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Archive for December, 2010

Stories that are a gift of love – understood and appreciated by anyone who shares their life with a four-legged, adored friend

With a heart as big as Texas, Dr. Pomerance has never turned away an animal in need.  Providing necessary care and rehabilitation for these animals to improve their chance at adoption has become a way of life for her and her husband and, in spite of the hard work and heartache that often accompanies these dogs, they wouldn’t have it any other way!  Putting aside the sadness and suffering that is often attached to them when they first come into her life, Dr. Pomerance looks as each one as a gift and never fails to be amazed by the transformation that takes place as they recover from abuse, neglect or abandonment – and she never tires of being a part of their journey as they leave behind pain and despair and replace it with joy and contentment.

Our Rescue Dog Family Album (Polaire Entertainment Group, Inc.) by Diane Pomerance, Ph.D., is a collection of endearing stories that covers the lives of forty rescued dogs, lucky enough to become members of her seemingly ever-expanding family, and the obstacles they overcame in their recovery.  Their gratitude is evident every day, and their innate wisdom and ability to love unconditionally have brought the doctor and her husband profound joy and an increased awareness of the inter-connectedness of all living creatures. 

Dr. Pomerance has a Ph.D. in Communications and is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist who counsels those grieving from any loss, but especially those mourning the loss of a beloved pet.  She created, established and serves as director of the Pet Grief Counseling Program for the SPCA of Texas, and understands how the loss of a pet can be just as devastating to adults as it is to children.  She has dedicated Our Rescue Dog Family Album to all the four-legged friends who have shared their lives with the Pomerances’ over the years and who will always be remembered with love, appreciation and deep respect. 

Dr. Pomerance has been interviewed by countless newspapers and magazines, and has been a featured guest on CNN Headline News, Fox News, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime TV, Fox & Friends, Montel Williams, The Daily Buzz, and more.  Her latest poignant book and her many other highly acclaimed books can be viewed at: www.animalcompanionsandtheirpeople.com

Dr. Pomerance lives in North Texas with her husband and too-numerous-to-name canine “kids.”

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TIP SHEET:

Seattlepi books: “If ever a book was appropriately named, Our Rescue Dog Family Album is the book. Details of over forty dogs that were rescued … are shared, along with scores of pictures of these lucky canines.  What Pomerance – and anyone who has ever rescued a dog — knows is that once you rescue an animal, you have a devoted friend, ‘til death do you part.  Pomerance has written a number of books for dog owners and prospective owners, covering topics that include the death of a pet, adopting the right companion, older animals, and the roles companion animals play in the lives of the humans with whom they live.

People who read Our Rescue Dog Family Album will be charmed by the histories of these dogs that no one wanted. Some came from puppy mills (boo! hiss!), others were abused and abandoned, and still others share unknown backgrounds…Whether Pomerance is writing about a dog’s health and behavior, or sharing tidbits about their holiday celebrations, she draws the reader in with her obvious respect for her furry family. Filled with irresistible photos and enchanting stories of improved lives… Our Rescue Dog Family Album makes a lovely gift for any dog lover or wannabe-dog-owner, and should be found in the waiting rooms of veterinarians across the world. Maybe it will inspire others to adopt a shelter dog…or two…or three…”

DogTipper.com: “Our family has included a number of rescue dogs over the years…all but one came to us from shelters or by being dumped near our country home.  We are always interested in other individuals who adopt and care for unwanted pets, so were immediately impressed by Dr. Pomerance’s Our Rescue Dog Family Album…being a nationally-recognized pet expert who works with several organizations including the SPCA of Texas, K-9 Friends Visiting Therapy Dogs of GTDOG, and Alaskan Malamute Assistance League.  Our Rescue Dog Family  Album is a handsomely printed hardback which documents some of the many dogs who have been adopted into her loving home…is an entertaining book, enhanced with color photos of her pets and details of…day-by-day efforts to save as many distressed dogs as possible.  Their gradual introduction and integration into the lives of abandoned and mistreated pets is an inspiring journey.  The Pomerances’ inspiring story is a quick read but will long linger in the hearts of all dog lovers.”

