Shiloh Blog

Shiloh and Me

Comment:

Hi.  I love your books.   Can you make one about Shiloh and me and Marty?

 

Phyllis replied:

 

Now that’s the kind of book that YOU should write!

Could You Write a Fifth Shiloh book?

Comment:

My class is currently reading Shiloh and i was wondering if you can make a 5th shiloh book and it would be shilohs birthday and on her birthday she gets dognapped

 

Phyllis replied:

Wow!   That would be some story!   I think I have probably written all the Shiloh books.  There are just so many other kinds of books I want to write!

 

 

Shiloh

Comment:

Can you bring Shiloh to my school it is Amity Elementary  in Cincinnati, Oh 45236 I love Shiloh and I really want to meet him!!!

 

Phyllis replied:

I wish I could, but Clover, the dog that inspired the Shiloh series, died in 2000 and is buried in the community of Shiloh, West Virginia.

Saving Dogs

Comment:

 

Are you involved in any activities or events that help save and rescue dogs?

 

Phyllis replied:

 

No, I’m not at present, except for donations to rescue organizations.  One of my sons, however, rescued several greyhounds after their racing days were over, and they were the most timid, but lovable dogs, I’d ever seen.

Why did the German shepherd attack Shiloh?

Comment:

 

I am in 4th grade , and just finished Shiloh.

One of my favorite parts in Shiloh is when Marty and Shiloh were taking a walk. I felt calm when they were taking a walk. Another part I liked is when Shiloh felt better. It made me feel happy because I thought Shiloh would die.

I have some questions for you. Why did that german shepherd appear out of nowhere and then attack Shiloh? What is your favorite book you wrote?

 

Phyllis replied:

 

Many dogs, especially in rural areas, are free to roam wherever they like.  Dogs can smell when other dogs are around, and this one obviously smelled Shiloh.  Dogs that are mistreated, like people, often attack others–just to be the bully for a change, not the victim.  It was important for my story to show that everything we do has consequences, and sometimes, even when we think we’re doing the right thing, bad things happen.  If Shiloh had not been penned up in the little shack Marty made for him, perhaps he could have got away from the other dog.  And Marty had to live with that mistake.  But we learn from everything that happens to us in life, especially our mistakes.

 

Hello and Questions from Nebraska

Comment:

 

Hello, we are a group of third graders currently reading Shiloh. Our teacher is sending these questions on our behalf. Here is what we would like to know. 1. Have you ever considered writing a 5th Shiloh book? We would love to see one with an added dog character that would be a lovable friend to Shiloh. 2. What inspired you to write Shiloh? 3. Out of all of your books you have written which is your favorite and why? Thanks so much for reading this and we hope to hear from you!

 

Phyllis replied:

 

I haven’t considered writing a 5th Shiloh book because there are SO many other books in my head waiting to be written.  I wrote the first Shiloh book because I actually found such a dog in the little community of Shiloh, West Virginia, when we were visiting friends in that area.  Our friends eventually adopted the dog and named her Clover.  All of my books are like children to me: I love them all for different reasons. But there are probably two that stand out–a book for adults called Unexpected Pleasures, about a bridge builder and a young girl, and Shiloh.

mailing address for my student letters

Comment:

 

My students have written letters to you about Shiloh and they would love to mail them to you. May I have a mailing address?
Thank you,
 

Phyllis replied:

 

Your students may send their letters to me as long as they come in one envelope with the school’s address.  I wish I had time to answer each student individually, but I would probably never have time to write another book.  Please send their letters to me at 401 Russell Avenue, Apt. 713, Gaithersburg, MD  20877.

Shiloh’s Halloween???

Comment:

can u plz plz make more shiloh books. Sholohs holloween? thx

 

Phyllis replied:

Shiloh’s Halloween?   Um….I don’t think so.  I’m afraid that would be followed by Shiloh’s Fourth of July, and then Shiloh Gets Married, and who knows where that would end?   I think I’ve probably written all I wanted to say about  Shiloh, but there’s always the possibility of a movie, and who knows what might happen then!

 

Inspiration

Comment:

What inspired you to write Shiloh? Do you own any dogs like Shiloh? I love the Shiloh books! 😉

 

Phyllis replied:

I came across such a dog in the little community of Shiloh, West Virginia, back in 1988, and couldn’t get her out of my mind.  So I built a story around her, changing her to a male dog and naming her “Shiloh.”   You’ll find out more about her on this website, www.phyllisnaylor.com   I don’t own any dogs now, but I grew up with a Springer Spaniel named Pepper.  You’ll find a photo of her on this website as well.

Inspiration

Comment:

What inspired you to write Shiloh? Do you own any dogs like Shiloh? I love the Shiloh books! 😉

 

Phyllis replied:

No, but I grew up with a Springer Spaniel dog named Pepper, whom I loved.   I got my inspiration for the 4 books of the Shiloh series when I found a frightened, filthy, abused dog in West Virginia, in the little community of Shiloh.  Friends of ours adopted her and took her in, but before I knew she had found a good home, I was so worried about her that I started writing the first book, Shiloh.  I went back to visit her several times before she died in 2000 at about eleven years of age.  Our friends named her “Clover,” and claim she was now the happiest dog in West Virginia.