It's a dog's, dog's, dog's world

Some dog show/dog book updates, plus my weekly shareables: Pulitzer connections, a ghostwriter's notes, and Connies everywhere

Buddy Holly. (via westminsterkennelclub.org)

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this yet*, but I’m working on a book called DOGLAND about the Westminster Dog Show, and so this was a big week. The 2023 version of the show ended Tuesday night with the Best In Show crowning of a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (or PBGV in the dog world) named Buddy Holly.

*If you’re new to the newsletter, this might actually be the first time you’re hearing about the book. For the rest of you it is the 12,001st time. There will be more. Many more.

This was the first time in four years that I didn’t go to Westminster … my book focuses mainly on the 2022 show. But I did enjoy seeing some old friends, human and canine, on the screen.

The New York Times always does a fantastic job covering the show, and this year I’d like to draw your attention to one story in particular: How Striker the show dog is enjoying his retirement.

Here is where I share a little secret with you ShedHeads: You will learn a LOT more about Striker (and the people around him) when you read my book.

So check out that story for a head start.

I’ve had a couple of conversations about DOGLAND recently with my editor, the brilliant Jofie Ferrari-Adler at Avid Reader Press. We are starting to talk about exciting details like publication dates and possible covers. Whenever I’m able to announce something, I’ll announce it here first.

The rollercoaster ride of writing the book is in the homestretch … but the rollercoaster ride of publishing the book is just beginning. I’ll share lots more about both in this space.

The one thing I still need to find out about this year’s show: Is Buddy Holly the dog named for Buddy Holly the singer, or “Buddy Holly” the Weezer song?

10 things I wanted to share this week:

1. This week’s episode of SOUTHBOUND featured Mike Collins, the longtime host of CHARLOTTE TALKS on WFAE, the station where both Mike and I work. It’s a repackaging of the CHARLOTTE TALKS episode celebrating Mike’s 25th anniversary as host. Mike has many stories from his years from the show … and you will also get to hear the show’s secret accordion theme.

2. Speaking of SOUTHBOUND, two of our former guests won Pulitzer Prizes this week! The brilliant musician Rhiannon Giddens won in music for her opera OMAR, about an enslaved Muslim man who lived in Charleston in the 19th century. And the dogged reporter John Archibald won in local reporting (as part of a team that included his son!) for a series of stories about the ultimate speed trap town.

3. My weekly for WFAE was on the fear and indifference in that New York City subway car.

4. The story that delighted me the most this week was Connie Wang’s piece about TV pioneer Connie Chung’s other legacy: the legions of Asian American women named Connie. The whole package is beautifully done, and the video at the end had me wondering how the room suddenly got so dusty.

5. DOG NEWS: While I work on my book, I’m devoting this slot to dog stories. This week: One more Westminster piece—what it takes to be a dog show judge.

6. What it’s like to be a ghostwriter, from the very best: J.R. Moehringer, who ghosted Prince Harry’s SPARE and Andre Agassi’s OPEN.

7. Moehringer is also known for his memoir THE TENDER BAR, but the story of his nearest to my heart is his 1997 piece “Resurrecting the Champ,” which I believe is the greatest newspaper story ever written.

8. Casey Cep (another SOUTHBOUND guest!) on the strange and wonderful work of novelist Charles Portis, best known for TRUE GRIT.

9. Our Brit detective show du jour: NEW TRICKS, where three retired detectives (under the supervision of a recently scandalized boss) work on solving cold cases. This is perfect if you’re looking for something not so dark and gritty.

10. RIP Peter Good, who designed the most perfect logo in sports for the Hartford Whalers (the NHL team that is now the Carolina Hurricanes). I mean, look at this beauty:

    

    Now, the key question: Did you see the H?

    
    

    See y’all next week, everybody.