Little Boy Blue

Barron’s Books Preparing Cover Art for “Little Boy Blue”

kimkavin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:49:01 +0000

The production process is in full swing at Barron’s Books for the publication of “Little Boy Blue” later this year. Final manuscript evaluations and edits are now being started, and the art department has begun to create possible cover designs for the hardcover jacket.

It’s exciting, after so many months of working on the content, to see the manuscript beginning the packaging process. Various photographs of Blue are being considered along with multiple typefaces and cover designs.

As soon as we have a final design and permission from the publisher, we’ll of course share the book’s jacket here. Stay tuned.

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book

“Little Boy Blue” Manuscript Now Completing Revisions

kimkavin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:13:18 +0000

The first draft of “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape” is continuing on schedule through the editing process at Barron’s Books, on time for publication in hardcover this coming August.

About 20 evaluators have been given a chance to read the manuscript and provide feedback. The evaluators included people who work in dog rescue, people who train or own purebreds, a veterinarian, and everyday readers from a book club. Following their comments, I’ve worked with the Barron’s editorial team to revise the manuscript into a second draft that should appeal not just to people involved in rescue, but to dog lovers everywhere.

The most common comment we’ve received on the first draft is, “I can’t put it down”—even from readers who do not have dogs of their own. The second draft includes a handful of revisions to make sure that feeling continues on every page and in every chapter of the book.

“Little Boy Blue” should be a finalized manuscript by the end of this month. Next, it will go for final evaluations before beginning the proofreading and typesetting process.

We’ll be working on cover art early in the new year, too, and I hope to be able to share a preview of that with you here on the blog in the next couple of months.

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book

Early Praise for “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape”

kimkavin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:46:09 +0000

A handful of dog-rescue experts received the first-draft manuscript for “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape” in early November. While the official editing process continues at Barron’s Books, we sought out expert opinions on the working draft to ensure accuracy when discussing the vast dog-rescue movement across America.

Each reviewer was asked to submit comments before December 1. Several reviewers responded far faster with comments that, we’re proud to say, are pretty darn glowing:

“I am so enjoying the book! It’s hard to put it down.”—North Carolina rescue worker

“I intended to skim it, but once I started, I couldn’t put it down. I was up until 1:30 in the morning reading.”—Massachusetts shelter director

“I am really enjoying it so much as it weaves the ugly reality with cute Blue stories, so it presents very difficult facts in a way that average dog owners who know nothing of what goes on will be absorbed, without having to put it down. Just when you think it is beyond horrible (heartsticks and gas chambers) then it lightens up so you take a breath and continue along the journey with you. The people you interviewed are a great mix. Congrats on an awesome soon-to-be bestseller that I am sure will grab the population that is like you were, and open their eyes into action.”—Pennsylvania rescue worker

We’re expecting final comments from a few more rescue advocates in the next couple of weeks. We’ve also given copies of the working draft of “Little Boy Blue” to a large book club to gauge the initial response of general-interest readers. Stay tuned for that feedback, as well.

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book

“Little Boy Blue” Editing Process Begins at Barron’s Books

kimkavin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:03:51 +0000

Today, the completed manuscript for “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape” was filed with Barron’s Books.

“Little Boy Blue” will now begin the editing process. The book is still on track to be released as a hardcover in August 2012.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to, and been supportive of, the “Little Boy Blue” project. I hope to be able to publish some excerpts soon here on the official site.

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book

“The Lost Dogs” Author Writes Foreword for “Little Boy Blue”

kimkavin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:24:10 +0000

Jim Gorant, author of the New York Times bestseller “The Lost Dogs,” has just written the foreword for “Little Boy Blue.”

While the focus of Jim’s book is dogfighting, he and his family not long ago adopted a dog like Blue—saved from a high-kill shelter in the South and transported via the rescue system until an adopter was found in the North. Jim thus has a special tie to Blue’s story on a personal level.

If you haven’t yet read “The Lost Dogs,” I highly recommend it. Jim is a gifted writer, and he shines a bright light on a dark corner of the canine experience. His book just came out in paperback and is available through the official website of “The Lost Dogs.”

