Readers often tell me they love the dogs of Wren Island. I love them so much too!
Lokita wandered in as the macaroni was simmering and the bratwurst was sizzling.
“Little Lokita, come to me,” Allison sang. Lokita wandered close, Louise nudging her from behind. Allison picked up the snuggly white dog, tucked her under one arm, and turned to her aunts. “This one is Lokita.”
“Oh my.” Aunt Amelia stepped forward. “What happened to her eyes?”
Aunt Macy put an arm around Aunt Amelia. Allison stroked Lokita’s soft, silky head. “She had an eye disease. It got so bad both eyes needed to be removed.”
Aunt Amelia’s mouth dropped open.
“The animal shelter didn’t have money for the surgery, so I paid for it and adopted her—and Louise because she’s Lokita’s best friend.”
“You chose to bring home a blind dog?” Aunt Amelia’s eyes were wide.
“And her friend?” Aunt Macy’s voice cracked.
Interesting Enough, chapter 5
Allison’s dogs Lokita and Louise are based on two dogs I loved while writing the first Wren Island novel, Interesting Enough. Lokita is based on my dog Moki, short for Mokihana, a symbolic plant of the island of Kauai where Moki came from. Hubby and I adopted Moki days before the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic. We sheltered in place with our new little lovebug, who’d been called Gramma by shelter staff because she was such a sweetheart. While writing Interesting Enough, I had to say a final goodbye to Moki. Isn’t it so difficult to lose our beloved pets? For that reason and others, I’ve promised readers that dogs on Wren Island will live forever.
This delightful portrait of Lokita is by the talented Tessa Burns, who also created our lovely Wren Island map.
On Wren Island, Lokita’s best pal is big brown Louise.
Dry and clean, Louise headed for the water bowl, then slumped into her enormous daytime bed next to Lokita’s small one.
Interesting Enough, chapter 1
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