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Make humor not war – one author’s fun coping method to get through family Holidays

Home for the Holidays doesn’t always pull up visions of sweet, sugar candy classics like I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.  For most people it’s probably more like a blend of National Lampoon’s: Christmas Vacation or maybe even The Nightmare Before Christmas!  Add a little more tension with the fact that many people have lost their jobs and homes this year, and it definitely spells trouble.  The Dysfunctional Family Funbook: Games and Activities to Keep You Sane Your Whole Visit Home (Running Press) by Catheryn J. Brockett is part activity book-part survival kit for the Holidays and this witty parody offers the perfect outlet to prevent you from hitting the family or the bottle (or both)!  

Designed along the lines of a children’s activity book, The Dysfunctional Family Funbook comes with paper doll cut-outs, word searches, mazes, connect-the-dots, and many other activities, making it the perfect antidote to Holiday stress.  Brockett provides everything in her ‘adult’ book from puzzles and games to exploring a number of attractive escape options when all that company gets to be too much, reminding readers that her games and activities are not to share with the family – but more a book you use to stay sane while around them!

Hatched during a time that the author was estranged from her own family, Brockett found that humor has a capacity to unite as well as uplift, and as a result she found herself doing stand-up comedy on a subject near and dear to her heart – her own dysfunctional family! 

Catheryn Brockett is a writer, actor and comedian and has performed improv and sketch comedy in New York, Washington and Los Angeles.  She has appeared in numerous television shows and commercials.  Originally from the suburbs of Maryland, she spent a few years in theatre in New York then on to settle ‘happily ever after’ in Los Angeles.  She is currently busy writing more fun books and survival guides and creating mini-kits for life’s hard times and is intent on making the world a better place one chuckle at a time!

Please check out her entertaining (“cheaper than therapy”) book at her website:www.dysfunctionalfamilyfunbook.com   or visit the author at: www.catherynjbrockett.com .

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James Hollis, PhD, best-selling author of What Matters Most & Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: “In The Dysfunctional Family Funbook, Catheryn Brockett uses humor to turn pain into pure gold, and for those cast by fate into a familial web, whether their tears come from sorrow or laughter, she recovers a vital measure of autonomy.”

Britt Nielsen, Psy.D: “The Dysfunctional Family Funbook hooks you with humor and games.  Things may even hit home…Then somewhere after the drink recipes – you are learning coping strategies and communication skills and don’t even know it!  Talk about covert therapy.”

Burnside Writer’s Collective: “…Well there is hope!  Catheryn J. Brockett an actress and comedienne, has written a terrific book that’s part-fun, part-therapy, and completely entertaining.  The Dysfunctional Family Handbook Games and Activities to keep you sane your whole trip home.”

The Undercurrent, Buena Vista University: “Sick of going home from college and feeling like you don’t fit in anymore?  Do you feel as if you do not share much of the same interests or do not know how to have fun with your family?  Maybe The Dysfunctional Family Funbook is what you need…”

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A beautiful piece of art brings pleasure to the beholder and also pays tribute to an artist’s life and experiences

Claretta White’s life definitely prepared her for a career in the arts.  She was born into a family long active in architecture, music, stage, design and dance and her mother was a couture designer whose clothes were worn by movie stars of her day.  Claretta grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and studied dance dramatics, violin and piano, and as a child participated in theater and performing arts.  After high school she moved from Tulsa to Los Angeles and appeared in motion pictures where she met her husband – famous film director and producer, Sam White, and their amazing marriage gave them two children and lasted 63 years until her death in 2002.

Claretta’s painting began as a creative outlet while raising her family.  Her love of ballet became the subject of much of her work, and her personal experience with this expressive art adds such a sense of realism to her paintings.  She studied various painting techniques under the auspices of the late Ruby Usher, Leon Frank, Nicolai Fechin and Sergei Baumgarten.  This well-known California Impressionist won over twenty awards in competitive exhibitions around the country and her studies of flowers, landscape and clown portraits express not only her joy in life but the torment of inner sadness.
 
Claretta White’s work was featured in a series of educational books on painting by Walter T. Foster, himself a well-known artist, and she also wrote two books of her own; ‘How to Paint Dancers’ and ‘How to Paint Still Life’ and anyone purchasing one of her paintings from the website will receive a complimentary copy of the book the study was made from.  Claretta’s paintings have consistently held their value and appreciated over time yet still remain very affordable.  Their beauty would enhance any surroundings from hotels and restaurants to corporate art, personal collections, and galleries.

Please visit the website where the beautiful work of this extremely talented artist can be purchased at: www.clarettawhite.com .

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