In researching for Forever Shales, I came across some interesting bits of history, some of which I used in the book.
- There was a warehouse where one could buy "off the rack" funeral clothes. It was on Regent Street, London, and was called Peter Robinson's Court and Family Mourning Warehouse.
- For the care of leather products, one could use Nubian Liquid Waterproof Blacking. It was good for harness and leather articles, and it would last a week in all weathers. It was used on Shales's lead and collar.
- At Christmas time, sprays of red-berried holly were much desired to be used for decoration within the homes. The ones with the darkest green leaves were the most desired.
Forever Shales is an historical novel about a Victorian dog who tells his life story. Using real-life people and the history of the time, this novel takes the reader on an adventure into the past. Read how a dog bonds to his human companions, and how they return that love. Find out about this book and its author here, and also about the dog called Shales.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Publication Update
I'm in the process of deciding upon the background colour for the cover of Forever Shales. As well, the novel is being proof read by someone at Melrose Books. I'm pleased they are using my own water-colour painting for the cover design. I wasn't sure if it was good enough - I could have done better, but sometimes "better" can be too much. Simple is good.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Shales
Physical Description
Shales is a Border collie, and he is the main character of the book. His colouring is black with white markings: his body is black and his legs are white, and his muzzle is white with a couple of black spots, typical to the breed. Strangely, though, his eyebrows are his unique feature, in that they are white dots, the size of a sixpence, upon black fur.
Place of Birth
He was born on a farm in Cotheridge, county of Worcester, England.
Date of Birth
He was born sometime in the summer of 1879.
Occupation
Sheepdog. Whether he is an employed sheepdog or an unemployed sheepdog is something that you, the Reader, will have to find out.
What makes Shales "tick"?
Shales is a Border collie, and he is the main character of the book. His colouring is black with white markings: his body is black and his legs are white, and his muzzle is white with a couple of black spots, typical to the breed. Strangely, though, his eyebrows are his unique feature, in that they are white dots, the size of a sixpence, upon black fur.
Place of Birth
He was born on a farm in Cotheridge, county of Worcester, England.
Date of Birth
He was born sometime in the summer of 1879.
Occupation
Sheepdog. Whether he is an employed sheepdog or an unemployed sheepdog is something that you, the Reader, will have to find out.
What makes Shales "tick"?
Could it be he has an extra-large brain? Perhaps he comes from a line of sheepdogs that are a little more intelligent than the average sheepdog? You see, Shales exhibits signs of extreme canine intelligence. He's a problem solver, but at times, which is quite often, his ability to understand the human world around him is limited to the knowledge he has so far gained.
Shales's Sayings
Shales says some really unique things. Here are a few of his sayings.
1. Life is full of tomorrows
2. If you don't know what's out there, then you really don't know anything at all.
3. How can one imagine a star, if one has never before seen the night?
4. How does a dog explain things to people?
Shales's Sayings
Shales says some really unique things. Here are a few of his sayings.
1. Life is full of tomorrows
2. If you don't know what's out there, then you really don't know anything at all.
3. How can one imagine a star, if one has never before seen the night?
4. How does a dog explain things to people?
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Introduction
Hello, I'm Deborah Berkeley and Forever Shales is my first novel. Set in the final two decades of Queen Victoria's reign, Shales introduces the reader to what life was like for a Victorian dog. He tells his life's story with love and compassion, and in regard to his human companions, with loyalty of the most noble kind.
Shales is a Border collie, although in the 1880's he may have also been referred to as a "Working collie".
Forever Shales was written for readers of all ages in mind, from the young (early teens) to the elderly. Also, it is illustrated with over twenty drawings, in black and white, drawn by myself, the author. Shales's story is a combination of fact and fiction, as many of the humans in this book were genuine people; in fact, many are my very own ancestors.
*release date is for sometime in February, 2011
*check for updates
I will include excerps from Forever Shales to this site, as well as interesing titbits of Victorian history, and later, I will tell you what my second novel is about.
Shales is a Border collie, although in the 1880's he may have also been referred to as a "Working collie".
Forever Shales was written for readers of all ages in mind, from the young (early teens) to the elderly. Also, it is illustrated with over twenty drawings, in black and white, drawn by myself, the author. Shales's story is a combination of fact and fiction, as many of the humans in this book were genuine people; in fact, many are my very own ancestors.
*release date is for sometime in February, 2011
*check for updates
I will include excerps from Forever Shales to this site, as well as interesing titbits of Victorian history, and later, I will tell you what my second novel is about.
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