About Xena

Xena is indeed a real Golden Retriever and has been our faithful, fun, and beautiful family pet for nearly 12 years at the date of this novel’s publication. She has, in real life, the loving, obedient, and calm disposition portrayed in this first novel and many of the behaviors described in the story are true to life.

She was born January 17. 1998 at ThorneLea in Pelham, NH under the renowned breeder Carol Manthorne. We had intended to call her Lilly, but when we saw her interactions with her six brothers in the litter, the name Xena (Warrior Princess) was the only fitting name for her.

Xena’s pedigree hails from a long line of blue ribbon champion show dogs including her Sire Thornelea Dennis (who has a massive head, strong, muscular body, and a beautiful, thick, blonde coat of short hair) and her Dam Thornelea Bernice (who has the most beautiful brown eyes, erect posture, gorgeous blonde hair, and elegant, long, almost white tail and abdomen feathers).

Walking Xena or taking her to the dog park is like taking a celebrity out for a stroll: everyone stops to admire her, pet her, and wants to know everything about her. She, of course, thrives on such attention and expects everyone to dote on her at the expense of their own pets.

Xena is portrayed in the novel quite honestly; she will and does swim for hours without looking back and will chase a gull, duck, or Canadian goose tirelessly despite never getting close enough to do them any harm.

She goes everywhere with us including hotels, cabins, tents, canoes, power boats, sail boats, catamarans, ski slopes, oceans, lakes, ponds, long car trips, and moose and deer peeping without scaring them away. I hope I have captured Xena’s spirit in this novel and immortalized her here for all to enjoy now and for many years to come.

In Memoriam

Xena, our beloved Golden Retriever succumbed to Canine Lymphoma and died surrounded by people who loved her on October 10,2009. She was the most beautiful Golden Retriever I have ever seen and had a likewise beautiful personality. We miss her terribly as does everyone who knew her. But we rejoice in knowing we gave her a happy life and in having her loving, joyous, and devoted spirit bless our lives for almost 12 years. Her spirit lives on in this and future novels and in our hearts forever.