Amy Spalding is a pet enthusiast and young adult fiction author. She grew up outside of St. Louis, and now lives in Los Angeles with two cats and a dog. She and I ate brunch and discussed our mutual hatred for sad commercials featuring dogs.
Let’s get down to brass tacks. What is your dog’s name, and what breed is she?
Her name is Violet! She’s a mutt, so when I rescued her–that always sounds so dramatic. When I got her, her foster dad said she was black lab, German shepherd, and greyhound. I think of those, greyhound is the only one I believe. Maybe a little black lab? I think miniature pinscher, and maybe Basenji, especially because she doesn’t bark a lot. But recently, someone said that she looks like a giant chihuahua, and I think she does! So those are my guesses.
How old is she?
She’s 7.
Awww. [I don’t know why that age is cute to me.] Where is she/ what is she doing while you write?
A lot of times, I write at coffee shops because Violet is actually super distracting. When I’m home and writing, she often sits and just stares at me. And it’s really creepy, and clearly she just wants attention. It’s very irritating. Basically if I’m doing anything that involves me concentrating, she’ll just stare at me.
How did you find Violet?
I saw this adoption group at a farmers market. I emailed a guy from the group and described the dog, and so we arranged to meet up the next week at the farmers market. And as he walked up, I was like “I did not ask about that dog. I asked about a different dog. This is awkward. Do I say something?” Then I decided, “I’ll just look at this dog, and tell him later that I decided not to get a dog.” And then I met her, and she was amazing! So I got her after all.
That’s a great dog story! What if you ever ran into that other dog that you had originally asked about? Do you think it would be weird?
Ugh, it would be so awkward.
You have a dog AND cats, which is a controversial choice. Do you hate that question “are you a dog person or a cat person?”
I’m actually a cat person.
WHAT?! This interview is over.
I know. It’s crazy. When I was growing up, we had dogs, and I loved dogs, but I always wanted a cat. And when I got a cat, it was like my sunshine came into my life. I love cats, I love how they’re just really easy and low-maintenance. BUT I really wanted a dog, and there are so many benefits of having a dog- you can be social with a dog, you can take her places. And people know your dog. People don’t necessarily give a shit about your cats. I still feel like I’m a cat person, but I’m very close to being both.
Your latest book Ink is Thicker Than Water is about a family of humans, but it could have easily been about a family of dogs. What made you decide to focus on humans?
You know, I think when you’re writing for teenagers, it makes more sense to write about people than dogs. But it it weird that my first two books, there are no pets in them at all. And I’ve always had pets- my parents got a dog on their honeymoon. So I’ve never not had a pet. I think it’s really weird that I wrote two books without pets in them.
Do your upcoming books have pets in them?
My third book does. It’s not the main character’s pet, but two of her friends have pets. One of them gets a dog in the book. And the new book I’m working on now, the girl’s family has dogs. It’s really fun writing about fictional dogs! Because you just get to name them, and describe what they’re like, but not actually have to do any work. It’s like having a fantasy football team- a fantasy pet!
Do you miss your pets when you’re away at book events?
YES! I really do. I always forget how much I take for granted that my pets are just AROUND. Like my dog sleeps in my bed, so when I’m sleeping somewhere else and there’s no dog at my feet, I’m like “oh right, that’s a really big part of my life and I miss it when I don’t have it!” I think pets are just this weird understated part of our lives.
They’re like this thing that’s halfway between living thing and inanimate object.
Exactly! It’s like “where’s my chair that loves me?”
Ink is Thicker Than Water centers on a family who runs a tattoo shop. You, yourself, have a lot of tattoos. Have you considered getting a tattoo of Violet? Or do you have one that I can’t see?!
I don’t. But I have considered it. And the reason I decided not to is that my family always had dogs when I was growing up, and I’ll probably have other dogs in the future. And I thought, if I start getting tattoos of pets I’ve had and loved, I’m going to run out of space really quickly, and dogs and cats could get relegated to weird unseen parts. So I have these [tattooed] pawprints on my collarbone, and those are for all animals that I love. Otherwise it would just get out of control. I would just be a living canvas of dogs and cats.
