Authors OnLine -

Jim Willis, who is one of our earliest success stories as the author of Pieces of My Heart sent this newsletter for Christmas and the New Year. Jim's book has now been translated into several languages and is available in over 50 countries:

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the Holiday Season.

It’s been an unusual year and my second marriage did not work out, so next spring I’ll be a “free man” again (and vow to never repeat my mistakes). I got all of my legally owned animals out of that situation, including going to court for some of them, and two great friends have helped me care for them.

I occasionally hear from my first wife, Nicole, whom many of you know and who still lives in Germany. She was injured in an auto accident this past summer and spent a month in a rehab hospital, but has recovered and is now back to work.

In September, I had to say goodbye to my darling, one-of-a-kind Basset Hound “Alexis,” [pictured above left] who you might remember from “The Basset Chronicles” in my book. She had inoperable cancer and was about 13 years old. In November, I adopted a young adult Dalmatian female who was a starvation case and had run out of time at an animal shelter. I named her “Ella” [pictured above right]. She was described as deaf, which often afflicts that breed, but I believe she does have some hearing. (It’s difficult to determine since none of my dogs really “listen” to me.)

In October, I was thrilled to finally meet a hero of mine, Dr. Jane Goodall, [pictured left] familiar to almost everyone because of her studies of chimpanzees and global conservation efforts. She gave a lecture at a local university and mesmerized the sold-out auditorium.

My nephew, Ryan Frederick, will turn four next April. He’s very advanced for his age – hardly surprising as my brother and his wife are both college professors in Pennsylvania – and he loves his preschool program. He was allowed to open some of his Christmas presents early, before they travel to visit his maternal grandparents in Ohio, and [pictured left] he’s checking out some of his loot.

I’m working on another book and hope to have that ready for publication in the spring. The content will be similar to the first, a collection of poetry, prose, short stories and essays. The first book continues to do well in several countries. I still participate in animal education and advocacy issues as time allows and at some point, I hope to resume my artwork.

My Arabian horse “Cynnamon” continues to do well, although she’s getting up in years (we share the same birthday, so I suppose the same could be said about me, too). She has Cushing’s disease that’s well-managed with daily medication, she likes her new stable and has fallen in love with an Arabian gelding.

I always feel guilty at this time of the year, because I seem to correspond less and less – however, there was more upheaval in my life this year than “normal.” (I’m not sure I’ve ever had a “normal” life.)
E-mail is still the best way to contact me: tiergartenjim@yahoo.com and my website is http://www.crean.com/jimwillis
(When my new book is published, it will be listed there as well as on amazon.com.)

I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

Jim & his Critters

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Your canine friends will love the below. Since I’m baking for so many, I usually double the recipe. Store the biscuits in an airtight container and they’ll keep for several weeks without refrigeration.

Jim’s “Secret” Dog Biscuit Recipe

½ cup water                                                     1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ cup vegetable or Canola oil                          1 egg
¼ cup honey                                                    1 ½ cups whole wheat flower
½ cup all natural chunky peanut butter            ¾ cup quick-cooking oats (uncooked)
2 heaping teaspoons chicken or beef bouillon
granules
Large “dash” of garlic powder (optional)
Generous handful dried cranberries (optional)

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients. Roll dough into balls about one-inch diameter and place about ½ inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees (F) for about 15-18 minutes. When done, the balls should be firm, but the bottoms should not be burned. Turn off oven and leave balls in the oven 1 to 2 hours to harden.