12/2015: Science Fiction Books & Authors features "Interview with Jason Riley, son of Lieutenant Scott Riley and hero of JAGANNATH"
        • 2/13/2015: Warrior Woman Winmill features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/16/2015: Apocalipstick: All Things End of the World features JAGANNATH & Giveaway Contest
        • 2/17/2015: Indy Book Fairy features JAGANNATH
        • 2/18 2015: Charlotte Gerber features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/19/2015: Horror and Mystery Books features "Interview with The Reaper, the monster from your darkest nightmares"
        • 2/20/2015: The Best Indie Books to Read: "5 Tips on Reaching & Engaging Your Target Audience"
        • 2/26/2015: The Complete Self-Publishing Indie Authors Resource Site interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
        • 3/2/2015: Hardcore Books, Video Games, and Readers features "5 Things You Didn't Know About Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender"
        • 3/3/2015: Horror and Slasher Film and Books features "Interview with The Reaper from JAGANNATH"
        • 3/5/2015: Bestseller Books features "Where Do I Get My Story Ideas?" article by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
        • 3/6/2015: Satin's Bookish Corner features article "Why Do I Write?" by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
      • JAGANNATH listing on Permuted Press
    • SOULSNATCHER >
      • Spotlight on SOULSNATCHER by The Bookie Monster September 12, 2014
    • Published Short Stories
    • Published Poems
  • MEDIA
    • Interviews >
      • Trick or Treat Thrillers interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender - August 5, 2015
      • DAB OF DARKNESS interviews Kerry Alan Denney, author of DREAMWEAVERS 8/3/15
      • Poetic Zombie "Tuesday Treat": An interview with Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 3/24/2015
      • Kindra Sowder CEO of Burning Willow Press interview with Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 2/26/2015
      • The Complete Self-Publishing Indie Authors Resource Site interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 2/26/2015
      • Fantastic Indie Authors interviews Kerry Alan Denney 2/9/2015
      • authorsinterviews - Fiona McVie interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 2/3/2015
      • The Drunken Druid - The Thursday Interview - November 27, 2014
      • Ginger Nuts of Horror Interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender - November 26, 2014
      • The Bookie Monster interview - September 23, 2014
      • Dark Moon Digest interview - July 23, 2014
    • Press Releases >
      • JAGANNATH Book Anouncement Press Release
      • SOULSNATCHER Book Announcement Press Release >
        • Spotlight on SOULSNATCHER by The Book Junkie November 15, 2014
    • Appearances - Live in Person >
      • Coming Saturday March 28, 2015: The Dahlonega Literary Festival
      • Wizard World Nashville Comic Con September 27, 2014
      • 2014 Decatur Book Festival Labor Day Weekend August 29 - 31, 2014
      • SOULSNATCHER Book Launch Party Saturday, June 14, 2014
      • Gwinnett County Public Library LOCAL AUTHOR DAY Saturday, May 17, 2014
    • Appearances - Radio and Podcast >
      • The Darkness Dwells Podcast - Guests Kerry Alan Denney, Kindra Sowder, & Edd Sowder - November 6, 2016
      • The Darkness Dwells Podcast - Guest Author Kerry Alan Denney - June 5, 2016
      • The Darkness Dwells Podcast - Guest Author Kerry Alan Denney - August 30, 2015
      • LIVE interview on The Authors-First Show 2/24/2015
      • The Apocalypse Nana Show guest author appearances
      • The Doug Dahlgren Show LIVE podcast interview
    • Features >
      • Coffee With A Canine - December 28, 2015
      • Clarissa Johal Blog features "Kerry Alan Denney Interviews Corporal Kimi Jayden, Heroine of JAGANNATH" 2/7/2015
      • #1 Amazon bestselling author Stevie Kopas features Author Spotlight: Kerry Alan Denney
      • Featured Author of the Week at Facebook's "Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Group" January 30, 2015
