DI News Author Series - Lynn Cobb and Penny Goetjen

Photographer Lynn Cobb will discuss her beautifully photographed and written book “Good Dogs of Service” and fiction writer Penny Goetjen will discuss her recently released sixth book.

GOOD DOGS OF SERVICE: You’ve seen them, walking with purpose through crowded concourses, waiting alertly at curbs, at special events--in every walk of life. Sometimes you glimpse them on the news, in areas that have been struck by natural disasters (building collapses, avalanches, earthquakes, mudslides) or touched by war—first responders who are put into some of the most dangerous and challenging missions on the planet. They are service dogs and working canines, or “Good Dogs of Service”. And they employ their awesome senses for the benefit of thousands of people throughout the world. We’re encouraged not to engage with these dogs while they’re on duty. They've been trained to take their missions very seriously. But in this book, photographer Lynn Cobb has given us privileged and candid access to twenty of these remarkable canines and their handlers. Her mission: to inspire others to love these dogs as much as she does and become their advocates.

In “Good Dogs of Service” you will learn about the “superpowers” of these dogs, the range of services they provide, the breeds that seem admirably suited for such duties, and a variety of organizations that have been established to train such dogs and match them with humans. Most importantly you will be able to view, in over fifty fine portraits by Lynn Cobb, the dogs interacting their handlers, their mutual regard and respect on full display.

THE WOMAN UNDER WATER: Don't try to tell Victoria Sands that time heals all wounds. It doesn't work that way for a woman who's lost her husband the way she did. She was never able to say goodbye. Never able to arrange a memorial. Receive friends at the service. Write thank-you notes for the flowers and donations sent in his name. Because it didn't happen that way.

Victoria's husband never returned home at the end of a work day. And no one seems to know what happened to him.

In the seven years since his disappearance, no witnesses have stepped forward and no credible evidence has been collected-not even his car. The few tenuous leads the police had are now ice cold. He simply vanished on a field trip with the private boarding school where he taught behind stone walls - the same school their son now attends.

But someone has to know what happened. And that someone may be closer to Victoria than she realizes.

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