Shiloh Blog

Writing a book

 

I love Shiloh! It is inspiring and a lovable book. Do you have any favorite parts in your book? I have a couple favorites! I like when Shiloh and Marty first meet. I also like when Shiloh gets hurt. That part made the book so interesting! One other part that I loved was when Marty was working for Judd at the end of the book. It really showed that Marty cared for Shiloh and would do absolutely anything to save him. I hope that Shiloh doesn’t get kidnapped by Judd and that Marty has to work for Judd all over again. I think part of the reason I love this book so much is because I love dogs. I don’t have any, but if I did I would get a Golden Retriever.

This book inspired me to be loyal and thoughtful of other people. I think that Marty is kind, loyal, smart, and crafty. Even if Marty lied a lot that doesn’t mean he is a bad person. He lied for a reason. I like Shiloh because he is smart and he loves Marty. Who is your favorite Character? I think that Shiloh would be one of the best dogs in the world. Now, who is your least favorite character? I think that I know who your least favorite character is. Is it Judd? Judd is my least favorite character because he mistreats dogs and kills deer out of season. I agree with Marty that dogs are like children and humans.

I think that it is so cool that you actually saw a dog that inspired you to write Shiloh. However, what gave you the idea of making Marty work for Judd and have to fight for Shiloh? Is it hard writing a book? I love reading books and sometimes writing short stories. I think that it is probably hard to write books sometimes, but at other times it is easier. What is the process of writing a book? All in all, your book is so loving and so fun!

 

I spend more time thinking about a story and working all the details out in my head than I do in the actual writing.  I just set out with the idea of being eleven years old, wanting to save a dog, having my parents against the idea, and having to deal with a man like Judd.  Interesting fact, if you’ve seen the movie:  I was there for part of the filming and met Scott Wilson, the actor who played Judd.  In real life, he is soft spoken and a very kind person.  I thought the movie turned out well, even though they changed some of the scenes.  You’ll enjoy the other three books too, I believe.

The real dog Shiloh

Dear Ms. Naylor,
My name is Georgia and I am in 4th grade. My class just read your book and I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the book because I love dogs as much as you do. I just got a puppy named Jett two weeks ago so it was really sad to read that Judd was so mean to Shiloh but in the end I was happy to know that Marty saved him.
I really liked your character, Marty. He was a nice boy. I think that I relate to Marty because I love dogs, want to save animals and we are almost the same age. My least favorite part of the book was when the german shepherd ripped apart Shiloh and they had to bring him to dr. Murphy. It made me want to cry. My favorite scene was at the end because Marty had to work really hard to get Shiloh. He made an agreement with Judd and had to work 20 hours to get $40 to buy Shiloh. I was surprised that Judd actually kept his word and gave Shiloh to Marty. I’m glad that your book had a happy ending but where did you get the idea from? Did you have a puppy when you were eleven? I hope that you did because my puppy makes me really happy. I loved your book and I can’t wait to read your other books.

 

In 1988 my husband and I were visiting friends in Shiloh, W Va, and that’s where we came upon a frightened, skinny, hungry dog.  I could never get her out of my mind so I wrote a book about her, but made her a male dog in the story .  I was so very happy when we later learned that our W. Virginia friends had taken her in and named her “Clover.”

The reason Shiloh got hurt

 

I really enjoyed reading your book, Shiloh. There are a lot of interesting characters. My favorite character is Marty. Even though he stole Shiloh, I liked that he tried to give him a better life. It is too bad Shiloh got hurt by the other dog while living with Marty, but that made the story exciting. If Shiloh was never hurt, Marty’s parents and Judd would never have found out he had Shiloh. However, once everybody knows about Shiloh, Marty is able to work out a deal with Judd to keep the dog. I like that the story has a happy ending.

You are a great writer. I like the way you wrote about the story from a kid’s perspective. You did a good job because as I was reading I thought Marty was an actual eleven year old. Was it hard to remember what it was like to be an eleven year old? Are you a big fan of dogs and is that why you chose to write about Shiloh? Do you have any pets? I don’t because my mom is allergic to anything that drools or has fur. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? I have always known I want to be an inventor. I’m glad that you decided to write Shiloh because it was a good book to read in school.

I’ve only read the first Shiloh, but I know there are three more books about him. Maybe I will try and read the other three books over the summer.

 

I wrote about a dog because I met such a dog in Shiloh, W. Va. and couldn’t get her out of my mind.  If you read the other three books, you’ll find out what finally happens between Judd Travers and Marty.  Best of luck in becoming an inventor.  That would be a very exciting occupation, I think!

what made you decide to write Shiloh Christmas?

Why did you wait 10 years to make another Shiloh book after Saving Shiloh. What make you decide to make Shiloh Christmas?

You ask a very interesting question, because after my first Shiloh book won the Newbery award, I told myself I wasn’t going to write a lot of sequels:  Shiloh Goes to the Beach; Shiloh goes to the Moon….  So I concentrated on writing more of the Boys Versus Girls books and other things.  But I received so many letters from students begging me to have something awful happen to Judd Travers, they hated him so much.  “Have Marty’s dad buy a gun and shoot him through the eye!” one boy wrote.  “Make his car go off a cliff and burn up,” a girl suggested.  I just didn’t want to leave readers with all that hate, so I wrote Shiloh Season, giving more details about the kind of life Judd experienced when he was growing up, and Marty’s growing empathy for him.  Yet even though he and Judd were not enemies any longer, I realized that Marty might still worry that Judd, still drinking a lot, might come upon Shiloh in the woods and shoot him while drunk.  I wondered what Judd would have to do to prove to Marty that he would never hurt Shiloh. That’s when I wrote Saving Shiloh.  But there was one more thing that seemed unsettled to me–Judd’s acceptance in the community.   I wanted to show that sometimes a whole community can divide into sides–that each side views the other as the one in the wrong.  And that sometimes it takes listening–really listening to the other side–to understand why they do what they do or believe what they believe.  And when you all work together on a project, very often your differences seem very small.  That’s what A Shiloh Christmas is about.

