MAN'S BEST HERO - Ace Collins - One Free Book

Welcome back, Ace. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?           

The direction is really up to my agent Joyce Hart. She has her finger on what publishers are looking for and keeps me in the loops. My hope is that readers will still want action/adventure/mysteries because that is my favorite thing to write.

What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?      

The next one will be the Book Explo in New York City, and I will signing there.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?      

Story pacing and what to study to develop the kind of rhythm needed in the Information Age.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

Most of my contact is over the internet as I am in a state with a low population and not a lot of groups. I do stay active with the Arkansas groups and love trading ideas, insights, and news with my fellow authors in those groups. I also try to stay in tune with the authors my agent represents. I believe that groups give a feel for what is working and what isn’t as well as the support you need to keep pushing through tough times.    

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?       

My wife and feed between 35-50 college kids at our home each Sunday night, I’m a deacon in our church, I speak at Ouachita Baptist University, I work with the local library, the fine arts group, and I speak in high schools encouraging kids to go to college.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?        

From a career standpoint first and foremost would be my wife. She is bright, energetic and believes in my abilities. Next would be Louise Mandrell who pushed me into the writing game and has supported me each step of the way. Third would be Lassie … yes, the dog … doing the first Lassie book really put my career at a different level. Fourth is Ric Cox, an editor who taught me so much when I first got into fulltime writing. And last would be the agents who have sold my work over the years.

On a personal standpoint, my parents, my grandparents, my wife, and a host of friends who have and continue to inspire each day with their small acts of compassion.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?           

He loved to laugh, sing, and serve and always believed as good as today is tomorrow would be better. He was blessed.

Tell us about the featured book.     

I have so many books out right now I could highlight several, but as I have a nonfiction project hitting shelves in June, I will spotlight Man’s Best Hero.

From Lassie to Old Yeller to Rin Tin Tin to Marley, dogs have stolen our attention and our hearts. In real life, our own pets are more than just canine companions; they are members of our family. And for some, they are heroes and brave servants.

Man’s Best Hero is a collection of short, dramatic stories about dogs that have gone the extra mile. Though not trained to perform heroic acts, circumstances and the remarkable bond between the dog and its owner led these animals to perform amazing feats that defy logic. Whether it is saving a drowning man, jumping in front of a truck to push a toddler to the curb, or tearing the burning clothes off a child’s back, the actions presented in these stories display courage, loyalty, intelligence, and other admirable qualities of life and faith.

These compelling portraits, told first in the words of the dog and then through exciting narrative that recounts the dog’s actions, will touch reader’s hearts and will leave them with a greater appreciation for their furry friends.

Please share the first page with us. 

Out of all of the world’s creatures, the dog is the one that truly needs to love and serve to be happy and fulfilled.

This book focuses on dogs that have earned the title hero. Their stories are as varied as their backgrounds. From a four-pound terrier that initiated a mighty movement during World War II, to a massive canine that fought a frigid winter storm to save the man he loved, to a dog that brought hope to those whose spirits were crushed by the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, the animals in these pages have accomplished things far beyond what people believed they could. So in a sense these tales are both inspirational and comforting, but that is not the purpose for placing them in this book. The real reason for telling these amazing stories is to fully present the potential of all dogs, including those in your home right now. All of these canines, be they purebred or mutt, are looking for a calling, yearning to find their potential, and wanting to live out the challenge once issued by the great missionary doctor Albert Schweitzer: “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but I do know that the only ones among you who will truly be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Thanks to a bit of help from humans, the dogs in this book found a life of service. And that is the challenge for each of us as pet owners. We should not just furnish them a home but also provide our companions with a reason to live.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.acecollins.com

@acecollins

Looking for me on Facebook under my name Ace Collins

Thank you, Ace, for sharing this book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Man's Best Hero - Christianbook.com
Man's Best Hero: True Stories of Great American Dogs - Amazon
Man's Best Hero - eBook [ePub]: True Stories of Great American Dogs - Kindle

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