Sassafras

author of fiction & nonfiction books about LGBTQ people and/or dogs - now mostly dogs  www.SassafrasLowrey.com

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Whenever I think I’ve met my favorite LOL…. I meet another

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dog trainer rant: LEASH. YOUR. DOG. i don't care how well you think your dog is trained (they prob aren't), or how nice you think your dog is (dogs are unpredictable). if you are in a public park, hiking trail etc. that does not EXPLICITLY allow off leash dogs i don't want to see your dog running around without a leash. Never allow your dog to approach other dogs without permission. Your dog doesn't need to "say hi." Your dog doesn't need to play with strange dogs. your dog needing exercise is not an excuse - your responsibility as a dog owner is to find a way to meet your dogs needs without putting them or anyone else in danger. if you can't do that - maybe you don't need a dog. period.

This reminder brought to you by the off leash dog (Aussie - sharing breed to avoid speculations) that jumped my polite not reactive and leashed dog who was calmly walking through a park/school field where dogs are NOT permitted to be off leash. Thankfully my dog is heavy coated and the Aussie just got fur when it made contact with her.

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are we coming back to tumblr?

I just left twitter (a site i never really loved). i’ve mostly been hanging out on instagram and facebook (like the elder millennial that I am) should I also come back to Tumblr???

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[bookriot]

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Dear Dog Trainers on the 4th of July:

I see a lot of my professional dog training buddies bragging about how fine their dogs are on July 4th. I'm glad for you, and TBH my dog is too - but that doesn't mean it's because you or I are good trainers.Sure, training, thoughtful early exposure and counter conditioning helps. BUT what helps even more is a dog with a solid temperament (you can't train that), and a hell of a lot of LUCK. This is the first 4th of July without Charlotte - that dog taught me more personally and professionally than ANY temperamentally solid dog ever has. For weeks around July 4th  she was highly medicated long lasting and fast acting crisis meds and she STILL was beyond being able to be comforted and was a serious  danger to herself. No amount of training was ever going to "fix" that.  I am so relieved there are no fireworks in heaven and she is not in agony today (at 8am i've already heard fireworks). TLDR - dog people your dog's successes  and challenges don't define you. Stop shaming people whose dogs are struggling. If you've never had a dog that struggles that tells me either you are lying, have culled your pack, or don't have as much experience as you say you do. Don't be elitist. Help others to keep their dogs safe while the country blows things up. Keep dogs inside and supervised and encourage/support others to do the same including seeking out medication if their panic is severe.

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more info here: http://sassafraslowrey.com/2020/06/pandemic-pets-coloring-book-call-for-pet-pictures/

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Pride Isn’t Just a Party—It’s About Resistance and Belonging. Here’s How I’m Celebrating This Year

I experienced my first Pride festival when I was eighteen years old, just a few months after I had first come out during my senior year in high school. Growing up in a conservative area, and then being kicked out after I came out as queer, finding community was extremely important to me both in order to feel a sense of immediate connection, but also as the opportunity to learn about the history of LGBTQ people, something I was never taught in school.

I wrote a Pride feature for Apartment Therapy! 

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Sirius earned her AKC Novice Rally obedience title via AKC’s pilot virtual program— usually local clubs supply the ribbons. surprisingly AKC didn’t sell their own (like they do for some other programs) soooooo I took matters into my own hands and designed/ordered custom ribbons for Sirius to commemorate the title! Her ribbons arrived today and I’m thrilled with how they turned out! Pic with her after she’s had a bath 

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In this time of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, many of us understandably feel compelled to be in the streets and so I wanted to offer up these dog protest safety tips:

1. DO NOT bring your dog to protests, rallies or demonstrations. Even if they are peaceful as we have seen repeatedly violence can and may break out. In addition, protests are loud, involve large crowds and are unpredictable which is stressful and frightening to dogs. You don't want your dog to get injured or separated from you.

2. If you are a service dog handler and not able to safely participate in events without your service dog, please consider other forms of activism instead of protesting in the streets. Even if your dog won't be worried about large/loud crowds, there is still a very real risk of injury to your dog from the police. Tear gas and pepper spray can wreak havoc on your dog's nose, eyes, and paws.

