Welcome to my site!So glad you stopped by! I write bookclub-worthy women's fiction, but my next book is jumping genres to memoir so I can share the tale of the first fifty rescue dogs we saved. You can find links (above) to all my books and blogs, plus my other writing and LOTS of dog pictures. I love to hear from readers and writers, so feel free to send me an email - carasueachterberg@gmail.com.
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Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs will be published by Pegasus Books August 7, 2018. I'm beyond excited to take the message of rescue-foster-adopt to the bookstores!
"A warm and entertaining memoir about what happens when you foster fifty dogs in less than two years―and how the dogs save you as much as you save them.
When asked how she can possibly say goodbye to that many loveable pups, Cara says, “If I don’t give this one away, I can’t possibly save another.” Filled with humanity and hope, Another Good Dog will take the reader on an journey of smiles, laughs, and tears―and lead us to wonder how many other good dogs are out there and what we can do to help." Here's what NYT Bestselling author, Peter Zhuetlin, had to say about Another Good Dog: “A big hearted, inspiring and passionate look at a critical piece of the rescue puzzle. Lucky are the dogs who pass through Cara Sue Achterberg’s arms on their way to the lives they so richly deserve.” Practicing Normal
A socially awkward genius child, an adolescent cat burglar, a philandering husband and a doormat wife in desperate need of a backbone, a neighborhood where only the houses are similar.....The Turners are practicing normal as best they can attempting to craft a happy life, and facing down a history they have no control over. Praise for Practicing Normal:
Does facing the truth beat living a lie? In Practicing Normal, Cara Sue Achterberg has given us a smart story that is both a window and a mirror, about the extraordinary pain - and the occasional gifts - of an ordinary life. - Jacquelyn Mitchard, NYT bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean Practicing Normal takes a deep dive into the dysfunctional dynamics of a 'picture perfect' family. A compelling story about the beautiful humaity in the most ordinary of lives; from first love to a marriage on the downward slide ot an unexpected family tragedy. Achterberg handles each thread with tender care and can't help but root for every member of the Turner family. - Kate Moretti, NYT bestselling author of The Vanishing Year What does it really mean to have a normal life? Achterberg's stunning new novel explores how a family can fractcure just trying to survive, and how what makes us different is also what can make us most divine. - Caroline Leavitt, author of NYT bestsellers, Pictures of You and Is This Tomorrow My Life in Paragraphs
You can read weekly excerpts of my writing journey (with occasional writing advice) on my blog, My Life in Paragraphs. Be sure to subscribe by email for the latest posts.
Girls' Weekend
itunes named Girls' Weekend to their New & Notable List!
Plus, it spent eight days on the topselling ibooks list - not too shabby. It's still gathering five star reviews on Amazon and goodreads, which makes a girl smile. I'd love to hear what you think and am grateful for every review - no matter how many stars you toss at it! I'm Not Her
After being chosen as a Daily Find on Barnes & Noble's Nook, I'm Not Her climbed to #2 on the Nook Bestsellers list! Plus, I'm Not Her was named to Kobo's Page Turners list! It was recently featured as a "fresh new read" in their subscriber newsletter! I’m Not Her was also chosen as a best new fiction pick by ibooks and made their top 100 ibooks bestseller list for fiction and literature!
Live Intentionally
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Who am I, you ask?
I am an irrepressible writer, a tired mom, a lazy gardener, a resentful chauffeur, a loyal friend, a daily dreamer, a terrible dog trainer, and an occasional cowgirl. I'm also a compulsive blogger, an almost famous novelist, and a huge fan of teenagers writing. I will talk your ear off about processed food, growing tomatoes, training horses, Virginia wine, or the dog I'm currently fostering. If you ask about my kids, prepare to be bombarded with how FANTASTIC and AMAZING they are. If you follow me on Facebook or twitter or instagram you'll be treated to near daily doses of my thoughts, adventures, and animal photos. Links to all my social media ramblings are above. I'd be honored if you followed me anywhere....