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book

Sources Who Have Contributed So Far to “Little Boy Blue”

kimkavin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:44:20 +0000

Principal reporting is being completed this month for “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape.” By mid-October, the first draft should be complete, and the editing process with Barron’s Books will begin. The publication date remains August 12, 2012.

Here are some of the people, advocacy groups, shelters, and businesses that you can expect to hear from and learn about in the book:

Aardvark Animal Hospital in Exton, Pennsylvania

American Humane Association

Animal Law Coalition

ASPCA

Canines in Need of Ocean Township, New Jersey

Cathy “Crossposter” Restorick of Facebook

Chances Angel Rescue and Education in North Carolina

Fayette County Sheriff’s Department in Ohio

Humane Alliance of Asheville, North Carolina

Humane Society of the United States

Local rescue group in Person County, North Carolina

Lulu’s Rescue of Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania

Maddie’s Project in New York City

Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals

Mendham Animal Hospital in New Jersey

North Carolina Coalition for Humane Euthanasia

North Penn Puppy Mill Watch of Pennsylvania

Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Massachusetts

Office of state Senator Andy Dinneman of Chester County, Pennsylvania

Old Fella Rescue in Georgia

Operation Roger

Person County Animal Control in North Carolina

Peterson Express Transport Services, based in Tennessee

Pilots N Paws

POP-NC mobile spay/neuter in North Carolina

Robeson County Animal Shelter in North Carolina

SPCA of Lakeland, Florida

St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter in Louisiana

St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison and North Branch, New Jersey

Top Dog in Flanders, New Jersey

Well Bred in Chester, New Jersey

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book

Little Boy Blue Facebook Page Offers Hope to Rescuers

kimkavin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:31:59 +0000

The number of followers on the Little Boy Blue Facebook page continues to grow exponentially and is fast approaching 200—many of them people who stop by not only to learn about the book in production, but also to enjoy photographs and updates about the happy life that Blue is living.

I didn’t anticipate this phenomenon, but I sure am thrilled to be a part of it. Many people who rescue dogs like Blue experience a great deal of heartache while viewing online photographs of dogs in desperate need of help, and dogs that often cannot be saved. When a happy photograph of Blue shows up in their Facebook feed amid so much tragedy, it is a reminder that for some dogs, the rescue process really does have a happily-ever-after ending.

While I’m of course excited that there is so much growing interest in Little Boy Blue the book, I’m also happily surprised that Blue himself is bringing so many smiles to the faces of animal advocates. Rest assured, I’ll continue with updates of both kinds on Facebook.

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book, LIttle Boy Blue: The Dog

Blue is Making Friends Fast on Facebook

kimkavin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:23:23 +0000

Blue got his own Facebook page about a month ago, when this website and a social media presence were established for the upcoming book “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape.” We’re excited to see that in just a short time, Blue is already getting close to 100 Facebook friends and fans.

Many of them are folks who work in dog rescue and are thrilled to see Blue living out a wonderful life. Others are people who know Blue, and even other dogs who know him from around town.

It’s great to see such strong initial interest in Blue’s life and the “Little Boy Blue” book project. Thanks to everyone who is paying attention on Facebook right from the start!

Filed under: LIttle Boy Blue: The Dog

Mark Your Calendars for August 12, 2012

kimkavin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:37:39 +0000

Barron’s Books has just let me know that the on-sale date for “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape” is currently scheduled to be August 12, 2010.

I’ll of course post live links on this website so you can pre-order the hardcover as the on-sale date gets closer. Until then, I’m still in the reporting and writing phase of the project. If you have any information that you’d like to contribute, please send it along this summer.

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book

Barron’s Books to Publish “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape”

kimkavin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:24:12 +0000

It’s official! Barron’s Books has agreed to publish the hardcover edition of “Little Boy Blue: One Puppy’s Great Escape.”

“Little Boy Blue” is the story of a wonderful puppy who was saved from a taxpayer-funded animal shelter that was going to kill him in a gas chamber. The book will show how volunteers worked across several states to save him, as well as how more and more dogs like him are being saved by a growing coalition of U.S. rescue groups via cross-country transports.

We’ll keep you updated here on the official “Little Boy Blue” website as the book nears publication and becomes available for purchase.

Filed under: Little Boy Blue: The Book