My Doggy Mom is still working on her book. Because she wants to change the title I am forced to endure hours lying next to her as she keeps searching for a suitable one. It’s enough to put a dog to sleep. I wonder if she spent that much time searching for my name.
Doggy Mom: Well, in fact, it was easier. You are of French origin and I wanted you to have a literary name.
Bau: As if I can read French!
Doggy Mom: I thought of Hugo, as in Victor Hugo, but I didn’t think that my daughter’s friend, Hugo, would appreciate me naming you after him.
Bau: He should have been honored.
Doggy Mom: So, anyway there was Baudelaire but that was too long. So I shortened it to Bau. Here in Montreal where almost everyone speaks French, when they ask what your name is, they think I mean Beau, which means handsome.
Bau: Oh, I quite like that!
Doggy Mom: Fits you perfectly. Anyway back to my book title.
Bau: Oh yeah (Yawn, Yawn). What was wrong with The Set Up? Lots of books have that title.
Doggy Mom: That’s the problem. I don’t want my book to get lost in the slush pile.
Bau: If that’s the case, you should have checked before wasting my time.
Doggy Mom: You’re right. Learn from my mistakes. Also the title gives the story plot away.
Bau: What about the cover?
Doggy Mom: Finally, I found what I was looking for. Now, I’m just waiting for the graphic designer to get back to me. Could be a few weeks. Of course there’s going to be the extra headache of formatting my book to fit Amazon standards.
Bau: Oh, boy! I think I’m going to go for a nap. Wake me when it’s over.
Carol Balawyder 