Love Snaggs – A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey was the winner in the KIDS category of the 2023 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Melanie Joy Mezzancello.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Love Snaggs – A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey; May of 2022
What’s the book’s first line?
My story began on May 5, 1997. My first memories are hazy. It was dark and loud. There were cages all around. I felt scared and confused. In fact, I could smell the fear in there. I was in a puppy mill.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Meet Snaggs, the Yorkie mix. After his life on Earth is done, Snaggs crosses the Rainbow Bridge and wakes up in Summerland – the place our beloved pets and other animals go to after they die. Snaggs is determined to find a way back home to his family.
He courageously leaves the safety of the idyllic Garden of Souls and embarks on a fantastical journey in his quest to Spire Mountain where he seeks Shaman the old ram who, according to legend, can help Snaggs rejoin his family back on Earth. Along the way he forges friendships with other animals, such as a ring-tailed lemur, a mountain lion and a giant pterodactyl. Getting back requires a dangerous trek to the kingdom of the dragons, where unbeknownst to Snaggs and his diverse band of allies, there is a revolution brewing and a prophecy that is about to come full circle.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Snaggs was our dog, and several years after he passed away, we adopted Wesley. And Wesley looked almost exactly like Snaggs… except he has a long, luxurious tail. And that’s when the idea for the story sparked inside my head. Wesley is so much like Snaggs in so many ways. Who knows? I was so inspired, and I imagined that Wesley had taken a spectacular journey to get here, back to us. So one night I just started writing. I wasn’t planning on writing a book. I just had an idea. That idea was the spark, and from there on out, the story just flowed. I have no idea where it was coming from. It just kept flowing. The characters just burst into life within my own imagination, and my fingers on the keyboard struggled to keep up with my brain. After many months of writing into the middle of the night every night, I actually had the makings of a book.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Snaggs definitely reminds me of my dog. In fact, when I was writing the dialogue, I was imagining what Snaggs would have sounded like had he had the ability to speak. He was so spunky and brave, and I hoped that he would come across that way in the book. I could picture him being a bit snarky when he’s scared. And got his “gallows humor” from me, of course.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
If you love dogs, then this book is for you, no matter your age. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry (I know, sorry!), and you can read it with your kids and be confident that it’s safe for their little eyes & ears. The overall message of the book is one of love and perseverance. I think it also touches on the values of love of family, friendship, diversity and cooperation to overcome obstacles. In the story, Snaggs pulls together a little band of rather unlikely allies… in the story, different animals and even different species work together to help Snaggs in his journey.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Actually, my ultimate dream for Love Snaggs would be for it to be made into a film. I can totally picture my characters coming to life in an animated film, or even one that’s a hybrid of traditional movie blended with some CGI. I feel like the characters are so relatable – not just for kids, but for everyone.
The star, of course, is Snaggs! Snaggs is a plucky little Yorkie Terrier mix who is determined to find a way back home to his family. Snaggs is small but very brave. During his life on Earth he had many health issues, but he never let them stop him from living his best life. That courage serves him well when he decides to trek to Spire Mountain! Snaggs is witty and likes to use “gallows humor” a lot. He has a fierce love for his family. I think Jon Leguizamo would be fantastic as the voice of Snaggs. He does a great job of conveying emotion, especially quick wit and humor, through his voice, and I just love him.
Raptor is a super cool character. He’s a pterodactyl, and he is NOT what you’d expect. I don’t want to tell you too much and spoil it for you. He’s feathered, funny and he has a quirky thing with fruit! He is Snaggs’s strongest ally who will be put to the test when he meets Lucar. Bill Murray would be the perfect Actor to voice Raptor. Raptor has the gentle, innocent empathy of Bob Wiley (What About Bob) and the lovable humor of Peter Venkman (Ghostbusters).
Lucar is the ultimate bad guy. He’s a mongrel dragon, dripping with oily wickedness. Snaggs is the wrench in Lucar’s diabolical plan to steal the throne of Royal Volcano. I imagine Lucar as someone whose voice sends a shiver of fear down your spine. And Tony Todd (Candyman 2021) fits that bill perfectly.
When did you first decide to become an author?
At first, writing was more of an outlet for me. I had a lot of health issues starting in my late twenties, and journaling really helped me cope. It was when I was diagnosed with breast cancer that I really started writing. I spent a lot of time in hospitals – having lots of tests and doing a lot of waiting. The waiting was brutal. I kept one of those fifty-cent marble notebooks and a pen with me at all times, and I journaled my entire experience. I wrote about all of it – the bad, the scary, the really bad, and the blessings along the way. When my treatment was done, I turned it into a manuscript for a book. But I never shared it. It turns out that it was just too personal to put out there.
What do you do for when you’re not writing?
I am an artist – you can find some of my work at the local art gallery. I like to work with acrylic paint and impasto on canvas. I’m also a dancer. Over the past few years, I have re-embraced my passion for the performing arts. I tap dance with a group of incredible women. We call ourselves The Foxy Ladies. We get together every week and tap our hearts out! And I dance Flamenco with another group of incredible women. I’m so grateful to have these amazing women in my life, and I’m honored to call them my sisters.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part of being an Indie Author is the creative freedom you have when you’re writing. However, it is very expensive to market and promote your own book. The hardest part is turning excellent reviews and awards into book sales.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Absolutely! I would welcome the opportunity for my voice to have a further reach.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Mine is a message of hope. When I was wrapped up in hospital blankets, scared for my life and writing furiously in my journal, I never imagined it would lead me here. Grab onto the good stuff in life… it’s never too late to follow your dreams. This is why I say that my story is just beginning!
Which book do you wish you could have written?
The Joy of Cooking… just because! 😍