- ... part memoir, part philosophical inquiry. Pet lover or not, read this engaging chronicle. —D. Sander
From author and poet Daisy A. Hickman comes an exciting new memoir about finding her way from one dog to the next. Like others who have lost a beloved pet, she hesitates, wonders if the time is right, and dances around a final decision. A compelling--sometimes funny, sometimes poignant--memoir, here's a story of old and new, of letting go and serendipitous discoveries that revolve around six endearing characters of the four-legged variety.
A powerful book about life, love, and loss, and how we must embrace all of it. —C. Lee McKenzie
- If you've ever loved a dog, a cat, A HAPPY TRUTH is your story, too. Pets are loyal friends and cherished family members, and we never want to part with them. Companions of the best kind, appreciating their many gifts is how this fascinating story of four schnauzers and two white cats begins. But life is complicated, loss happens, and one day a beloved pet no longer greets you at the door. A magical memoir that shares many secrets of the human heart, the author captures something special and true and absolutely mysterious. So if you've ever parted with a beloved dog or cat, or finally found a new one to love, this unforgettable story will literally take you home.
- A poetic dancer on the page, the author leads us back to ourselves once more. —Chloe R. Gallaway
- Complete with adventure and surprise, the author finds a tiny white kitten clinging to a window screen, and despite an unexpected snowstorm in late March, Orion, named for the famous constellation, makes it to the emergency hospital in a neighboring state. Sudden twists in the road of life, a peaceful dog that inspires the Zen of Noah, and magical white cats that deliver mystery and truth, all bring this endearing story to life.
- Pets need love and consistent care, and that inspires us; they also nurture and comfort us, even empower our lives in ways that allow us to grow and expand our sense of self. In fact, the dogs and cats we love keep us going through the maze of life.
- "Let's see," the author writes, "how about an old family name? Why shouldn't a puppy have a special link to us, our history and our place in time?"
- The enduring bond between human and animal is captured brilliantly here. —Kelly Iver
- The dogs and cats we love hold the key to unlocking the human spirit. Watching them sleep or play, we begin to see that our worries, especially about bringing home a new family pet, are mostly in vain. The real story is about love, and that’s a very happy truth.
Author, poet, publisher, editor, and blogger, D. A. (Daisy) Hickman's author blog and website are located at SunnyRoomStudio.com. Hickman holds a master's degree in sociology from Iowa State University; she earned a bachelor's in legal studies at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. A member of the Academy of American Poets, she is at work on her second book of poetry.
- In 2017, Hickman published ANCIENTS OF THE EARTH: Poems of Time. This collection of poetry captures a persistent wondering, inviting readers to explore the powerful dictates of time anew. Humanity is a story of inevitable sameness, yet, careworn individuals, yearn to transcend the confines of time: to peer beyond linear thinking, to glimpse inner peace, and to see beyond the finite lines of mortality.
- Hickman's 2015 memoir, THE SILENCE OF MORNING: A Memoir of Time Undone, speaks to loss and grief, but also to critical social and cultural issues. Examining our contemporary culture, its addictive tendencies and the troubling implications that follow, the author delves deeply into the spirituality of loss. Hickman notes how challenging experiences, such as the loss of a son, instruct and guide us, gently pointing us to a more universal message that helps us derive a better understanding of the human condition.
- In a 2014 release, Always Returning: The Wisdom of Place (a second edition of her first book), Hickman aptly reminds us that "insights we call wisdom must be learned repeatedly: each time, at a deeper, more profound, level." The wisdom in Hickman's first book originated on the American prairie, specifically when she stepped back to look at the place and its people from a sociological and spiritual perspective, and with the maturing distance of adulthood and greater life experience. Noting how an organic and lasting wisdom had evolved over the ages in a place known for hardship, but great beauty, as well, the author felt compelled to articulate this for others.