3. If you are going to a protest, have a safety plan for your dogs at home. Plan ahead with a friend/family member who will be a support contact, who knows where you are going and if they don't hear from you will go and get or go and stay with your dog(s). Make sure this person has keys to your home, knows your dogs medication, feeding and other routines etc. in case you are detained, injured, or arrested.

4. Support dog businesses (trainers, collar makers etc.) run and owned by people of color, particularly Black owned businesses. Stop supporting dog businesses that promote 'blue lives matter' racist ideologies.

5. Have conversations with your dog training friends and community about the importance of supporting Black Lives Matters.

6. If you have made the decision to not be in the streets for whatever reason, be available to be safety contact/caretaker for the dogs of your friends who are protesting.

This is a moment of great change and potential. Together working in all of our respective communities, I believe we can push for a better, safer and more just world. http://sassafraslowrey.com/2020/06/2822/

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I couldn't help myself & couldn't believe someone didn't make this first.......... what pony of the pandemic  are you?  

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Weekly Writing Update April 26, 2020

1. Connected with sources for a feature article I’m working on2. Connected with sources for a web article3. Followed up with an editor about some assignments4. Observed trick dog titles5. Pitched a story6. Source outreach7. Connected with sources for an article8. Recorded and uploaded a video for my patrons9. Had a feature story pitched to me by an editor - accepted!10. Followed up about scheduling a class11. Found out a magazine I write for is going out of print / into online only content12. Had an article run in Apartment Therapy13. Outreached editors14. Pitched a story15. Connected with an editor about payment for an upcoming issue of a magazine that might not run16. Taught a trick training seminar for the canadian association of professional dog trainers 17.Connected with sources for an article18. Edited a feature article that I’m working on 19. Submitted an article to one of my editors20. Had a pitch rejected21. Pitched a story22. Wrote an article23. Outlined an article24. Sent an article to one of my editors 25. Invoice followup 26. Drafted an article 27. Caught up on invoice updating for articles in progress28. Reached out to a source for an article29. Recorded a video for my patrons30. Got an interesting outreach about a possible writing opportunity / job31. Connected with an editor about payments and deadlines and run dates for stories32. Got edits back from an editor on a personal essay33. Turned down a flattering writing work offer that wasn’t a good fit for me because they needed more commitment than I could give 34. Sent invoicing details to an editor 35. Looked at cuts/edits on an essay 36. Had a magazine print feature story be reprinted online37. Contracting for an upcoming magazine article38. Signed a contract for a print magazine feature I’m working on39. Worked with a source for an article I’m writing40. Reviewed edits on an essay41. Made small changes on an essay 42. Wrote an article43. Curated some new fiction I’m working on for my Patrons44. Pitched a story45. Final edits on a story46. Sent an article to one of my editors47. Followed up with an editor on a pitch48. Edited an article49. Got a request from an editor to follow up next week to confirm if a story will be assigned to me or not 50. Followed up with an editor about payments51. Invoicing for a magazine52. Submitted an article to an editor53. Prepped pitches for some weekly web content I’m working on for a magazine54. Pitched 5 article ideas to an editor55. Emailed with sources56. Rough outlined a big proposal i’m working on 57.Made a video for the dogs’ youtube58. Started a private facebook group for my Patrons59. An article of mine ran at Dogster60. Recorded a video for my patrons

