Blog

The Lesson of Autumn
The Lesson of Autumn Autumn has a way of reminding us that even the most beautiful seasons carry a little sadness. 🍂 The light softens, diminishing a few moments every day, and we feel that small ache of change in the air. Mornings turn crisp, evenings stretch earlier into shadow, and nature quietly begins its long exhale. Yet, despite the melancholy, autumn remains a favorite season for so many of us. There’s something about its tender honesty—the way it admits that beauty can exist right alongside impermanence—that feels both grounding and true. In Merivelle, the leaves gather in gentle piles along the sidewalks, and the scent of wood smoke drifts through town. Dogs like Bear

Life Lessons–When Betty Bounced Into Our Lives
Life lessons from when Betty bounced into our lives. Last summer, our neighbor mentioned a little pup in need of a home. We weren’t looking for another dog. In fact, we already had three, and life felt full enough as it was. But somehow—despite all logic—the mini Australian Shepherd found her way to our house. And from that first day, Betty felt like she belonged. Betty is smart, sweet, and surprisingly snuggly for a herding dog who believes she’s always on duty. She can curl herself into a little ball beside you, soft as velvet, but in the next moment, she’s watching the door with laser focus, making sure everything is in order. Here’s the

Lessons About Love and Healing After Losing A Dog from ‘It’s a Wonderful Dog’
The grief we carry from after losing a dog is proof of the love we shared. Almost three years ago, we lost our second Great Pyrenees, Enzo—not long after my grandmother passed. It felt like too much loss at once. The days and weeks that followed were heavy with silence. No soft paw steps padding behind me. No soulful eyes looking up with quiet devotion. Just emptiness where a best friend used to be. I found myself scrolling through old photos, searching for him in the background, pausing over the smallest details: the way his tail curled just so, the way he’d settle beside me as if his job was simply to be near. That’s

Before There Was ‘A Wonderful Dog’ Series, There Was Our Great Pyrenees, Bear
Before there was a book series, there was our Great Pyrenees, Bear. He came into my life at a time when I was very sick, and I wasn’t sure how things would turn out. Bear was just there, in the quiet hours, lying beside me while I tried to get better. I didn’t have to say anything. He didn’t either. He just was. And sometimes that’s the most powerful thing in the world—to know you’re not alone. The phrase I often use in the It’s a Wonderful Dog series, “Lean In and Listen,” came straight from those moments. Because with Bear, you didn’t need words. You only needed to listen with your heart. We’d never had a Great Pyrenees before.

It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime -Book 3
The summer installment in the four-book It’s a Wonderful Dog series. Bear Bailey – The Great Pyrenees changing lives one season at a time. I’m thrilled to announce the release of It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime, a heartfelt new book for anyone grieving the loss of a dog or looking for a healing story full of warmth and hope. As the third book in the It’s a Wonderful Dog series, this summertime chapter follows Bear Bailey on a soulful journey filled with love, community, and the quiet magic dogs bring to our lives. Whether you’re navigating pet loss or simply adore meaningful dog books, It’s a Wonderful Dog – Summertime is a comforting return to the world beyond the

It’s a Wonderful Dog – Easter Eggs
Book 2 in the 4 Book “It’s a Wonderful Dog” Series Last November, a big, big dream of mine finally came true with the publication of my first book – “It’s a Wonderful Dog – A Christmas Tail”. I’m thankful everyday for the life changing blessings and people from that experience. The characters from the book were still vivid in my imagination, so Book 2 – “It’s a Wonderful Dog – Easter Eggs” – came alive. This time, Bear Bailey welcomes Henry, a wandering and old dog in need of a home. And as always, the dogs’ adventures parallel with what the humans around them need in their own life. Happy Reading! I’m back at

Why I Wrote “It’s A Wonderful Dog – A Christmas Tail”
Through loss and reflection, came It’s a Wonderful Dog ~ A Christmas Tail. Here’s how it all began . . . Last year, my grandmother, my last living grandparent, passed away in January and later that year after Thanksgiving, our beloved big hearted, ever present Great Pyrenees, Enzo died. (You can see him pictured in the featured image of this post.) Entering December, I had no desire to celebrate anything. Our house seemed cold and lonely without the familiar nail taps behind me on the wood floors or the lumbering goofiness of our very good boy who always was a few steps back from all my activities. My grief at losing Enzo didn’t go away,

Official “It’s A Wonderful Dog” Book Launch Party and Signing Event
Join us on Thursday, November 16th from 5:00 – 7:00pm for “It’s A Wonderful Dog” book signing and Santa Pics at PLENTY Mercantile in downtown OKC! You’ll have the chance to meet the author, Keri Salas (me!) and get a signature on your copy of “It’s A Wonderful Dog.” Not to mention, I’ll get the chance to meet you, and if you bring him/her, your dog! Come one, come all, from your smallest breed Chihuahuas, to the star big dog breed of my book, the Great Pyrenees. Memorialize the start to another beautiful Christmas season with a photo of your own Wonderful Dog with Santa Claus. While you’re there, take a peek at PLENTY Mercantile’s

It’s A Wonderful Dog Cover Reveal
The cover of It’s A Wonderful Dog – A Christmas Tail has been revealed by Acorn Publishing, LLC. The book is set to publish in hard cover, paperback and e-book formats in November of 2023. It’s Christmas Eve in western Kansas and a snowstorm is gaining strength as Bear Bailey, a devoted Great Pyrenees, tries to comfort his beloved owner Mary. She’s in hot water with the local business villain, and Bear’s earlier altercation with this miser only seemed to make things worse. When Mary blurts out that she wishes for a different life, Bear blames himself for her despair and runs away. Meanwhile Jiff, a Labrador patiently waiting for his own human to meet