Confessions of a Guide Dog

Have you ever wondered what a guide dog does? How do they know to lead a blind owner? Can they understand traffic lights? Most importantly, how does the owner know where to pick up the poop? This memoir answers these questions-and more. It tells what guide dogs are supposed to do. They're smart, loyal and well-trained-but not all dogs are created alike. Musket is proof of that. He's definitely got a thing for treats and belly rubs. For the first time, the dog has his say. (Of course he needed a little help with the typing, since he doesn't have opposable thumbs. That's where author Mark Carlson came in. Still, Musket is the brains of the outfit.) Mark and Musket tell their story with humor, emotion, and Musket's occasional contradictions. And at the end of the day, Musket somehow manages to be a great guide dog too. Confessions of a Guide Dog was written so a wonderful, devoted dog could reach out to those who haven't been lucky enough to meet him. He'll make you smile, laugh, cry, and want to give him treats. This is their story. (And they're sticking to it.)

Mark Carlson, 51, is a freelance writer and aviation historian. Past President of a local Toastmasters club, he established the F.U.N. speakable historical entertainment series. Carlson is a former graphic designer who lost his sight through a hereditary disorder in 1998. He worked as a specialist in low-vision assistive technology for seven years. On weekends, he is a docent tour guide at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. He is the author of six mainstream historical novels, and his work has been published in Bark Magazine, Dog Fancy, Flight Journal, The Hook, Warbirds, and Aviation History. He is currently working on a book about aviation in film. Mark, his wife Jane, and Musket live in San Diego, California. Mark and Musket can be reached through their website at: www.musketmania.com Facebook: Musket Carlson Ph.Dog.