Dog Author Interview: Julie Klam (YOU HAD ME AT WOOF, and LOVE AT FIRST BARK)

Julie Klam is the author of several books, including the New York Times Bestseller You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me The Secrets of Happiness (Riverhead Books), Love At First Bark: Dogs and the People They Saved (Riverhead Books), and the forthcoming [fall 2012] Friendkeeping: The Field Guide to the People You Love, Hate, and Can’t Live Without (Riverhead Books).

She has written for such publications as O, The Oprah Magazine, Rolling Stone, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, Glamour, and The New York Times Magazine. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Julie worked from 1999 – 2002 as writer for VH1’s Pop-Up Video, where she earned an Emmy nomination for Special Class Writing. She was also a Senior Writer on VH1’s Name That Video. Along with Ann Leary and Laura Zigman, she is a co-host of the weekly NPR radio show "Hash Hags."

She lives in Manhattan with her husband, daughter and many dogs.

Currently own dogs? Tell us their names, breeds and one amusing fact per dog.

Beatrice, Boston terrier: She doesn’t love people but she does love civil servants – anyone who works for the city of New York.

Wisteria, Boston terrier/Chihuahua mix: She is in a support group for squirrel addiction.

Fiorello, Boston terrier/Chihuahua mix (Wisteria’s “twin” brother): Sleeps on his back with his legs sticking straight up and is my only dog who cries. He’s a cry baby.

In one sentence, what is your latest dog-related book about?

LOVE AT FIRST BARK is my continuing adventures in dog rescue and being rescued by dogs.

When did it come out?

October 2011, Riverhead Books. It was a Library Journal Best Book of 2011

What inspired you to write this book?

It was a continuation of You Had Me at Woof, a book that came out the year before. I just had more to say about my dog relationships.

What kind of writing were you doing before you started writing about dogs?

I had written a memoir about people in my family… the human kind. I’ve always done lots of magazine writing, mostly essays.

How did you find your agent?

I had met my agent at a party ten years before I even dreamed of writing a book. I think we just hit it off personally. I think she liked the fact that I had no interest in writing a book, but I tricked her.

What has been the biggest surprise or learning experience you’ve seen through the process of seeing your book(s) get published?

The biggest surprise I think was just realizing that it’s a business like everything else. When you’re writing and dreaming of getting published, you don’t think about how much goes into figuring out numbers. I guess like people who dream of acting in a movie aren’t thinking about sitting around in trailers for hours. There is lots of love of books in this business, but ultimately no one can do it if people aren’t making money and business decisions.

Tell me about a fun moment or proud experience you’ve had with your book and readers since the book was published.

The best part by far is hearing from people who decided to join a rescue group after reading my books. Many joined my rescue group. Inspiring any sort of goodness in people is the most you could hope for.

What have you done to reach out to readers and dog enthusiasts?

The marketing and publicity people at Riverhead Books do a ton of amazing reach out and targeting dog magazines. For myself, I use Facebook and twitter a great deal and have found it to be a very useful tool for connecting with people.

Think of your dog (or a past dog perhaps). If you could compare them to one celebrity, who would it be?

Beatrice is a little Lady Gaga -- she has been known to wear meat, especially after she eats.

Favorite of these dog movies? --- “Best in Show,” “101 Dalmatians,” “The Shaggy Dog.”

I have to say 101 Dalmatians. In that movie the dogs were the ones who saved the day, I believe that’s really what happens, too.

Where can people find you on the Internet?

Author website: www.julieklam.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JulieKlamAuthor

Twitter: @julieklam

What’s next up for you, writing-wise?

I have a book coming out in October 2012 called Friendkeeping: The Field Guide to the People you Love, Hate, and Can’t Live Without. It’s about human relationships, although I think martians would definitely find some use in it, too.

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