Dogster

Maria Goodavage

New York Times best-selling author Maria works in a most enchanting tiny red writing cottage in the backyard of her San Francisco home. Despite the entertainment provided by such distractions as watching neighbor cats taunting her otherwise amiable dog throughout the day, she manages to get a tremendous amount of writing done. 

Among her current credits, the former USA Today reporter is a contributing editor at Dogster, author of The Dog Lover’s Companion to California (now in its seventh edition), and author of the new book Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America’s Canine Heroes, in which she provides an unprecedented window into the world of these adventurous, loyal warriors. Soldier Dogs is available at bookstores and online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound. Fans of listening to books can find the audiobook at Blackstone Audio.

Full Name: Maria Goodavage 

Age: It sounds better in French these days. Let’s leave it at that. 

Location: Two blocks from an uncrowded beach in San Francisco. Four blocks from Golden Gate Park. Dog heaven. Not bad for people, either.

Where You Can Stalk Me on the Internet: SoldierDogs.com, Caldogtravel.com, on this Facebook page (Soldier Dogs related), this Facebook page (general writing), and on Twitter.

What I Do for a Living: Big surprise, I write and edit. My dad also did it for his living, so I guess you could call it the family business.

What I Do for Fun: A great many things, but I am particularly fond of train travel and any food or drink involving hazelnuts.

The Furry Members of My Household Are: Jake, the aforementioned yellow Lab, age 9+, and various guppies my daughter’s third-grade teacher gave her six years ago. We thought they would die within a week, but they seem to have a genetic mutation that makes them immortal. They are not furry but a couple are so old they’re growing beards, so I list them here because it puffs up this answer and makes me look like a virtual Noah if you don’t actually read the answer but merely look at its girth.

My Favorite Things to Write About Are: Military dogs and their people. 

My Pet Peeve Is: When I’m looking forward to the last bite of a cookie or other treat, and I go to eat it and it’s gone. My husband usually confesses, but Jake never does. 

My Guilty Pleasures Are: Watching Toddlers & Tiaras with my daughter while eating soft-serve swirl from Polly Ann Ice Cream (where dogs get free doggy ice-cream cones). The combo of bizarre, brain-numbing entertainment with brain freeze is hard to beat. 

How I Deal with Dog Hair: I don’t wear my glasses in the house. Ignorance is bliss.

What I Want to Be When I Grow Up: I’m already what I want to be. I’d just like to have a little more money to be it.