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Weekly Writing Update

1. Followed up on a kill fee for an article that isn’t going to run2. Edited an article3. Sent a print feature story to one of my editors4. Had an article run at Dogster5. Connected with sources6. Checked in with a publication about a possible payment error7. Edited and posted a hybrid piece for my patrons 8. Pushed back on a publication that owes me money9. Back and forth with an editor10. Social media drama 11. Chasing down money at a publication that owes me money12. Had three pitches accepted by an editor 13. Got feedback on a feature story from a magazine14. Had a training I’m doing rescheduled to next week15. Pitched a story16. Connected with a source on an article17. Organized my deadlines for the week18. Recorded and uploaded a video for my Patrons19. Finished notes for a seminar workshop i’m teaching now next week20. Reviewing trick dog titles21. Delt with a lot of drama 22. Drafted an article23. Outlined an article24. Drafted an article25. Edited an article26. Edited an article27. Submitted an article to one of my editors28. Tried to connect with sources29. Had a pitch accepted30. Lots of source outreach31. Edited an article32. Sent a finished article to an editor33. Emailing with PR sources pitching me ideas to try to place34. Payment challenges with Canada + US35. Editor followup on some stories in progress36. Recorded/Edited a video for the dog’s YouTube channel37. Outlined an article38. Drafted an article39. Drafted an article 40. Recorded and posted a video for my patreon 41. Shared some work in progress writing with my Patrons42. Updated power point and notes for a seminar that I will be teaching next week43. Got last minute quotes from a source for an article44. Updated an article with quotes45. Resubmitted updated article to one of my editors46. Edited an article47. Submitted two articles to one of my editors48. Got digital proofs of a magazine article49. Followed up about teaching schedules for next week50. Connected with sources for an article 51. Reviewed digital proofs for a print magazine feature story I wrote52. Pitched a story53.  Prepped ongoing web pitches for next week54. Had a soft no for now rejection on a pitch with a request to followup next month55. Had a request for me to send pitches 56. Sent 3 pitches to a magazine57. Had a pitch accepted 58. Connected with sources for an article59. Followed up with an editor about articles that haven’t run yet60. Got myself back on track with my daily doodles61. Edited an article62. Finished reviewing digital proofs for a print feature story I have in an upcoming magazine 63. Updated my bio with a magazine64. Drafted an article 65. Made edits on a personal essay66. Uploaded an article to a site for publication I’m writing for67. Connected with sources for an upcoming article68. Had an amazing call with another author who gave me some insight into some goals I have  with a book proposal 69. Got information from finance department of a publication that owes me a kill fee70. Invoiced for articles that I worked on for a magazine this week71. Edited an article 72. Submitted an article to an editor for an article73. Pitched six story ideas to an editor for web content74 Updated an invoice for a writing client 75. Got edits back on an article I’m working on 76. Wrote and posted a my favorite things monthly post for my patrons77. Edited an article78. Followed up with sources for an article79. Drafted a new short story80. Submitted short story to a anthology call for submissions

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Weekly Writing Update

1. Connected with sources for a couple of articles2. Followed up with one of my publishers about a publishing timeline3. Got some updated info about planning for the release of my next book4. Got a beautiful endorsement blurb for Chew This Journal5. Edited an article6. Submitted an article to one of my editors7. Sent endorsement blurbs to my publisher8. Followed up on scheduling a teaching opportunity9. Final edits on a story10. Sent story to my editor with a magazine11. Emailed with an acquiring agent12. Article that i wrote ran at AKC13. Did a phone interview for an article I’m working on this week14. Followed up with an editor15. Outlined an article16. Got really frustrating feedback from an editor 17. Had a pitch rejected and i was relieved I didn’t want to write it18. Refused to make sensationalied edits to an essay 19. Demanded a kill fee for an article or that it run as written20. Drafted an article21. Recorded and posted a video for my patrons22. Learned that Wiliam to the Rescue is a favorite book of a 7 year old who has read it 100s of times since being in quarantine 23. Followed up with a source24. Connected with sources for a fast moving article25. Reached out to a PR source that had outreached me with data useful for an article I’m writing26. Back and forth with sources27. Pushed back hard on an editor 28. Had a pitch rejected29. Outlined an article30. Wrote rough draft of a feature article31. Invoicing logistics for an online class I’m teaching next week32. Drafted an article33. Edited an article34. Outlined a personal essay due to a magazine this week35. Edited an article36. Updated my website37. Big edits on a very controversial article38. Edited an article39. Submitted an article to one of my editors40. Had an article go live on Modern Dog41. Back and forth about a kill fee with an editor 42. Edited an article43. Got confirmation I should be getting a kill fee - just not sure what/when yet44. Caught up on my daily doodles45. Final edits on an article46. Sent an article to one of my editors47. Brainstormed some pitches for a magazine I am doing some weekly content for48. Followed up with an editor49. Found out I’m getting paid for a story that might not run for some time50. Wrote an article51. Made and uploaded a video for my patrons52. Big edits on a feature article53. Connected with sources on a story54. Sent feature story to one of my editors55. Followed up with an editor about a feature assignment 56. Edited an article 57. Sent a finished article to one of my editors58. Pitched a story59. Observed trick dog titles for teams60. Connecting with sources for an article61. Outlined a feature article62. Connected with friends about possible agents for a book project63. Pitched 6 story ideas to an editor for next week64. Pitched an article65. Edited an essay66. Was invited to join an advisory board67. Drafted an article68. Posted my monthly writing prompt for my patrons69. Drafted an article70. Created a one page supporting lesson plan document to give to those attending my class next week71. Prepped invoicing for a magazine 72. Sent a pitch73. Emmmmaaaailll74. Pitched 3 stories 75. Final edits on an essay76. Sent an essay to one of my editors 77. Was uninvited from an advisory board78. Final edits on an article79. Sent an article and invoice to an editor80. Connected with my publisher about press details81. Made and posted a video for my patrons82. Edited a feature article for a magazine83. Worked on notes for a online class I’m teaching84. Read a book85. Scheduled a meeting86. Dog article I wrote cited as a source by merriam webster dictionary