If Violet got a tattoo, would you be mad? What if the tattoo was of you?
No, I think it’d be super cool and badass! But actually I think if it was of me, I think that would be weird. I think I liked it better if I thought it was, like, a favorite treat.
Who is your biggest celebrity dog crush?
Oh my God! I just like looking at pictures of Corgis online. So I feel like it doesn’t have to be a specific corgi. I feel like all Corgis are celebrities to me. And if I’m out, and I see a Corgi being walked, I go (gasps) “A CORGI!” as if I have spotted a celebrity. People have walked away from me for doing this.
What is the thing you love the second-most in the world (second to your pets)?
I don’t know, I guess…Diet Coke?
I thought you were going to say “writing,” but I really like that you said Diet Coke.
Well, I can’t write without Diet Coke. I can’t write without caffeine. So it’s like, Diet Coke and coffee, and then writing? I don’t know, sometimes I don’t like writing. Sometimes it’s really hard. And I like when an idea is new, and I like thinking about it, but sometimes actually doing something about it is very hard.
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Photos by Nate Miller
Tags: allegra ringo, amy spalding, animals, dogs, writers, writing
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And if I’m out, and I see a Corgi being walked, I go (gasps) “A CORGI!” as if I have spotted a celebrity. People have walked away from me for doing this.
Yeah, but like… screw those people.
Yes! Unfriendly dog owners make me (and my dog) sad.
I have a corgi and I love it when people squee over him. I do NOT love it when they refuse to believe me when I tell them corgis are herding dogs.
I do this with Basset Hounds. Bassets 4 lyfe!
Eh, it can kind of suck to be blown off, but I always reserve judgment. Some dogs get freaked out by strangers and don’t appreciate being approached, some dogs get weird about squealy voices. My own Rotten Shepherd (who clocks in at a little over 100 pounds) is not fantastic with strangers and is TERRIFIED of children; he can be dangerous if they get too close, and I’ve been pretty curt with the few kids who have ignored my request to stay back. As the party who can speak, though, I always think it’s best to offer a word of explanation or at least a friendly nod to excited people on my dog’s behalf, so as not to come across as an asshole.
oh, I definitely interpreted the original statement as saying that AS’s friends/acquaintances would walk away when she does this. I have no quarrel with dog owners who look at me and think, “yes, this is the crazy lady who might just hug my dog and not let go, ever.” I mean, I don’t actually do that, but I know I have that look in my eyes.
If I met your pup, I’d wait patiently for him to decide on his own that I’m a lifetime top 10 belly rubber and ear scritcher. And then we’d be BFFs forever omg I need to just get a dog already. (See? Crazy lady.)
Oh no, I definitely freak out strangers. My love for Corgis is just so loud and aggressive. Maybe I would never let go!!! Oh Corgis LET ME LOVE YOU!
Well, sometimes I am in a bad mood and don’t want to talk to people. Also, it’s usually very awkward, because Darwin wants to go on his walk.
see my response above, I interpreted the original statement a little differently.
Please tell me Darwin is a beagle??
“Where’s my chair that loves me?” Perfection.
My dog is also 7! And also stares at me while I’m working away at the computer! AND IS A CORGI. (I still do that “*gasp a corgi!” thing though, because they’re so rare here. I have only seen one! And when I take him out at all it is pretty much a madhouse of squeeing.)
That squeeing is well-deserved, as he is an excellent specimen of corgi-hood.
The vet literally told us this when we went a couple of weeks ago, I’m trying not to let it go to both of our heads.
I will read this series FOREVER. More please!
edit: Also! Violet is a very lovely dog who looks like she could indeed stare at you unnervingly for hours.
AMY AND THE TOAST
TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
I am a Dog Person, I swear, but can someone explain corgis to me? I mean, they’re cute, obviously, but why do people obsess over them more than other dog breeds?
I can’t explain why I think they’re so g-d cute. They’re like tubular dogs. That look like hedgehogs. Tubular hedgedogs.
