Cat Warren: What the Dog Knows

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Cover: What the Dog Knows

WHAT THE DOG KNOWS:
SCENT, SCIENCE, AND THE AMAZING WAYS
DOGS PERCEIVE THE WORLD
Young Readers Edition
Cat Warren (NASW member), Author
Patricia J. Wynne, Illustrator
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, October 8, 2019
Hardcover: $17.99; e-book: $10.99
ISBN-10: 1534428143; ISBN-13: 978-1534428140

Warren writes:

The challenge: to rewrite an adult book that features complex science, difficult history, and human death to make it appeal to 8 to 12 year olds.

The answer: keep the complexity, treat death in a straightforward manner—and make sure the adventure of training a smart, funny scent-detection dog shines through.

Cat Warren

The original 2013 version of What the Dog Knows used my learning to train and deploy my German shepherd as a cadaver dog to explain why humans still depend on the dog’s nose for some tasks. It became a New York Times bestseller and was longlisted for a PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.

When my agent, Gillian MacKenzie, suggested a young readers’ adaptation of the original book, I was intrigued. I realized that most children were fascinated, not frightened or disgusted by the subject. I had given talks and demonstrations at K-12 schools, museums, science fairs, and to scout troops.

We approached Simon & Schuster Children’s Division with a two-page proposal and had a generous advance offer in less than a week.

For the young readers’ version, I removed entire chapters and story lines that deviated from the central story of training a rebellious German shepherd as a scent-detection dog. I rewrote, moved material around, and added new material to make the timeline straightforward. I had invaluable help from several young readers who took highlighter pens to the adult book. They marked what they liked, where they were scared—and when they were bored or confused.

I didn’t stint on emotionally difficult material or the complex science behind the sniff. Artist Patricia J. Wynne provided more than two dozen beautiful illustrations to highlight and clarify crucial scientific concepts. I used more than 100 photos to make the text more appealing.

Slavery, war, homicide and accidental death, drug addiction—even the ethical questions of using and misusing dogs who want to please us—remain major themes in the young readers’ edition. What I also hope remains front and center in this version of What the Dog Knows is a sense of curiosity and a healthy dose of humor.

Contact info:

Cat Warren, 919-423-2969, cat_warren@ncsu.edu, https://catwarren.com/, @Cat_Warren
Agent: Gillian MacKenzie, 212-460-5910, gillian@mwlit.com
Publicist: Milena Guinco, 212-698-7185, milena.giunco@simonandschuster.com

NASW members: will your book be published soon? Take advantage of this opportunity for shameless self-promotion. Submit your report for Advance Copy.

Tell your fellow NASW members how you came up with the idea for your book, developed a proposal, found an agent and publisher, funded and conducted research, and put the book together. Include what you wish you had known before you began working on your book, or had done differently.

See https://www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines.

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Hero image by Fritz_the_Cat from Pixabay

Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

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