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Weekly Writing Update

1. Got invited to be on a podcast 2. Edited an article 3. Submitted an article to one of my editors 4. Followed up on some back payment from a publication 5. Got back payment paid 6. Outlined an article 7. Drafted an article 8. Pitched an article 9. Followed up with one of my publishers on a question 10. Connected about enduorsing some future dog books 11. Edited an article 12. Connecting with an editor 13. Got edits from an editor 14. Fixed a couple of minor things in an article and sent it back 15. Edits 16. Article I wrote was published by Dogster 17. Influencer outreach for chew this journal 18. Updates about publishing timeline 19. Checked in about some pitches with one of my editors 20. Deadline negotiation with an editor 21. Pitched a story 22. Sold a story 23. Wrote an article 24. Reached out to sources 25. Had a story run on Modern Dog 26. Asked my Patrons what they wanted for a ask me anything 27. Edited 4 articles for a local magazine 28. Sent 4 articles to my editors with a local magazine 29. Invoicing 30. Drafted an article 31. Started outlining a presentation/ class i’m going to be teaching 32. Started creating a powerpoint for the class i’ll be teaching 33. Recorded & Posted a video for my patrons 34. Publicity strategy emails with my publisher 35. Connecting with sources about a quickly moving article 36. Sent a pitch 37. SEtup my April bullet journal spreads 38. Had a pitch accepted 39. Had an article run on Catster 40. Drafted an article 41. Edited an article 42. Connected with sources around images 43. Let sources know that an article went live 44. Had a story run in the New York Times 45. Source pointed out a small error in one of my articles 46. Working with an editor to get the error updated 47. Finished image sourcing for a story 48. Final edits on an article 49. Submitted a story to an editor 50. More image sourcing for a publication 51. Article error got fixed 52. Outlined an article 53. Sold two stories for next week to an editor 54. Messaging with an editor about if a possible story is still relevant during the pandemic 55. Pitched a story 56. Updated my invoicing/spreadsheets 57. Drafted an article 58. Heard that a influencer will be blurbing CHEW THIS JOURNAL! 59. Final edits on an article 60. Uploaded an article 61. Created an d uploaded a video for my patrons 62. Wrote and published a story for my patrons about how I am interfacing with some writing opportunities 63. Source outreach for an article 64. Sent out a query letter on a book I thought I wasn’t sending queries for right now! 65. Followed up with an editor 66. Recorded a video to enter Sirius into a community online thing 67. Got invited to be on a podcast 68. Followed up with an editor 69. Connected with an expert for an interview 70. Wrote an article 71. Edited an article 72. Dealt with invoicing for a publicaton 73. Submitted an article to one of my editors 74. Organized interview notes for an article I’m working on 75. Got the first endorsemnt blurb for Chew This Journal 76.Followed up with an editor that had wanted to move up a deadline 77. Made and posted a video for my patrons 78. Did some outreach/research for an article 79. Outlined an article 80. Finished PowerPoint for an online class/seminar I’m going to be teaching 81. Edited PowerPoint for an online class/seminar 82. Sent powerpoint to the national organization I’ll be teaching with for review and scheduling logistics 83. Did research for an article 84. Pitched a story 85. Followed up on a pitch 86. Followed up with influencers about blurbs for Chew This Journal 87. OUtlined an article 88. Outlined an article that will be published next week 89. Had two pitches accepted 90. Source outreach to experts for these new stories 91. Got a beautiful endorsement blurb for Chew This Journal 92. Sent a pitch 93. Wrote an article 94. Scheduling a workshop I’m going to teach 95. Outlined an article 96. Laid out an article/interview conversation that will be published next week 97. Edited an article that is due next week 98. Posted a weekend writing prompt for my patrons 99. Read a book 100. Wrote an article 101. Edited an article 102. Marketing email with my publisher 103. Recorded and posted a little video for my patrons about easter crafts 104. Edited an article 105. Submitted an article 106. Reached out to a source for an article