Much tube. Many hedgedoge. wow.
short stubby legs! big bat ears! I don’t know, but they’re adorable.
I like their furry little butts, which is weird but I can’t help it! And the “Corgi belly flop” Youtube video pretty much sold them for me. There is nothing better than watching that be-lifevested Corgi bellyflop off that dock.
They are ridiculous looking and acting, and very cuddly!
All logical enough! We have one in our neighborhood and she’s super-sweet. I think I have poor taste in dogs (Actually, as the owner of a completely bonkers Great Dane/Ridgeback mix, I know I have poor taste in dogs).
This is so great! Love that her parents got a dog on their honeymoon. Most romantic.
I don’t suppose “Talking to Authors About Rabbits” would get much traction, but…I would read it. And my rabbit Hank Williams would, like, paw me while I read it, ’cause that’s what he does. Rabbits, you guys. Stealth best pet.
I don’t really understand why I think this, but: oh my God, Hank Williams is a perfect name for a rabbit.
Thank you! He’s pretty badass. He has muttonchops. I mean, what else can you say, really.
Yes! My own rabbit Max is sitting on the carpet at my feet right now, in the bread-loaf position, kind of just cocking an ear now and then, which is what he usually does when I am on the computer — very companionable.
Aaaahhhh bread-loaf position is the best bun position. Except for standing on back legs. They’re a tie for first.
Dogs dogs dogs! I have a similar thing to the “A CORGI!” exclamation, except it is reserved for pugs. You find out who your true friends are when you break off conversation to madly bellow “PUUUUUUGGGG!!!” at the top of your lungs on spotting one.
Is this going to become a regular series? I really hope this becomes a regular series.
I am this way about Great Pyraneeses, because they are the BEST. I got to pet one at an art fair and he was all mellow and friendly and fluffy and awesome.
My husband narrates pugs walking as “pug pug pug pug” every time we see one, which I feel is really only one level below shouting puuuug at the top of your voice… (corgis go “corg corg corg corg” in case you were wondering)
Mine is Golden Retrievers. I just want to hug them all.
The dog I wanted to get at the shelter got sniped at the very last minute by someone else who’d been secretly stalking the same dog. I ended up with a different dog–a superior dog!–but it’s still going to feel really awkward if I ever run into the dude who got First Choice Dog.
Our Springer Spaniel died last year and now whenever I see one I get excited. They are the prettiest dogs. My husband is just as bad, he’s been lobbying for a puppy and has been texting me puppy pictures for three days now. I have asked if we can have a corgi this time but he just makes a stubborn face and keeps looking at spaniel puppies.
I had a black lab/german shepard mix growing up and she was big and fluffy with floppy ears and looked nothing like your completely adorable pup there so I feel that your breed suspicions are correct.
That’s funny because I was just coming in to say the opposite! I didn’t think Violet looked very shepherd-y until I saw the third pic of her in profile and OMG she looks JUST like my dog, who is a shepherd mix (not sure what else is in the mix – border collie? – but pretty definite about the shepherd). Something about the shape of her face, especially her nose? I dunno, but all of sudden at the right (cropped) angle, she could be my dog’s twin! See, this is what I like about mutts – they keep you guessing!
I change my mind all the time on what kinds of dogs Violet is. I’ve had her for seven years now so I’ve had plenty of time to ponder and add to the list. Mutts are great. Speculation is fun!
The shelter labeled my pound-puppy Donut as a pit mix, but the vet laughed and said, “Nope, she’s not a pit. Her head isn’t big enough. Maybe a border collie? She’ll probably hit 50 pounds but not much bigger.” Fast forward 12 months and she’s a 70 pound Labrador-dominated mutt. Mutt puppies are the best because their final size is always a surprise!
Yes! My own rabbit Max is sitting on the carpet at my feet right now, in the bread-loaf position, kind of just cocking an ear now and then, which is what he usually does when I am on the computer — very companionable.
Well, sometimes I am in a bad mood and don't want to talk to people. Also, it's usually very awkward, because Darwin wants to go on his walk.