Becoming an Author

Writing a book is hard. Writing a book about dogs and wine? Even harder. But here I am, the proud author of Pairing Paws: Dog Breeds and Their Spirit Wines, a project that took me three years of my life to complete. Looking back, I can say it was worth every moment of frustration, every roadblock, and every rejection I faced along the way. And trust me, there were a lot of rejections.

How It All Began

The idea for Pairing Paws came to me as a way to combine two of my greatest passions: dogs and wine. As a sommelier, I’ve spent years studying wines, tasting, pairing, and learning about the unique personalities and characteristics of different wines. At the same time, I’ve always been an animal lover—dogs especially. One day during COVID when I was stuck on my couch with nothing but time, my dog Riesling, and wine, it just clicked: what if I paired dog breeds with wines that matched their personalities? The more I thought about it, the more I loved the idea.

But loving an idea and bringing it to life are two very different things.

Three Years in the Making

It took three years to bring Pairing Paws to life. Those years were full of challenges—some expected, others completely out of left field. The first hurdle? Tracking down and photographing all the different dog breeds. I knew that each breed’s personality would need to shine through in the photos, but finding and coordinating with owners, making sure the dogs were available, and getting the perfect shots felt like a never-ending task. In the end, though, those photos became one of the most important parts of the book, adding personality to each pairing.

Then came the literary part. I had this vision, but the publishing world was not exactly welcoming. I sent out hundreds of inquiries, trying to get an agent to represent me. Each rejection stung a little, but I knew I believed in this project enough to keep pushing forward. Still, after getting picked up and dropped by multiple agents, it started to feel like I might not get Pairing Paws off the ground.

Going the Self-Publishing Route

After enough rejections, I finally made the decision to self-publish. I had poured too much time, energy, and heart into this project to give up, and if no one else was going to help me get this book out there, I would do it myself. But self-publishing came with its own set of problems. From navigating the world of formatting, distribution, and marketing, to figuring out how to get the book into the hands of readers, it was a whole new learning curve. There were days when I wondered if I had made the right decision, but seeing Pairing Paws in print for the first time made it all worth it.

Enter: The Sequel – Cat Breeds and Their Spirit Wines

I guess I’m a glutton for punishment because after the success of Pairing Paws, I decided to dive right back into the process with a sequel. This time? Cats. Pairing Paws: Cat Breeds and Their Spirit Wines has been my passion project for the last three years, and it’s shaping up to be just as challenging as the first book. It turns out tracking down and photographing cat breeds is just as tough—if not tougher—than dogs. Cats, after all, don’t always cooperate for the camera the way you’d hope! Most people also are often under the impression that their cat is “brown” or “orange” and they have no idea of the breed.

As I enter year three of working on this sequel, I find myself both exhausted and energized by the process. Self-publishing gave me the freedom to create the book I wanted without compromise, but it also left me carrying the full weight of the project. I’ve had moments of doubt, wondering if I’ll be able to get this one across the finish line, but I know it’s only a matter of time and perseverance.

The Road Ahead

Looking back, becoming an author was never the easy route. It was full of detours, challenges, and rejections, but it’s also one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. Writing Pairing Paws gave me the chance to combine my love for animals and wine into something that connects with people on a deeper level. The outpouring of support from readers has been overwhelming, and that’s what keeps me going as I work to finish the cat sequel.

So, here I am, in year three of the Cat Breeds and Their Spirit Wines journey, still determined, still passionate, and still navigating this wild ride that is self-publishing. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that the process may be long and hard, but the end result is always worth it. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a third book waiting somewhere in the wings.