 

Film and TV Rights – Shiloh

I couldn’t find any details online for your agent, so I hope you don’t mind my getting in touch with you directly.

I am writing to enquire about the Film and TV Rights for the Shiloh books. I would love to find out whether or not they are available and, if so, whether you are currently open to accepting offers from producers.

At S/B Films, we develop material for films and TV series in partnership with the film financer and producer Start Media (Michael Maher). I would be delighted to have a call to discuss our background and partnership further if that would help.

Kind regards

Jake

 

I tried to answer you on my personal email account, but somehow my answer kept coming back to me.  Perhaps you aren’t aware that the first three books of my Shiloh quartet are already films (Michael Moriarty, Ann Dowd, Rod Steiger, etc).  And my agent, Bill Reiss, of John Hawkins, Associates, in NYC, has been looking into TV rights.  But thank you for your interest in my books.   Phyllis

shiloh question

is this book a true story? my favorite part was when marty got a crab in his hands. what is yours.

Hmmm.   Are we talking about the same book?   I don’t remember Marty getting a crab in his hands.  Page number?

Shiloh Movie/Signed Book

 

My third graders have absolutely loved reading Shiloh at home during quarantine and I wanted to thank you for writing such a wonderful series. it is so heartwarming for all the animal lovers in my classroom. I am a huge dog lover myself! I was having trouble finding the movie to buy online for them to watch. Do you know where I can buy the movie?

I wanted to ask a request, is it possible to get a book signed for my classroom? How does this work?

Thank you again for reading my comment. Wishing you the best and stay safe!

The last time I checked, you could buy a CD of the movie Shiloh from Amazon.

As far as book signing, I’m glad to do it, but it would take a bit of work on your part.  Anything over 10 ounces and/or thicker than 1/2 inch has to be taken to the post office–I can’t just put stamps on it and mail it.  And I truly don’t have time to keep driving to the P.O. to return books that have been sent to me for an autograph.  So you would need to take your purchased book to the post office, put it in a mailer that you mark “Media Mail,” have the post office worker weigh it and put on the necessary postage, then ask them to put the same amount of postage on an empty mailer that you will enclose with the book, with MY address on it, and mail the whole thing to me.  When I get it, I’ll sign your book, put it in the mailer you’ve enclosed with the proper postage already on it–post office kind–and simply put it in my mail drop.  I don’t have to go to the P.0. to send it back to  you.  My address; 401 Russell Avenue, apt 713, Gaithersburg, MD  20877.   The post office will be glad to help you with this if you’re confused.

NYC 4th grade love

Hoping you and your family are well. I’m using “Shiloh” for my last distance learning novel with my fourth graders. We’ll be having several “story time” Zoom sessions, where I’ll be reading Shiloh to them. I’d love to send you an invite! You made my students so happy last year with an incredible poster and paw prints on their letters. We are huge fans!

It’s very special when a teacher reads a book aloud to a class.  There’s just something about being able to lean back, close your eyes, and get lost in a story that is very special–even more special than reading it yourself.  The happiest part of my childhood was when my father read Huckleberry Finn to us, a new chapter every evening.  I could hardly wait. We wanted more Mark Twain, and more….  I’m sorry that I’m not set up for Zoom.  If you saw my work space, you’d understand.  Give your students my best wishes!

Permission to Read Shiloh

Every year that I have been a 4th grade educator, we finish out the year reading Shiloh together. We usually get to do activities and projects to go along with the book as a sort of break from state testing, however that is not the case this year. I would like permission to continue the tradition of reading the story with my students, even though it would be me recording myself reading the entire story to them. I will miss the conversations and genuine reactions as the story unfolds, but at least this way I can still share my love of the story with them. Thank you in advance!

Many teachers have asked for this, and the publisher is pleased to give permission as long as you are reading on a private channel and are using the reading only for this particular situation  Please give your students my best wishes.

Shiloh the Dog

I am the individual who lost my dog “Shiloh Skylar Rayne” to a horrific tragedy. I just happen to stumble on your website and had a few questions to ask, including author referrals. I’d love to know if you or anyone else that is an author that you could refer to me, would be willing to co-write or assist me in writing a book regarding my Fur-baby Shiloh that was killed by a train, while in a veterinarians care. I feel that I could help a lot of Pet Parents to cope with the death of a pet, after living such a nightmare of my own. I, more than anyone know first hand the feeling of hurt, worry, anguish, sadness, my why’s, and how it turned my life upside down. My story will make for a great read, while helping others. I know this IS my calling and purpose.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

 

I’m so very sorry about your dog.  To have a pet die in such a horrible way seems almost too much to bear.  I imagine that every time you write about it–even in the short paragraph you sent to me–you relive it again and again.  Most writers I know have multiple projects in their own heads, each one pressing to be the next one the writer tackles.  It seems to me you have already got your story out there on numerous outlets, but you feel there is much more that is unique about your dog that would make a whole book–a hundred and fifty pages or so?   I suggest you think about a long article instead, and that you go to a library and look up all the different pet magazines there are that might be interested in such an article.  On the personal side, you need to remind yourself that your pet is no longer in pain.  It’s over.  But you are reliving it again and again and again…as pet owners do;  as parents do over the deaths of their children.  Each time, remind yourself, Skylar is not in pain.   And gradually I think the your own pain will lesson and help you write your story.