32 Comments
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Laurie Buchanan's avatar

Margaret, I’m absolutely captivated by your Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series. Your storytelling is immersive, your characters are richly drawn, and your plots pulse with suspense. Deputy Mattie Cobb and her steadfast canine partner, Robo, share a dynamic bond built on loyalty and trust, making their journey all the more compelling as they tackle gripping mysteries with authenticity and heart.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you so much for this lovely comment, Laurie. I appreciate that you read so many of our Blackbird Writers books! And your reviews are much appreciated!

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Kathleen Donnelly's avatar

I love your series, Margaret! Your characters are so great, especially Robo! And I love the vet work in your books too. Always interesting. I'm sure it was never a dull moment around your house. :)

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you! As you well know, lots of animals keep you hopping 😜

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Sharon Lynn's avatar

Fantastic insight, Margaret. I found myself in a Google rabbit hole afterwards researching the difference between "air" and "ground" scent tracking. My daughter has an Australian Shepherd that we always refer to as a bloodhound because he will follow a scent trail with his nose to the ground. After reading your post I know that it is an Aussie thing as well! So fascinating!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Oh, wonderful! Our Aussie did love the training. Those were good times! Thanks for your comment!

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

Your knowledge of dogs shines through in all of your plots and characters, Margaret. Great post and wonderful series.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, Saralyn! I appreciate you and your comment! Hugs!

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Saralyn Richard's avatar

I adore canine-characters, and your Robo is distinctively memorable. Like your human characters, he leaps off the page. The scenes you've mentioned are detailed and full of emotional imagery. They may have been inspired by real life, but they are made meaningful by your skillful prose. Keep writing, Margaret!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you for your kind comment, Saralyn. I appreciate you ❣️

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Tracey S. Phillips's avatar

I know your experiences have helped shape your mysteries, Margaret. The Timber Creek series is so much fun to read! Your personal stories are a delight to read too. Thank you for sharing!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thanks so much, Tracey! I think we all borrow from our experiences to feed our fiction in one way or another. It's been fun to do it through Cole Walker, DVM!

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Valerie Biel's avatar

Margaret, this is simply fascinating to learn all your backstory!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thanks so much, Valerie! Those years of raising kids and running with Charlie on vet calls were pretty busy and at times exciting. Thanks for your comment!

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Valerie Biel's avatar

I am guessing you all have great conversations that start with "remember the time that Dad ...." Neat way to raise kids. Veterinarians were a big part of our life growing up on a dairy farm!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

I bet you have lots of stories too!

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CHRISTINE DESMET's avatar

What a wonderful story about you and how you got involved with tracking dogs and their abilities. I've read a couple of the books in this series and love getting to know how these dogs work. I also enjoy how well you describe the challenging environment the dogs work in. You give us readers "plot" on several levels.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thanks so much for your comment, Christine. Praise coming from you means a lot to me!

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Carl Vonderau's avatar

Congratulations on doing such a great job of incorporating your knowledge and experience into your books. I can see how inspiring those house calls with your husband have been. You have a well deserved success!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you so much, Carl! And I always enjoy reading your books and how you incorporate your experiences into your writing.

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Nancy Perlman's avatar

Love your books and have followed the Mattie and Robo since the beginning. So look forward to each one. It is obvious you write with knowledge of you subject!!!!!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

I'm so happy that you enjoy the books 😁 thank you so much for reading them ❣️

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Rene Zimbelman's avatar

Hi Margaret! I love this post. It brings to mind a controversial quote, “Write what you know.” Some have disagreed with that, but I believe it holds true because of the realistic info/research it adds to our writing and also because what we have experience in many times ties into what we are passionate about when we write!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thanks so much for your comment, Rene! I like to add "...and research what you don't." LOL Sometimes real life experiences don't even have to fit the book's content, they can just be woven into the action. But the emotions they leave behind can be authentic enough to use regardless. I appreciate your comment so much! Take care!

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Debra Bokur's avatar

How wonderful to get the behind-the-scenes story! Thank you for sharing this, Margaret.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

And thanks so much for reading and commenting, Debra! Have a great rest of your week!

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Darby Kelly's avatar

I love your books and recommend them to all my friends. My work with law enforcement K9s makes your stories so much fun to read. All the best to you!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Darcy, thank you so much for reading my books ❣️ I'm so thrilled that you enjoy them. Take good care.

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Marjorie's avatar

Margaret, your books always grab me as a died-in-the-wool lover of mysteries, but they also touch my heart. And I love hearing personal anecdotes that have helped inspire your stories like the ones you just shared with us! I can't wait to read Dying Cry!

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Marjorie, thank you so much! I'm grateful that you read my books and thrilled that you enjoy them!

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Pamela Ruth Meyer's avatar

Sometimes, isn't it lovely to pause, look back at our lives, and be grateful. Oh... And for fiction authors, it's even better, we wrap those tales of our lives into our stories ( ;

Beautifully done, Margaret.

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Margaret Mizushima's avatar

Thank you, Pamela. And thank you for visiting our blog today.

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