Naming Your Pet in Acknowledgments

Is this too silly? I really want to put my cat in my acknowledgments. He actually gave me inspiration to give my MC a cat, very much like my guy. He's been my first and only cat so far and he's been a slice of heaven. As many of you cat owners would know, owning one is like heaven.

So can I do this? Or will it seem too weird or silly?

Thank you so much guys. Yeah, he's really been a lifesaver for me. I suffer from the bipolar disorder and have horrible waves of depression. But through all those times, he's felt my sadness too and has comforted me in wonderful calming moments. Anyway, I could go on and on about him, but I won't for the book. I just think since the book deals with depression and mental illness and as I've mentioned, the MC in the book gets a cat. And the cat in the book plays a important role. The MC suffers from a split personality disorder, but both the character's sides agree on loving the cat. I think that's important too in many ways.

I need to do a special author's note for this book too as the publisher requested it. I may even save my kitty boy for that too.

He's my avatar in case anyone's wondering. But I'm sure all you smart people figured that out already. lol

This is great! You guys are awesome. I feel inspired to write it now. It's a big relief to hear. And here I thought I was being silly.

Roxxsmom said:

The high percentage of avatars that appear to be people's pets on these forums suggest that many writers are animal lovers.

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Haha...so true. I see you have a beautiful furry friend too! Sweet pup.

Ona Mission said:

Lisa, I think that's a great idea. You know what he means to you, what you get from him, and you want to share that feeling with the world. That's not weird or creepy. It's beautiful. Note: If he didn't inspire a character in the story, I'd probably offer a different answer. But it works in this case.

Just don't describe how he smells or complain about the fact that he shit on your bed in the acknowledgement. Leave that for your blog.

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Haha. Got it!

Snowstorm said:

Late to your party, Undercover, but I'm in the "go for it" camp! I think it's a beautiful sentiment like Ona Mission wrote. (And congrats on needing to write an Acknowledgement!)

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Thanks so much. Yeah, I won't go overboard... as much as I'd like to... Ona won't let me.

regdog said:

I'm a little late to the discussion but I dedicated my book A Dog of War to my late dog Chelsea. She inspired the book. If your fur baby inspires you, acknowledge them.

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Exactly. I thought it would be fitting to do so since he (with the exception of the name change) is in the book itself. Right down to the very description, gray tabby with a white and gray striped belly and one green eye and one brown. AND I got him from the Animal Welfare too, just as how the MC gets hers.

I might even mention rescuing a pet and owning one helps to cope with depression, since I'll be writing that author's note thing too.

I've started on some of it already and was starting to go overboard and thought, Ona...remember what she said, no shitting all over the place about it. haha

Ona Mission said:

Yeah, because I'm the Queen of Restraint.

Wait.

No, I'm the Queen of Motivation. Carry on. Again.

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Seriously, tho. I was sitting on the idea for a while (since last week.) And Leap sent me to do this week. I was like, oh hell no...and the more I thought about it, the more wild my thankfulness was becoming. With no writing to be had. Then boom, you say ur gonna be offline and work (like every writer should) and I was like, shit...get to work too, lee lee. I got those suckers condensed good. And a special shout out to my Office peeps too. I'm happy with my acks, thanks for putting an axe to my AW addiction (for a while) and forcing me offline too. LIGER Lady, Queen of Motivation.

tanks Onababycakers....back in the do i go!

**this post was based on a true story ***

helga said:

With her face on the front cover, my cat acknowledges me - and I'm grateful

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She is? So sweet!
Pretty Lady she is, love her markings.
Thanks for the support too.



And yes, it's a fact. Kitty boy is in there for good now. They just sent me the ARC that I have to proof.