Interview with Dr. Dawn Filos: Author of TALES OF A PET VET: STORIES FROM THE CLINIC AND HOUSE CALLS

Dr. Dawn Filos grew up in New Jersey in a family of eccentric animal lovers, preparing her for a lifelong career spent with like-minded pet people. She was a veterinarian in Pennsylvania for over thirty years.  Her Memoir, TALES OF A PET VET: STORIES FROM THE CLINIC AND HOUSE CALLS is out now!

When did you decide to write a memoir about your experiences as a vet? Was it something you always had in mind?

I started my blog, www.drdawnthepetvet.com  nearly 15 years ago, and it was originally intended to supplement a pet first aid course I was teaching.

I slowly began to share personal anecdotes about my own pets and patients. I found writing relaxing and enjoyable, and I began to get a lot of feedback from subscribers on the personal stories.

It occurred to me that people were interested in these stories, which focused on the emotional, physical and psychological benefits of living with pets, as well as many humorous tales as well… and one day I decided these stories would make a good basis for a book. It took about 5 years to come together as the book it is today.

Have you always written? 

I have always been a book lover and avid reader. As a writer, I began to write essays and did personal journaling regularly, which I describe as therapeutic – often as a way to process a stressful situation, or just to share things I thought worth writing down for some purpose in the future. That came in very handy when I sat down to write the book.

What was your writing process like and how did you decide what to include?

My writing came in waves. I was very busy with my house-call practice at the time that I wrote the book. The only time I had to really sit, contemplate, plan and write was when I went to our family home at the beach on Long Island. If I was at the beach, I voice transcribed into the Notes app on my phone. I was very productive on rainy days at the computer. We are in a very quiet part of town near the bay, and I was lucky to have a lovely zen view of meadows, trees and nature. 

Originally chapters were organized by subject, similar to the table of contents of the final book, but with a lead in blog that focused on the topic of that chapter. Once I began working with my publisher, She Writes Press, that format was edited out and essentially I then un-incorporated the blogs, while retaining the salient points of the blog in the corresponding chapters.

What was the hardest part of writing Tales of a Pet Vet, and what was the easiest?

The hardest part was selecting from my 32 years worth of stories and deciding which ones would, in total, relay to readers the myriad of experiences and emotions, both highs and lows, that veterinarians like I have in our careers.  I wanted it to be balanced with helpful info, humor, and some more heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking stories that would most resonate with pet-loving readers. The easiest part was making the original list of tales… as they were indelibly seared into my memory.

Can you tell us a little bit about your publishing journey? Did you find a publisher straight away?

I had about half of my original book written in 2020, when I learned about a. company called Author Accelerator, who matched me with an editor. It was important to me that I had other eyes on my manuscript before I submitted to several agents. In retrospect, the final book is a better book now, in my opinion, than it was prior to the changes I made to it which I already mentioned, as its old format was rejected, and I understand why. My first editor told me about some hybrid publishers, which led me to She Writes Press, who accepted my book submission, with some further edits. It has been a two-year journey with them to get it onto bookstore shelves.

Do I have any plans to continue writing?

I intend to refocus on my blog, and love to write about the benefits of the human-animal bond. I hope to continue to contribute to digital and print media in that capacity. I believe it is important to be a source of reliable veterinary info in a sea of misinformation on the internet, where well intentioned pet parents are often given bad advice, which I find frustrating.

I would enjoy writing more books in the future. I am also an artist, and have always dreamed of writing children’s books, which I could illustrate. Considering that there are so many stories edited out of this book, I would easily envision a Tales part 2… or More Tales… of a Pet Vet. 

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TALES OF A PET VET: STORIES FROM THE CLINIC AND HOUSE CALLS

In stories tailor-made for pet lovers, a seasoned veterinarian shares her good, bad, and messy days on the job—and highlights the undeniable magic of the human-animal bond.

Dr. Dawn Filos has always had a passion for animals—and with a lot of hard work and perseverance, she turned that passion into a career. Here, with emotional honesty, Dr. Dawn shares her colorful, memorable journey from nervous novice to seasoned, self-assured doctor. This modern-day James Herriot ultimately finds her niche as a house-call vet, where she creates a way to practice on her own terms with the privilege of unique, intimate access into the homes and lives of her beloved patients and their human families.

Sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sad, and often hilarious, Tales of a Pet Vet will resonate deeply with pet lovers everywhere.

BUY HERE

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews, On Writing