Letter From A Fan/Student

Comment:

I go to Flint Hill School. I am almost done reading the last book in your series of Shiloh. Before my dad started to read Shiloh to me we were reading a book called A Dogs Life. My dad loves dogs and we have two so whenever we watch a family movie my dad always wants to watch a movie with dogs in it. That’s how we picked Shiloh because it had a dog on the cover and it looked like a really good book.
After researching things about you I’ve found some things that I can connect to. On the Fun Facts section on your website you said that your desk is the messiest part of your house, I make a connection to that because the messiest parts of my house are my room, the guest room, and our basement.
Then on the Frequently Asked Questions page on your website you said that you grew up with lots of cats and a Springer Spaniel dog name Pepper. I have two dogs, Bongo and Dallas, but because my dad is highly allergic to cats, we can’t have any. So sometimes I visit Patriot Pawsabilities which is a cat cafe where you get to spend time with cats & kittens before deciding if you want to adopt one. Also on the Fun Facts page you mentioned that your favorite color is teal, and teal is also one of my many favorite colors.
I was wondering why in the first book and a half you chose Judd to be mean, then chose him to become nicer the more you read? I think that you chose to make Judd mean then become nicer because of how his father treated him when he was younger. His father abused him and wouldn’t let him go near Ray’s (Marty’s dad) house. As a result of being abused, Judd was angry and unfamiliar with feelings of kindness and friendliness. Later in the books when Marty treats him with kindness he becomes nicer. I wonder if this was what lead to him being nice.Thank you for taking the time to read my letter! I hope to hear from you soon!

Phyllis replied:

I can tell that you really do love animals, and I’m glad that you found the Shiloh books.  You are exactly right that Judd’s growing up with an abusive father played a large part it how he turned out as a man.  If he had not been a mean person who mistreated his dogs, there wouldn’t have been any story.  Not this story, anyway.  A good book has to have conflict and suspense; it has to make you feel emotions–anger and sympathy and hope.  If you are reading the very last book in the Shiloh quartet, you will see how things finally turn out between Judd and Marty.  Thank you for writing to me!