Dog Days

BY BRIAN SCHWARTZ

What does it take to see your book at the top of the bestseller list? While Teresa Rhyne says she got lucky, there was plenty of hard work that led up to her success. Her debut novel “The Dog Lived (and So Will I)” became a #1 New York Times bestseller in 2013. With critical acclaim, it has been translated into eight languages and continues to sell well today.

Rhyne, a Paso Robles author, lawyer, canine activist, and cancer survivor is living proof that it’s possible to find success with a memoir, without the fame we normally see that goes along with it.

The inspiration for her entrance into the publishing world was lit when she went searching for a book that didn’t exist. “The Dog Lived” offers a unique pointof-view that only someone going through cancer can have. The emotional roller coaster, the treatments, the despair, and through it all, the faith to persevere. Rhyne’s willingness to pen her experience has helped others who have faced similar challenges.

Before penning her book, she launched a blog. While many of us know writing can be therapeutic, the act of sharing her writing on-line allowed her to create a connection with others. She gave visitors to her website an ‘insiders’ view of what it was like on a day-to-day basis to battle cancer, while she continued to hone her writing skills. It ultimately led to her book when she decided to tell the story of her beloved pet beagle Seamus’ cancer battle and how the simple mantra: “The Dog Lived, and so Will I” helped carry her through her own journey.

As aspiring authors know far too well, having a platform is key. In addition to the readers of her blog, Rhyne developed partnerships with both dog rescue and breast cancer non-profits. Her book helped their mission, which in turn helped hers. From dog walks to speaking at fundraisers, Rhyne put in the hard work.

Then the stars aligned. “The Dog Lived” was published In 2012, at the height of the popularity of the Kindle eBook reader. Her book was prominently displayed in a ‘Kindle Daily Deal’ campaign by Amazon. That single promotion led to over 60,000 copies of her eBook being sold in a single day. Lightning struck again when they featured it in a subsequent ‘Best of Daily Deals’ promotion.

Rhyne has written three ‘Dog-oirs’ to date—part memoir, part dog-book. Her next goal is to break into fiction, so she’s taking a canine along. Her yet-to-be-published novel will appeal to not only dog lovers, but fans of fiction as well. Rhyne continues her practice as a full-time lawyer, writes, and still finds time to advocate for the causes she believes in.

Teresa Ryne will be one of the featured speakers at this year’s Central Coast Writers’ Conference in October where you can meet her in person. You can learn more about her at TeresaRhyne.com. SLO LIFE