Blog Tour: Day 2: Author Interview with Charles Franklin Emery III

Hello again, everyone!  It's day two for our visiting blog tour brought to you courtesy of Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book!  Yesterday, we featured a book review for A Man and His Maniac, the Bunkie Story.  Visiting us today is the man behind the book that chose to share the like and love of one special pup in it's purest (and sometimes raw) form!  Please join me in welcoming....

....author Charles Franklin Emery III!

So you have some pretty crazy tales in the book......are they all true?  No embellishing?

You are not the first person to ask that question. Folks that know me, have accused me of not letting the truth get in the way of a good story. But, as Dog is my witness, the stories are as I remember them. Every disgusting and amazing one of them. I miss Bunkie, life was a real hoot with him around; I wouldn't trade our lives and adventures and the memories of them for anything. As nuts as our adventures were, the current Boston Terrier Horde is generating some pretty amazing and disgusting stories too. Stay tuned for 'Moondoggie and the Boston Terrier Horde' coming out this year.

Did any stories hit the editing floor that you'd care to share?

Oh yeah, there are a few that will never make print after I read my own story. But they are not for sharing, sorry. The folks involved are still alive and I'd like for them to maintain some privacy and decorum. I think they're funny but the stories would probably initiate a few suicides or escape into hermit lands. I'll just say that Bunkie (like all dogs) have a natural curiosity about the execution of the human reproductive process. Thanks for asking, I'm laughing my ass off over here at the memories. Ah, the memories, the gift that keeps on giving. I will share a story about Gidget (aka Sadie Mae) our Boston Terrier counterpart to Moondoggie (aka Lucky). It's a story titled "No More Nippies for Chuck", it may be a little too racy for ya'll so edit it if you like. I was in a different frame of mind when I penned this bit: (Yes readers, I did edit the story as the author did allow....I believe the humorous aspects will still shine through in what is below....)

No More Nippies for Chuck

Menopause sucks.

And I’m a man.

........

  

Life was good. And then I got married.

You know what? It’s still good. ...... Sometimes I get to cop a feel, but mostly I just get sleep farts in return.

Oh wait, that is probably just the dogs.

One night I woke up to a heavy bout of French kissing, but was somewhat disappointed to discover that Sadie, our Boston Terrier, was just showing her affections. Yuck, I know where that tongue has been. ......

Well, it’s always good to know that the dogs are here for me.

........................................

I know you share this information in the book, but seeing as many of my readers probably have not had the chance to enjoy it as of yet....what drove you to share Bunkie's story?

Bunkie deserves to be remembered and this story was my way of insuring that his memory stays intact and available to any who are interested enough to read it. I even went so far as to register the copyright and Bunkie Story with the Library of Congress. He got me through some tough times during my divorce and we spent a lot of time together scouting out the Washington, California and Tennessee countryside's. He also helped my Dad. That's reason enough to do a book about Bunkie. I also wrote 'Dad, Dog & Fish', a memoir about my Dad -  the Bunkie Story is the center of 'Dad, Dog & Fish', it's also copyright registered at the Library of Congress.

The road from inspiration to published work can be rather daunting  You've reached that dream (congratulations!), but many are still striving for it as we speak.  Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew then?  Any pearls of wisdom you'd care to share?

 The word persevere comes to mind and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.

A few quid pro quos, if you would please indulge us.....

On my nightstand.....is a radio alarm clock. All my reading material is in the garage. I'm afraid that all there is in my reading list are engineering reports and technical manuals. Beyond boring. But I do intend on reading Sherlock Holmes (Doyle) again this year. My wife bought me a really nice leather bound set a few years ago and I'm going to get to it.

If I wasn't a writer.....I'd fish more.

A recurring dream I've had....None that I can remember. That's probably a good thing though, I don't want to know why my pillow is covered in slobber.

When I was younger, I wanted to be....A fireman.

My favorite type of book to read is....Detective stories and Americana like Mark Twain.

One of my favorite authors (currently) is....Always has been Samuel Clemens, I don't have many favorites other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Clemens and Steven King

Final thoughts: 
Life is too short. Every day is precious, don't waste days, hours or minutes. Grab your significant other or friend(s), human or otherwise and tell them you love them. Take time to look around and appreciate your life and the world that we're in. Put your troubles aside for a minute and come to grips with the reality that you are in at the moment and enjoy the moments. Once you learn to enjoy and appreciate the moments, you'll cascade that enjoyment into days and years. There will be bad days but just remember that every day on this side of the grass is a good one.

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Thank you so much to author Charles Franklin Emery III for those candid answers (as well as the editing privilege)!  I'm sure everyone is enjoying taking a look behind the scenes on your latest venture!

Special thanks once again to Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book for letting us host the last two days of the blog book tour!  It's been fun indeed!

Until next time....happy reading!