twitter: @jamesmshea
Sequoia’s favorite activity was hiking. When I pulled the hiking boots out of the closet, she would get a smile on her face and jump up and down. She was at home in the woods. We hiked together for hours. One time, we met a bear in the woods. We lived in Colorado and a black bear came out of the brush. Sequoia and the bear were eye to eye. They both froze, probably each just as scared as the other. Sequoia turned and walked away and the bear scrambled up a tree. I was freaked out at the time but I laugh about it now. That was just Sequoia
Description
Set against the backdrop of the Western landscape, Plucking Wolf Fur tells the story of a disabled man and his 13-year friendship with a wolf-hybrid. James was born with one arm. Throughout his life, he struggled with depression and the acceptance of others. On a whim, he adopted a wolf-mixed puppy named Sequoia. The manuscript takes the reader deep into their lives together, sharing the laughs, tender moments, and adventures.
It was 1993. James was 23. He had nearly flunked out of college, and his parents were in the middle of a divorce. Adding a unique twist to the standard American story, his mom left his father for a woman, creating a new family dynamic.
James wanted a companion. He had few friends at the university and saw no future. Dogs were always important in his family, but James never thought about owning a wolf dog until he read a classified ad: “Malamute/Wolf puppies 8 @ $100.” He chose, or was chosen by, the most spirited of the bunch, one an acquaintance would later term “magic.”
Sequoia was different. She picked zucchini and garlic from the garden with her mouth, setting them in neat rows. She stole chocolate chip cookies. She survived multiple brushes with death. Most of all, she was independent and strong. As their friendship grew, James gained strength. He founded a magazine and forged a career as a newspaper reporter in the Rocky Mountains. The two were constant companions. Bound together like soul mates, they climbed 14,000-foot-mountains, traveled the country, and lived life together.
Plucking Wolf Fur is Marley and Me meets Poster Child. It demonstrates the powerful bond between an animal and a young man. Readers will learn about the challenges of living with a disability, and how Sequoia brought joy into everyone’s life.
Length: 285 print pages
About the author: James Michael Shea is an award-winning journalist. He has worked at New York Times- and Gannett-owned newspapers. His work has appeared on MSNBC and in the New York Times, Denver Post, Charlotte Observer and the Wall Street Journal.
Details
- Format: Kindle Edition
- File Size: 315 KB
- Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
- Language: English
- ASIN: B005LWIL62
- Lending: Enabled
