ALEX VALENTINE

Zip

The Spaniel Dog

I am Zip the Spaniel.

Most Spaniels are bird hunting dogs, but my Human does not hunt.

She is a scientist. Old Lady, that’s her name. She’s famous. You never heard of her? That’s because she is secretly famous. I did not catch for certain if she was awarded the Nobel Prize or nominated. Or just rumored to be nominated.

Must investigate.

Milly

The Younger Sister

Milly is a purebred too, but she is way too gullible and social. She only sees the best in every animal. Always makes new friends.

No matter what the creature, it is her “new friend,” “buddy,” “BFF.” Every frog and bug is welcome to come drink from our water dish. Unsanitary, if you ask me.

But Milly is my younger sister, so I love her. Old Lady bought us both from Herr and Frau Böing.

Boxer Bóris

The Bodyguard

Bóris is my friend and bodyguard. After I escaped from Siberia, I figured that I need a bodyguard, so they do not catch me and disassemble me into radicals for their “scientific studies.” Who “they?” Let’s see… the Director… the Heir… Goncharik… I even suspect Raccoon… Really, it’s easier to list who doesn’t hunt me. So.. meet my bodyguard Bóris. I taught him to read.

Ginger Tom

Reconnaissance Specialist

Ginger Tom is Rosie’s “Acquaintance.” His story is a little murky. He was abducted by The Evil Receiver, and escaped. He lived at the Morgue, but after all the Morgue staff got mysteriously fired, Ginger Tom was thrown out. Bluntly, he is homeless. And, frankly, a little unstable. But his surveillance abilities rival Mossad.

Rosie

The Legal Ex-purr-t

Rosie is our Legal Expert. She is rich, so she can afford to work pur…bono… That means free. Which comes in handy, because we are constantly in legal trouble.

Cozy legal thriller with a strong canine lead, feline side-kick, and an Oscar-nomination-worthy cast of fox supporting characters. Fox Theodore is a strong proponent of wild hunting at first, but his eyes are wide open to the advantages of Country Club feeding by the end of the book. Also, I like Raccoon, but he is not an animal. It’s nice to have a cozy with well-written characters for a change.

Cat Misanthrope

CEO, VegFest London

This really allowed me get into the dogs’ head. Thanks so much!

Cat Scholar

CTO, XYZ Company

Milly

Milly was always way too gullible and social. She only saw the best in every animal, and always made new friends. No matter what the creature, it was “my new friend,” “my buddy,” “my BFF.”

She’d dragged in all manner of buddies, from birds to reptiles. A neighbor’s rabbit, a turtle from the creek, a possum stealing scraps at night—anybody who so much as smiled at Milly would get invited to munch on the Spaniels’ food.

Zip was not really greedy, but he did not much like to share. Old Lady paid good money for Spaniel food. Zip reasoned that, if she’d wanted to throw it out in the Forest, she would have done so.

Besides, this entire zoo was prone to help themselves to the water from the dogs’ dishes. And some of Milly’s unmannerly “friends” stepped into the drinking dish. Or worse.

“Unsanitary. Even disgusting,” — concluded Zip.

Dr. Alex Valentine

Dr. Alex Valentine writes what she knows: a little about law, a little about science, a little about love, greed, jealousy and other human conditions — and a lot about Spaniels, Foxes, Boxers and Cats — both black and ginger.
Dr. Valentine’s education includes Master’s in Journalism, Ph.D. in literature and humanities, and a law degree. Her experience includes twenty-five years as a journalist, working for newspapers and TV, and seventeen years as a lawyer-litigator. Alex is not one person.

ZIP & MILLY: Big Water (Cheetah Press, Spring 2018) is the first book of the trilogy, followed by
ZIP & MILLY: Siberian Adventure (Cheetah Press, forthcoming 2021)
ZIP & MILLY: Amber Rush (forthcoming, 2021).

ANYWHERE THE BOOKS ARE SOLD