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Daughter and Dog Inspire Mom to Publish Children's Book

Des Peres author, illustrator and Westchester Elementary School mom Kathy Brandt found inspiration for her first children's book 'Gigi and Her Girl' by watching her daughter play with the family pet.

Dogs can be subjected to a lot when kids are in the house: dress-up, tight hugs, pulled ears, painted toe nails. Sometimes it can be a lot for a dog to take. Watching her daughter Hallie play with the family dog Gigi when Hallie was 6 years old inspired Des Peres resident and Westchester Elementary School mom Kathy Brandt to publish Gigi and Her Girl, a tale that teaches the importance of respect as told from the point-of-view of both a girl and her dog. In the book, Gigi, a very gentle puppy, endures endless hugging, hoisting, dragging and dress-ups, as well as love, according to Brandt. "She kind of treats the dog as a toy almost, as a doll, thinking that the dog is loving it...but the dog is like 'Is she kidding me with this?'" Brandt …

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Former 'Patch' Food, Arts Writer Pens Three Short Stories

Christopher Reilly is one of six authors in a new book called "Acoustic Reads," which is a collection of short stories by a new publishing company.

Christopher Reilly, a former Patch food and arts writer, has released three short stories in a new book called Acoustic Reads. The book, published by newly formed Blacklight Publications, is a compilation of work from six authors. The company formed Blacklight in response to the changing paradigm of publishing, where more and more writers are turning to self-publishing and print-on-demand services. The company consists of two co-founders and four partners who are writers, including Reilly. Blacklight will soon begin publishing novels by each of the writers, the first three of which will publish at the rate of one each month through January 2013. The authors involved in Blacklight have known each other for many years as writers. “I was …

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