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 "...very well written...
  Collins focused much of his 
  story on showing us the souls 
  of these dogs...A beautiful
  story..." 
  --- Tina Avon,
  FrontStreetReviews.com

  
 "...we are absorbed in the 
  tale of the dogs' visionary 
  quest." 
  --- C. L. Rossman,
  ArmchairInterviews.com

  
 "...one of the (if not the) 
  best books I have ever read! 
  Joseph Collins is a truly 
  gifted and talented 
  storyteller." 
  --- Connie Harris,
  TCM Reviews

  
 "...the book provides an 
  education in many animal
  issues..." 
  --- Sarah Gawricki, PETA

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When a young dog named Toby is abandoned one October morning on a lonely country road in upstate New York, he soon finds himself embarking on an epic journey of adventure and self-discovery.

After meeting Max, a wise, old golden retriever, and three other strays, he joins them in a search for a legendary, hidden sanctuary for all homeless and unwanted dogs; and thus begins a tale of questing and survival.

Their expedition, however, fraught with unexpected dangers and grueling hardships, puts them through the ultimate test of endurance; from weathering the dangers of the wilderness to struggling through a brutal winter in the mountains. Who is the mysterious coyote following them? What strange and devious plans does he have for Toby? And what do the sightings of the frightening, ghostly hound mean?

And through it all, the canine fellowship wonders: Will they ever find the safe and peaceful haven of The Whispering Fields?

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A complimentary copy of The Whispering Fields is available to qualified reviewers. Email the information below to mary@foremostpress.com

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About this Book

In the wilds of Upstate New York, a young dog is abandoned on a lonely country road—an act that propels him into an epic journey of adventure and self-discovery. After meeting four other strays, the newly-formed canine fellowship sets off on a quest to find the Whispering Fields, a legendary, hidden sanctuary for all homeless and unwanted dogs.

But is their spirit up to the challenges of the wilderness? Or the evil plans of a wicked coyote? Does the haven really even exist? And who will survive the Hollow Hound, a ghostly canine whose chilling appearances forebode of tragic things to come?

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About the Author

Collins currently lives in Queens, New York with his cat, Merlin.

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Feel free to use all or part of the following, and edit to suit. This content was prepared for your use. We ask no acknowledgement of any kind.

In the grand tradition of Watership Down, first-time author Joseph Collins' animal fantasy, The Whispering Fields, follows a group of five stray dogs as they struggle to survive New York's upstate wilderness, while seeking out a legendary, hidden sanctuary for all homeless and unwanted dogs.

When Toby, a young, border-collie mix, is dumped on a solitary country road one foggy, October morning, his epic journey begins. Afraid and confused, and wrestling with newfound fears of abandonment, he soon finds solace when he meets up with four other strays.

There's Max, a wise, old golden retriever, who quickly becomes Toby's mentor, offering consolation and bits of advise and wisdom; soon followed by Bosco and Dodger, who, as the heart and soul of the group, wholeheartedly believe in the Whispering Fields (a sort of Shangri-la for dogs), and possess the all-but-forgotten poem that hopefully will lead them to its safety; and Zeus, a strong, yet somber and moody German shepherd with a dark secret, who seriously doubts the haven's existence.

Once their quest gets under way, it isn't long before the dogs face one obstacle after another, from surviving the wilderness and harsh weather, to a battle of wits and brawn with a devious coyote, to their unnerving encounters with a ghostly hound, whose appearances they fear are an omen of tragic things to come.

As the canine fellowship come to know each other and form lasting bonds of friendship, we come to know them, and are exposed to a whole new world of animal culture, songs, stories and myths. The reader can't help but cheer on the canine heroes, well-drawn and likable characters, as they struggle in a world of cruelty and hardships, in an attempt to find their much coveted sanctuary.

A mix of adventure and mythology, of animal fable and character study, The Whispering Fields, ultimately, is a tale of friendship and survival, and, in these violent and disturbing times, of dreaming of a better, more peaceful world.

The Whispering Fields was published by Foremost Press. It can be ordered through local bookstores and at ForemostPress.com, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com.
ISBN-10: 0-9818418-4-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-9818418-4-7
352 pp, $16.97

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