Virtual Book Tour: An Interview with Hy Conrad

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13 Nov

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Today we are privileged to have a special guest--Hy Conrad. In December, I'll be posting a review for Hy's book, "Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know". But before I tell you how I feel about the book (hint: it's a dog book, so that should give you some idea), I wanted to give you an opportunity to meet the man behind the masterpiece. So, without further ado, let's get to the interview (hey, that rhymed!).

THE INTERVIEW:

DANA

Welcome, Hy. Would you please tell usa little about yourself.

I began my working life as a stageactor, performing on Broadway and in national tours, among otherplaces. One year, while working in summer stock, I came up with anidea for a play. It wound up having a short run Off-Broadway, andthat began my writing career.

Today, I’m best known for my TV work.I was one of the original writers of the series “Monk” and woundup becoming the show’s Co-Executive Producer. From there I becamehead writer for the webisode series “Little Monk” and ConsultingProducer on TV’s “White Collar.”

In the publishing world, I’ve writtena dozen books of short mysteries which have been translated into overa dozen languages.

More recently, I wrote “Rally ‘Roundthe Corpse”, the first in my Abel Adventure mystery series. It waspublished a couple of months ago and is available just abouteverywhere.

DANA

What can you tell us about your book,“Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know”?

“ThingsYour Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know” is a humor book, 115 essays“written” by 11 dogs who share their innermost secrets. Theyrange from Tinkerbell, the world’s most spoiled Chihuahua toAxelrod, a yellow Lab who is puzzled by everything, from herb gardensto sofas to sprinkler systems.

Theessays are short, two pages each, so each dog tells ten or elevenlittle stories about his life. Readers have told me they read oneevery night, or keep it on their coffee table to thumb throughwhenever the mood strikes.

DANA

As a dog owner, I have to ask thisquestion; Do you own a dog (or dogs), and, if so, would you pleasetell us about them?

For the past 25 years, I have hadminiature Schnauzers. This dates back to the time I held a BostonTerrier up to my face and broke out in a rash. My doctor told methere were a limited number of breeds I could pick, ones that don’tshed or have dander. I chose Schnauzers and have loved them eversince.

My current pair – I always have two –are Charlie and Nelson. For much of the year they get to live ondozens of acres in the middle of the woods. The boys love to exploreand have been known to a tree bear (the more docile black bears) andbring back deer bones. I never ask where they get them. I don’twant to know.

DANA

What inspired you to write this book?

One night I happened to see a TVinfomercial. It could have been “Things The Banks Don’t Want Youto Know.” Or “Things The Government Doesn’t Want You to Know.”At some point, I said to myself, “Sure, how about ‘Things YourDog Doesn’t Want You To Know.’” And that’s how it started;the title came first.

Like many humor books these days, thisone began as a blog. I started posting on the most obvious topics:“What We Do When You’re Gone” or “Sticking My Head Out TheCar Window.”

The initial idea was to keep themgeneric, in a sort of Everydog persona. But I soon realized that thehumor was in the specifics. It was funnier if the dog had a realpersonality, and even funnier if we invented a variety of “dogbloggers” with radically different personalities.

DANA

What did you find to be the mostdifficult part of writing this book?

I found that the tone was the trickiestpart. The first essays were a little too sarcastic and didn’t haveenough individual personality. Every story, I realized, has to drawyou in quickly. This was a learned skill.

DANA

What are your plans and goals for thebook?

I don’t anticipate a movie sale, ifthat’s what you’re asking. But I think this could be an“evergreen” title that stays in print. I hope it can be bigduring the holiday season. The book was recently featured in DogFancy magazine as one of the perfect dog gifts for Christmas.

DANA

The essays in your book so describe thenature of dogs, and you tell each story with such humor. Do youconsider yourself to have a very good sense of humor, or is itsomething you have to work at?