      • The Atlanta Writers Collective writer's critique group - Top 10 Finalist in Writer's Digest Competition
    • Guest Blog Posts >
      • "5 Amazing Things To Do With A Superpower" - on Darkness Dwells May 29, 2016
      • DARKNESS DWELLS features "Thoughts on Lucid Dreaming" by Kerry Alan Denney - June 9, 2015
      • Satin's Bookish Corner features article "Why Do I Write?" by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
      • Bestseller Books features article "Where Do I Get My Story Ideas?" by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
      • HORROR ADDICTS.NET features Kerry Alan Denney's "Ghosts, Monsters, Aliens, and Other Dreadful and Dangerous Creatures: Why We Love Scary Stories"
      • "Ghosts, Monsters, Aliens, and Other Dangerous and Dreadful Creatures: Why We Love Scary Stories" article on Permuted Press blog
  • AWARDS
    • 2nd Place Winner: 2014 Book of the Year - The Drunken Druids International Book Award
    • First Place Winner, the Atlanta Writers Club Fall 2013 Short Story Contest
    • Honorable Mention, L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest 2nd quarter 2013
    • First Place Winner, the Atlanta Writers Club Fall 2009 Poetry Contest
  • REVIEWS
    • Online Reviews of DREAMWEAVERS >
      • HORROR ADDICTS rave review of DREAMWEAVERS - August 15, 2015
      • THE READER'S HOLLOW reviews DREAMWEAVERS 8/5/2015
    • Online reviews of JAGANNATH >
      • The Drunkend Druid's rave review for JAGANNATH 4/25/2015
      • SF Book Reviews rave review for JAGANNATH 3/13/2015
      • Netanella's rave 5-star review for JAGANNATH 3/4/2015
      • THE READER'S HOLLOW gives rave review for JAGANNATH 2/28/2015
      • THE BOOKIE MONSTER gives rave "5 cookie" review for JAGANNATH 2/22/2015
      • Cryptic Reads features Kerry Alan Denney's "Interview with Lily, teenage heroine/ protagonist of JAGANNATH" Plus rave review! 2/11/2015
      • Carrie January rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH on Amazon 2/10/2015
      • Ryan Hartung's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • BOOK MINION rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH - 2/3/2015
      • "Mallory Heart Reviews" rave review of JAGANNATH 2/3/2015
      • David Watson at HORROR ADDICTS rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH 2/3/2015
      • Rinny Rainwind's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • Sandra Shrewsbury's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • Barbara McKinley's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • Kaila Karg's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
    • Online reviews of SOULSNATCHER >
      • Rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER on The Bookie Monster
      • A Drunken Druids View rave review of SOULSNATCHER November 18, 2014
      • Denise's rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER
      • Marinda's rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER
      • Netanella's rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER
      • Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock reviews SOULSNATCHER November 19, 2014
      • Barbara McKinley's rave 5-star review of SOULSNATCHER
    • TESTIMONIALS >
      • Rave Reviews for SOULSNATCHER
      • Quotes from Writers & Colleagues
      • More Rave Reviews for SOULSNATCHER
      • Rave Reviews on OLD COOT
      • Rave Reviews on A CLATTER OF HOOVES
  • BLOG
  • The Reality Bender Author Interview Questionnaire
  • Your Interviews - Archived Links
    • Author Clarissa Johal 2/27/15
    • Author Kindra Sowder 1/15/2015
    • Author Stevie Kopas 12/13/2014
    • Author Jeremiah Israel 11/26/2014
    • Author Deborah D. Moore 11/18/2014
    • Author Gabi Plumm 11/12/2014
    • Author James "Remo" Jackson 11/5/2014
    • Author Dawn Peers 10/30/2014
    • Author Timothy Johnson 10/29/14
  • more...
    • PHOTOS
    • CONTACT
    • Favorite Publishers and Publicity LINKS
    • Favorite Authors & Websites
    • Favorite Reviewers & Bloggers
    • Music
    • Mouth-watering Recipes >
      • Quintrado's Jambalaya
      • Quintrado's Chili
      • Quintrado's Reality-Bending Real Spaghetti

