Harry the Collins Croydon Bookshop Dog

In September 2014, I was ‘on the hunt’ for a West Highland Terrier to be part of the book launch for Little Dog and the Christmas Wish. The venue of The Block Arcade was set, the Lord Mayor had agreed to launch and although I’d called a number of friends and contacts about ‘borrowing’ their westie for a few hours, I was drawing a blank. The main concern seemed to be that most canines wouldn’t cope with the crowd and the ‘limelight.’

Then, one day, I called into Collins Booksellers, Croydon to pick up a copy of ‘The Silver Brumby’, a birthday gift for a friend and there, sitting in his special spot behind the counter I found Harry. There was never a question about Prince Harry being the right dog for the job.

As Harry’s owners were away on launch day, we had the privilege of taking Harry  with us, a full car, including the cake!

Harry behaved perfectly, even barked on cue at the appropriate moment in my launch speech and since then he’s accompanied me to many book signings, photo sessions, school visits and publicity shoots. When the book was chosen as the theme for last year’s Myer Windows, Harry stepped up and helped me sign books in Myer and greeted customers like a true star, always with his owner Laraine keeping a watchful eye. When Harry needed a break he would take himself to a quiet place (usually under the signing table). Harry also spent time in one of the Myer Windows himself, for ‘Sunrise’ one December morning, an experience for  both of us!

Yesterday Harry appeared on the front page of the Maroondah Leader with his favourite friends, Jim and Betty who love him as much as I do.

http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx