Shiloh Blog

Is Shiloh Real?

Comment:
We liked reading your book, Shiloh. I liked your book because the plot created a spark in my mind that made me want to read more. It did take some figuring out when it came to words like ”gunnysacks”
Wait, don’t stop!!! We still have some questions for you to answer.
•Where did you get the idea of writing Shiloh?
•Who inspired you to be a writer?
• Is Shiloh real?
P.s. (From David) My Grandpa has a dog that looks Shiloh!

Phyllis replied:

Indeed, Shiloh was a real dog, who died in 2000, that I found in the community of Shiloh, West Virginia.  For all your questions about me or the book or the dog, please use my website, www.phyllisnaylor.com  It will tell you all you ever wanted to know!

 

Email from China

Comment:

 

I am a Chinese. After my reading the first Shiloh book, the images of Shiloh and Marty happily haunt me in my mind and make me never forget. They are always warm and love pictures I like. Marty told honest-to-God lies to protect Shiloh from returning to its old master, Judd Travers,and being mistreated; Marty and his Dad took the badly bleeding Shiloh to Doc Murphy and Murphy saved its life finally; Marty did a lot of things for Judd just in order to having Shiloh and love it; Shiloh living in the cozy box of Preston’s house…and the other thing I feel mostly interesting about this book is the paw-tograph of Clover, the prototype of Shiloh, and the story about Phyllis and Clover. When I imagine a cute beagle wearing a sunglass and pressing her paws on title pages of new-bought Shiloh books one by one, I can even hear tinkling laugh from some Chinese kids who love Shiloh.I don’t know why I think of the dog wearing sunglass, but I think it is cool. Its paw-print on the page must be the most unique and lovely sign in the book world! Expect the other three Shiloh Stories!

 

Phyllis replied:

You write English very well, and I was so happy to know that you enjoyed the first book of the Shiloh quartet.   Yes, the friends of ours who adopted the little abused dog I found in West Virginia are responsible for that paw print.  After I won the Newbery Award for the book, so many people drove up in the hills to the community of Shiloh to see the dog that had inspired the book, that they had a rubber stamp made of her paw so they could stamp something  to give to the dog’s fans.  And when they asked if I would like a rubber stamp too, of course I said YES!   Whenever I autograph someone’s book, I also stamp a paw print.

shiloh

Comment:

I love the shiloh books can you write more please

 

Phyllis replied:

I hope you have read all four of them.  I loved writing them too, but there are SO many other books I want to write!

A Good Book

Comment:

I liked your book when I read it because when Marty hid Shiloh in a wooden dog house.He hid it really well until his mom found out and told his dad and I liked when Marty had to do a lot of work done at Judd’s house. Another thing I liked is when Marty finally got Shiloh. The last thing I liked about it was when Marty and his dad brought Shiloh to Doc Murphy. I think the book was a good book.

Phyllis replied:

Be sure to see the Shiloh movie on DVD.  I think you’ll like that too.

I’ve read it three times!

Comment:

The book Shiloh is amazing. I have read it three times and I can’t get enough of it. The text helps you get a great picture in your mind and know where and why things are happening. I love how Shiloh is written in first person showing what the main character is feeling. Next there are more than just one issue, there are multiple. One is Shiloh being mistreated by his owner, his family doesn’t a lot of money, and Shiloh gets brutally injured. Secondly the villain (Judd Travers) gives us a glimpse in his past to tell us why he is like he is, because he was beaten in his past life and now he thinks it okay to do the same to animals, and he shoots deer out of season. Marty then does whatever it takes to win Shiloh from Judd Travers. So he is working for Judd Travers to pay for Shiloh. I would recommend this book to everybody.

Phyllis replied:

I’m so happy you liked the book.  I hope you will enjoy the last three books in the series:  Shiloh Season, Saving Shiloh, and A Shiloh Christmas.

If You Were Marty…

Comment:

I read your book and I really liked it especially when Judd let Marty have Shiloh at the end of the book. Shiloh because it would be really awesome. If you were Marty what would do to get Shiloh if you really wanted him? If Judd actually shot Shiloh would Judd go to jail for awhile? When Doc Murphy saved shiloh what if shiloh died how would that reflect the story at the end of it?

Phyllis replied:

That was the question I gave myself when I started writing the book–what could an eleven year-old boy do to persuade a mean and miserable man to let him keep his dog?  And I would do what Marty did.  As for what would happen if Judd actually shot Shiloh, or Doc Murphy couldn’t save Shiloh?  Then the other three books in the series would never have been written.  Right?

If You Could Change Anything….

Comment:

I think that Shiloh was a good book. I liked the characters Shiloh and Marty and I’m glad Judd made an agreement that if Marty helped him with chores he could get enough money he could have Shiloh. If you could change anything in the book what would it be?

Phyllis replied:

I’m not sure I would change something, except perhaps a sentence here and there.  Shiloh is one of the few books that I’ve written that I like just the way it is.

Shiloh

Comment:

My guided reading group just got done reading your book Shiloh. My favorite part about the book is that when it’s time to stop reading or we’re not supposed to read any farther I just want to keep reading on because it’s so good. Also my favorite character is Marty because he’s kinda like my brother and my brother my friend and because if he wants something he will work for it and won’t just sit there. I’m so happy that you wrote this book.

 

Phyllis replied:

This often happens in books, doesn’t it?   Characters remind us of people we know.

Sad or happy?

Comment:

i am about to read shiloh i was wondering if the series is sad or happy . my sister loves the alice series

 

Phyllis replied:

There are some sad scenes in the series, but I promise that at the end of each book, you’ll be happy.

A few questions

Comment:

Why is Shiloh a beagle are beagles your favorite type of dog breed????What was your inspiration to become a writer and write Shiloh???Were you happy with the movie or would you liked to have made a few changes or edits to the movie!!!I love your books and would like to know some suggestions to some.I love your books and characters!!!!Love,
Shiloh lover❤

 

Phyllis replied:

When I came across the dog in West Virginia, which became the inspiration for the series, she looked something like a beagle.  And since beagles can be used for hunting, I decided that Shiloh would be a beagle.  I did like the movie very much.  I’m not sure we needed the added character of Sam, but there were some fine actors in that movie.  If you like to read series books, read the four books of my cat series: The  Grand Escape, The Healing of Texas Jake, Carlotta’s Kittens, and Polo’s Mother.  You might also like the series that begins with The Boys  Start the War and The Girls Get Even.