Holly Jolly named official Atlanta Writers Club mascot!

6/23/2014

8 Comments

 
Picture
This is for all you genuine dog lovers out there.

My seven-year-old Golden Retriever Holly Jolly and I attended the Atlanta Writers Club annual 2014 picnic Saturday, June 21 at Holcomb Bridge Park, where Valerie Connors, President of the AWC, publicly announced that Holly is now the official mascot of the Atlanta Writers Club, woo-hoo! At the picnic, Holly was commended and complimented several times on her exemplary good behavior, as well as on her irresistible charm and gentle, affectionate nature.

Holly is a playful, energetic, joyful, and friendly dog who loves all people and dogs alike. My furry four-legged friend is the best companion I could ever hope or ask for. She is not only an excellent writer’s assistant—she keeps my head in the clouds but my feet on solid ground and my heart in each precious moment—she is also a faithful and loving friend without whom my world and life would be a little bit darker and a lot more lonesome. Holly knows how to fly better than Superman, how to make loneliness and ravenous monsters magically disappear in the way only a loving dog can, and how to make friends better than any of us humans ever will. If we can all learn only a small piece of that magic, what a wonderful world it will be.

Holly is a certified Canine Good Citizen—a prestigious award presented by the American Kennel Club for passing a rigorous behavioral and obedience test—and she is also a professional therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Incorporated.

Holly and I have been participating for over a year and a half now in a local library-sponsored R.E.A.D. program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) in which we go to the library with other therapy dogs and their humans and sit in the children’s section. Kids pet the dogs, read to them, or show them picture books if they can’t read yet. The READ program’s intent is to promote an interest in reading and help kids develop better reading comprehension skills, as well as teach them the proper method of approaching and familiarizing themselves with strange dogs. Holly is  a huge hit with the kids—they generally have no idea who I am; I’m just her human who tags along with her—but they know Holly and call her by name, and are always happy and excited to see her.

For those of you who have kids who love to read and love dogs and would like to come out and join us, Holly and I are at the Mountain Park Library for their Doggie Tales program from 1 to 2 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of every month. The library is located at 1210 Pounds Road SW on the corner of Five Forks Trickum Road and Pounds Road in Lilburn, Georgia. We also participate in the Sue Kellogg Library’s Read to Rover program in the heart of Stone Mountain Village at 952 Leon Street on the fourth Saturday of each month from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Children of ALL ages are invited—from 1 to 100!

Picture
With their effortless playful innocence, unconditional love, and unrestrained exuberance, our dogs show us vitally important things about ourselves that teach us much about honesty, integrity, love, loyalty, forgiveness, and compassion, and teach us how to share that special bond with our human friends and families. My former four-legged friend Sadie Milady, a beautiful American Eskimo (also called a Spitz), was well-loved by many. She brightened my life and brought me endless joy for sixteen canine-love-filled years, from 1990 to the Spring of 2006 when she finally tuckered out and took that final journey to Rainbow Bridge. I still remember the faithful look of trust in her eyes in her final moments when we said our goodbyes to each other, as if she just knew there was no way I would ever let any harm or loneliness come to her, either in this life or the next. For over a year after Sadie was gone, fool that I sometimes am, I let the heartbreak of losing an irreplaceable friend prevent me from searching for a new special furry friend. I forgot that I wasn’t supposed to be trying to replace her, which I could never do: I was merely searching for a unique new friend who would fill that empty space in my heart which only a dog can fill. When I finally found my Holly Jolly in December of 2006, a fluffy, loving, playful little ball of fur who looked like a stuffed teddy bear as a puppy, I knew I had been given a gift from God or whatever you choose to call the universal creative force, and that I had found a true friend for life.

