Dean and Gerda Koontz have been generous donors to Canine Companions for many years. Canine Companions was pleased to receive a $1 million donation this month, with over $6.5 million given to Canine Companions over the past few years.
Everybody knows Dean Koontz. He is an enormously popular novelist with
eleven #1 New York Times bestsellers to his credit. But do you know
Trixie? She was the Koontz family’s beloved golden retriever, and she
had quite a following of her own. A BIG LITTLE LIFE: A Memoir of a
Joyful Dog (August 25; $24.99; Hardcover) is Dean Koontz’s first ever
nonfiction book and it chronicles the love shared between Dean, his
wife Gerda, and their inimitable “Trix,” and the life lessons learned
from this unbelievable dog with a megawatt personality.
Trixie Koontz, or “Short Stuff” as Dean often called her, has a unique
story. Dean and Gerda adopted Trixie after an injury released her from
Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit organization that
trains dogs to assist people with disabilities. As a guest blogger on
Dean’s Web site, Trixie attracted her own loyal contingent, and went on
to author three books. Her most recent book, Bliss to You, was a New
York Times bestseller. Trixie passed away in 2007, and the Koontz
family remains a major supporter of Canine Companions. In fact, the
Canine Companions campus in Oceanside, California, one of five training
centers nationwide, is named the Dean, Gerda and Trixie Koontz Campus.
All of the author proceeds from sales of A BIG LITTLE LIFE will be
donated to Canine Companions.
The private life of Dean Koontz has never been the focus of his books—until now. A BIG LITTLE LIFE gives Koontz fans and dog-lovers a never-before-seen look into Dean’s home and family life. He talks about his own past, the inspiration for his writing, his and Gerda’s marriage and business partnership, and their life in southern California with Trixie. Dean’s sense of humor is at its best as he describes his own habits and those of the people closest to him. He is also not afraid to get serious, imbuing the book with a deeper meaning by opening up about his personal beliefs.
In often humorous and always touching language, Dean describes Trixie as a little dog with a huge heart, one that inspired him in many ways. He weaves in stories about the golden retriever’s uncanny ability to recognize good character, her adventurous nature, her love of practical jokes, how well she vogued for the camera, and her stoicism. Trixie became a critic, writer, and entrepreneur and caused Dean to rethink everything he thought he knew about animal psychology. This heartwarming memoir makes it clear that Trixie’s winsome and caring personality was contagious. She affected everyone—human and animal alike—who was lucky enough to cross her path.
For the Koontzes, Trixie was more than a pet. She was a teacher, a furry daughter, and a constant companion. Most of all, Dean says, Trixie restored a sense of wonder to his world. A BIG LITTLE LIFE is a powerful tribute to a beloved family member and will remind readers everywhere that the love of our canine best friends is a love that lasts a lifetime.
The book can be purchased at bookstores nationwide, as well as online at the Canine Companions for Independence gift shop.