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no wonder i thought this was a busy week... Weekly Writing Update

1. Updated a pitch in a online system to give a publication longer with it2. Checked in wiht an edithor3. Connected with a source for an article4. Had a pitch rejected5. Sold a story 6. Outreached leeds for where to pitcha personal essay7. Pitched an essay based on those suggestions to a new to mee editor8. Reorded reading William To The Rescue to upload online9. Outreached source for an article10. Pitched a story that got rejected by one publication11. Pitched a story12. Recorded and posted a video for my patrons13. Reviwed beta reader feedback on my novel14. Got more feedback on an essay15. Connected with more sources16. Eeeemmmmaaaaiiill 17. Caught up on emails18. Requested a site update my bio19. Got asked to blurb a book that is releasing this summer20. Had a pitch declined21. Outlined an article22. Got a maybe follow up next week on a pitch23. Found out one of my editors is moving on from a publication 24. Organized 4 articles that I’m working on for a local magazine25. Pitched a story26. Connected with an editor 27. Edited an article based on feedback from an editor28. Finished giving reader feedback to one of my writing clients 29. Pitched an article to a new to me editor30. Resent a pitch that bounced31. Followed up on payment from an editor32. Got updated royalty information for one of my books33. Had an editor offer me an assignement 34. Sent a pitch35. Got a pitch accepted right away36. Got (hopefully) final feedback from an editor on an article37. Got hired to write two feature stories for a print magazine’s upcoming issue38. Got approached about some regular content writing work39. Invoicing for some articles 40. Had an article run on Dogster about training dogs amidst COVID-1941. Reviewing trick dog titles 42. Recorded a video for my patrons43. Negotiation for some new work44. Soft pitched an idea for the future to an editor moving to a new magazine45. Reached out to sources for an article46. Source outreach to national experts for an article47. More sourcing for an article48. Negotiated for some new regular writing work49. Got hired to start writing regular content for a magazine50. More sourece outreach 51. Printed out beta reader feedback for a manuscript in progress52. Shared some behind the scenes work with my Patrons53. Drafted an article54. REcorded a video for my patrons55. Finished approving edits on an essay56. Drafted an article57. Connecting with sources for an article58. Scheduling interviews with experts for articles59. Reviewing trick titles 60. Finished drafting an article61. Edited an article62. Sent an article to an editor early because it was time sensitive63. Pitched a story64. Followed up with an editor about if/when a story is moving forward65. Posted a video for my Patrons66. Source too busy with the pandemic to support with an article 67. Had a pitch accepted68. Edited an article69. Connected with an editor around SEO focused writing70. Edited an article71. Filed an article with one of my editors72. Outlined an article73. Got a video request/suggestion from my Patrons74. Sent an editor 5 story ideas for next week as part of some new work I’m going to be doing75. Read a book76. Followed up with sources77. Organized research and sources for a couple of articles due next week 78. Followed up with a publication on a past due payment79. Coordinating articles with an editor80. Had a feature story switched to a web story 81. Small website update82. Pitched a story83. Drafted an article84. Sent updated W9 to a publication 85. Outlined an article86. Discussed booking to teach an online seminar class87. Had an article I wrote for GO Magazine go Live88. Did an interview with a source for an article89. Negotiating story placement with an editor90. Connected with a PR firm for a source91. Invoicing 92. Expert sourcing for articles 93. Made a video for my patrons94. Edited an article95. NEW YORK TIMES STORY!96. Read a second book97. Kept up with my daily doodles & fauxbonichi challenges98. Read a third book 99. Recorded a video for my patrons100. Edited an article