It's no small wonder that “dog” is “God” spelled backwards. (Check out Wendy Francisco’s wonderful video and song “GoD and DoG” here or here!) Adopting a dog into your home, life, and heart is a solemn and dutiful responsibility and a lifetime commitment, and should never be undertaken lightly. Dogs need lots of love, playtime, attention, social interaction, and exercise, a miniscule sacrifice of my time and heart that I’m happily willing to give each and every day. Because of Sadie and Holly, I know that unique love will always be returned a hundredfold. It should come as no surprise to anyone that people who responsibly accept a dog into their lives have a happier, longer, and more rewarding and fulfilling life.

Although our furry friends are only with us for far too brief a time, they live a multitude of lifetimes in their unique ability to experience joy as if it gushed forth from an eternal fountain right here within our reach from which all may partake, never worrying about the past or fearing for the future. We can all stand to learn that priceless lesson from our dogs. To me, their motto is and should always be live with wind-in-fur.

Cheers and blessings to all you genuine dog lovers out there. May you always share that special love and joy that only our furry friends can bring, and may you live your lifetimes with wind-in-fur.

Holly Jolly sez “Woof!”


8 Comments
Lynda Fitzgerald link
6/23/2014 05:07:20 am

This brought tears to my eyes. I know dog love, and I know how badly it hurts when you lose your fur friend. Moving and beautifully written. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us feel. Wind in Fur is my mantra.

Reply
Kerry Alan Denney link
6/23/2014 05:39:21 am

Thanks for your kind comment, Lynda. (I meant to make people happy, not bring them to tears, lol!) Yes, dogs do have a special priceless magic we could all stand to learn, don't they? Wind-in-fur is also my mantra!

Reply
Valerie Connors link
6/23/2014 08:43:01 am

Well said, Kerry! There's nothing better than the unconditional love we get from our dogs. Holly Jolly is lucky to have a human like you, who appreciates all of her goodness. And I think it's wonderful that you share some of her goodness with others, in the therapy programs. Thanks for sharing this lovely post! Coco and Ginger say "woof."

Reply
Kerry Alan Denney link
6/23/2014 09:31:01 am

Thank you and bless you for your kind words, Valerie. We both know that sharing that unique love is less selfless and more selfish, because the emotional and spiritual rewards that come from sharing it far outweigh anything we've given. Just seeing the bright and excited smiles on the children's faces every time they see Holly speaks volumes louder than words can ever properly convey. Holly sez tell Ginger and Coco "Woof!" right back atcha.

Reply
Michael Varga link
6/23/2014 09:45:17 am

Although I am not an "animal person" I do have a history with Holly Jolly, and remember the many occasions in our critique sessions when she was more friendly to me than I had a right to expect. She's a great dog, and if I ever decide to have a pet, I may have Holly Jolly in mind as my model for choosing one.

Reply
Kerry Alan Denney link
6/23/2014 10:22:07 am

Thanks, Michael. Yes, I think Holly understood she was "breaking the ice" with you when she tried (and failed, lol) to keep from begging for your attention. She says she will happily email you instructions if you ever do decide to make that joyful leap -- you will never find a more faithful, unconditional love than that which our furry friends bring. Cheers, my friend!

Reply
Kristine Ward link
6/24/2014 03:07:55 am

A beautiful and poignant story about what our dogs mean to us. As a former, non-dog-lover, I am an enthusiastic convert. When I read how you lost your former dog, I cried, because I don't know what I'll do when Ginger dies. I guess, like you, I will sooth my grief with a puppy. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Kerry Alan Denney link
6/24/2014 05:00:13 am

Thanks, Kristine. Yes, it's always in the back of our minds, but we try not to think about it, and do by the example our dogs provide for us: live in the moment, and find and share joy in it. The present is all we can really live in, and dogs understand this far better than we probably ever will. If you have not already, check out the Rainbow Bridge and GoD and DoG links in the article--it may make you feel better about the prospect. Wind-in-fur, good lady!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Subscribe to Kerry's Mailing List

    * indicates required
    Email Format

    Archives

    January 2021
    January 2019
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    October 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2013
    November 2010
    October 2010
    April 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All
    Dogs Our Furry Friends
    Dogs - Our Furry Friends
    Public Speaking

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

      Email Kerry!

    Submit
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.