I’ve always considered myself funny,but I became confident in my humor when the USA Network called me upand asked me to work on “Monk”. Suddenly I was in a room withfive great comedy writers and found I could hold my own pretty well.

DANA

What projects are you currently workingon?

I’m always writing something. It’smy job and my only hobby. Most recently I was asked by USA andObsidian Press to take over writing the “Monk” novels, asuccessful series of books based on the characters from the TV show.My friend Lee Goldberg wrote the first 15 novels, and I’ve beenasked to write numbers 16 and 17.

DANA

Do you have plans for more books in thefuture? If so, what types of books will they be?

As soon as I have a chance, I plan tofinish the second novel in my Abel Adventures Mystery series, titled,“If I Die Before the Wake.” I also have an idea for a sequel tothe dog book.

DANA

As a fellow author, I always like toask this question: if you could describe the work of an author inthree words, what would those words be?

Alone, creating worlds. (That’sthree words and a comma.)

DANA
I couldn't have put it better myself! Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Hy.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Whydo dogs eat furniture when there are endless chew toys nearby?
Whydo they always dash to a rug when they have to throw up?

Andwhy are they always absolutely starving?

ThingsYour Dog Doesn’t Want You to Knowanswers the questions that dog owners have asked for centuries. Thebook is a collection of 115 humorous essays that reveal the truthbehind some of the most baffling canine behavior, their hopes anddreams, their grudges and pleasures, and what they really think aboutus humans. Peppered with lively, clever stories and visuallyappealing photographs, ThingsYour Dog Doesn’t Want You to Knowis a verbal and visual delight that is laugh-out-loud funny. Ifyou have dogs, love dogs, or have ever been baffled by a dog, thisbook is a must-have.

Topicsinclude:

MyLife in Your Purseby Tinkerbell, the Chihuahua
Waitingby the Table(for food scraps, of course!) by Orson, the bulldog
TheBed Rules(Rule #1—It’s my bed) by Dimples, the boxer
TheReason I Ate the Sofa (leathertastes a lot like rawhide) by Axelrod, the yellow lab
ICan Poop the Second I Start My Walk(but choose not to) by Sophie, the cocker spaniel

ThingsYour Dog Doesn’t Want You to Knowis available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Target, one-books and at independent bookstores everywhere. For moreinformation, go to www.ThingsYourDog.comwhere you can also ask questions about your own dog’s behavior andlearn the secrets they have been keeping from you!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

ABOUTHY CONRAD

Bestknown for his work in mysteries, Hy was one of the original writersfor the groundbreaking series, Monk,working on the show for all eight seasons, the final two asCo-Executive Producer. In a related project, Hy was ExecutiveProducer and head writer of LittleMonk, a series of shortfilms featuring Adrian Monk as a ten-year-old. His latest TV workwas as writer and Consulting Producer for WhiteCollar.

Hy isalso the author of hundreds of short stories and ten books of shortwhodunits, which have been sold around the world in fourteenlanguages. Hy’s first mystery novel series, Abel Adventures, willdebut in 2012 with the publication of Rally‘Round the Corpse. Andhis first full-length comedy/mystery play, HomeExchange, premiered at theWaterfront Playhouse in May 2012. He lives in Key West with hispartner and two miniature schnauzers. (www.hyconrad.com)

ABOUTJEFF JOHNSON
Jeff spentmost of his working life in advertising agencies, currently asGeneral Manager of Cramer-Krasselt in New York City. He is theauthor of The HourglassSolution: A Boomer’s Guide to the Rest of Your Lifeand co-authors (with Paula Forman) a national online advice columncalled Short Answers,which also appears in newspapers all along the east coast (fromMassachusetts to Florida). Jeff lives in Vermont and Key West and ison the Board of Directors of the Waterfront Playhouse and the FloridaKeys SPCA.

LINKS:

WEBSITELINK: www.ThingsYourDog.com

AUTHORLINK: www.HyConrad.com

AMAZONLINK: Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know: Eleven Courageous Canines Tell All