Here's a recent interview with a top-rate book blogger - she even features some of my foster pups! Current Foster Dog:
Gomer Pyle is my latest guest. He's an overly enthusiastic young mix of bull terrier and who knows what. He is an absolute love bug who would probably be happiest if he could have his adopters all to himself. If you 'd like to know more about him click his picture!
Where Can You Find Me? This is a pic of me and Clifford at last year's York Book Expo. Don't miss the fun this year!
I'm looking for opportunities to get out! I'm available to meet with book clubs (in person or via skype), lead workshops on writing and/or publishing, or teach creative writing. I'm also happy to talk about creating an organic life, and of course I'd love to do a book signing! Just give me a shout at carasueachterberg@gmail.com to get your group on my calendar!
July 7, 3:30pm you'll find me at Arcata Library in Arcata, California! Very excited to meet the readers of Humboldt County! July 14, I'll be featured at the Pennsylvania Book Festival in State College, PA. August 3, I'll be visiting with a book club right here in my hometown of New Freedom, PA! August 7 will be my launch party for ANOTHER GOOD DOG and YOU ALL are invited! We'll be at Gunpowder Falls Brewing Company from 6-9pm! I'm SO excited to be going to Lititz (voted the coolest small town in America several times!) for Second Friday at Aaron's Books on Friday August 10! The very next day on Saturday August 11, I'll be hanging with adoptable dogs and some of the dogs in the book at Monument City Brewing Company in Baltimore Maryland from 1-4pm. On Tuesday August 14 I'll be at the infamous Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg - such an honor to sign there! More details on time when I have them! Thursday August 16 you'll find me at Black Flag Brewing Company for a book siging and adoption event! Saturday August 25 I'll be joining the OPH crew at Wags & Whiskers, a huge all day event in Shirlington, VA. Sunday September 9 you can visit with me at the Loudon Pet Expo in Purcellville, VA! On Saturday September 15 I'll be sharing the spotlight with the incomparable Nora Roberts for a signing at her bookstore, Turn the Page in Boonesboro, MD. On Saturday September 22, I hope you'll come out for a big dog fundraiser, Bark, Wag & Wine at Hiddencroft Winery in VA where I'll be signing books alongside some of my former foster dogs! Get your tickets soon and join us for this dog-friendly event for wine tasting, silent auction, and entertainment! Sunday September 23 I'll be at Chateau Morissette Winery for the Floyd County Humane Society Fundraiser. I've always wanted to visit this winery - I might even take Frankie along! Another Good Dog's cover girl and I will be signing books at Greetings and Readings in Hunt Valley, MD on Saturday September 29. In August, September, and October, I'll be touring in PA, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, and TN. If you'd like me to stop in to see your book group or set up a signing event (dogs welcome!) at a bookstore, brewery, winery, local animal shelter, or just about anywhere, give me a holler at carasueachterberg@gmail.com. Another Good Dog Blog
Love dogs? Then you're my favorite kind of person. I hope you'll check out my blog,
Another Good Dog, where I write about our family's adventures in dog rescue. We've fostered over 80 dogs now and counting! The blog has over 3600 subscribers now - hope you'll be one, too! How'd you like to be one of my cronies?I'm always looking for people who'd like to be on my street team to help me promote my books. You get some great rewards and I promise it'll be fun! If you're interested, shoot me an e-mail at carasueachterberg @ gmail.com!
My blue-eyed pitpup, Frankie
(You'll note he's an Eagles fan!)
Frankie & his big sister, Gracie
Yes, I know I have dogs accidentally named after a TV show my mother-in-law loves!
We foster dogs with Operation Paws for Homes, a non-profit network of foster homes in Maryland, Virginia, and south-central Pennsylvania. They transport dogs from high-kill shelters in the south to foster homes so they can be adopted into families who will care for them. Every new dog we welcome to our home is a new adventure and I blog about all of them. If you'd like to get involved as a foster home, volunteer, or donor, contact OPHRescue.org! My blog, Another Good Dog, shares stories of our family's experiences fostering.
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Here's a video of my clever horse, True, squirting me and then himself with a hose.