FBF: The Birth of #LiveGibStrong's EPIc Dog Tales Book Promotional Cards Starring Gibson and 121 Other Epidogs From Across the Globe
Since it is #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month), I'm sharing a special #FlashbackFriday memory ~ (aren't they all?) It was from when my coffee table/resource book, EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy was in the works. While it seems like just a few years ago, it was a dozen years ago!
My sweet, gorgeous boy will always be the handsome face of our #LiveGibStrong K9 Epilepsy Awareness. While I became an official Purple Day® for (K9) Epilepsy ambassador in 2012, Gibson was my "ambassadog" for awareness, showing others that dogs can ~ and DO ~ live happy lives with Canine Epilepsy, like any other non-Epi-dog. Gibson had so much zest for life, and love for his family―both pack and humans (especially me, his hu-mom and our alpha queen Husky, "Harley," his true love).
Gibson inspired me to connect with other Epi-dog parents―many of whom I am still friends with to this day―and hearing their stories filled with trials and tribulations was inspiring. I wanted to share it all with others for back when Gibson was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, there was not much information out there, nor was whatever info that was available easily accessible as the internet was still young. Today, thankfully, there is much online, *if one knows where to look, as there are some sketchy opinion sites. Thankfully, now there are many reputable veterinarian sites* which is why I developed my #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Resource Library on this site, where I list soooooooo much info - always FREE ~ as a place Epi-dog caregivers can go, read, and then have an educated conversation with their own vet.
But I digress (easy to do when I'm talking about Gibson!)...Today, I'm flashing back to May of 2014 when I was still in the design and layout of my book. I had previously put a call out for folks to submit photos and stories of their beloved Epi-dog, and complete some interview questions. Once I had all the dogs for the book (I tried to get everyone in as the page count was pushing 250 pages (it's a 264-page 9x12 coffee table book!), for which I already knew I was titling: EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy. So once I had all the subject dogs, I know how exciting it is to have your dog highlighted, and thought I'd make up some cute digital cards the families could have printed or share digitally online highlighting their beautiful dogs. I was so touched by all the lovely messages I received back once I sent them. I actually reread them while looking for the images, there were 122 dogs featured in the book. I'm sharing some of them in a gif file below:
NOTE: I have since closed ArcticHouse Publishing, the website is no longer active. (There is a "fake" website using some of my info, but it is NOT my site for many years. Please visit FiveSibes.com for any links, info, etc. To purchase books, you can visit the relocated ArcticHouse FiveSibes Books & Gift Shoppe on this site. Or, to purchase a brand new copy of EPIc Dog Tales, visit my Ebay store HERE. (And, it's on sale!)
I often think of all the beautiful dogs in my book, which was published in 2014-15. I had done a pre-holiday release as soon as they came off the presses for the families of all the dogs featured in my book. Then, a formal release date was Purple Day, March 26, 2015. These amazing, beautiful, brave Epi-warriors will always be remembered.
I'm so proud of the book, which of course my Gibson is the cover model, and on the back instead of my author pic, it's Gibbie. (I preferred his pic to mine! BOL!)
I'm proud of the people and dogs this book has helped.
I'm proud and so appreciative to Dr. Karen Muñana & Julie Nettiffee, RVT, MS, VTS (now retired) of The Companion Animal Epilespy Lab at North Carolina State U who bought a supply to share. And I'm thankful to Barbara Drury of Manilow's Canine Playground in Massachusetts for being a continuous supporter and friend who periodically buys a supply of my books, gifting them and using them in raffles where she raised money and donated it to NCSU for epilepsy research.
I'm very proud of every Epi-dog and caregiver not only featured in the book, but to all caregivers of #Epidogs. That is why every November for the past five years, I started my annual #NEAM (November Epilepsy Awareness Month) #LiveGibStrong #EpiStar features of dogs living/have lived with epilepsy to continue on from the book.
I'm proud of the awards and recognition the book has received (although not the reason I wrote it).
But most of all, I'm so very proud of my boy, Gibson. My daughter and I always thought if he'd have a human voice, (her idea) it would be similar to "Eeyore" from Winnie the Pooh...and in his humble, quiet, regal manner, he'd say, "Oh shucks. It was nothing. I'm happy to have helped."
đź’ś Memories Are Visits For The Heart đź’ś
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Did you get your copy of my EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy? ***Limited New First Edition Copies Remaining*** REDUCED PRICE (click on book cover below to purchase on my Ebay store) It is a beautiful 264-page large 9" x12" glossy soft cover coffee table style book that is a collection of inspiring and heartfelt stories about dogs of all breeds across the world living life with seizures and/or Canine Epilepsy. The book also contains a plethora of information and resources for information on Canine Epilepsy. A portion of sales is donated through #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong to the Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine'.
Please Note: My Ebay store is the ONLY place to obtain a brand-new copy of this book. And...did you get your copy of my FiveSibes Tale children's book yet?
(Click on image below to purchase through my FiveSibes Amazon affiliate link)....

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It is a beautiful 264-page large 9" x12" glossy soft cover coffee table style book that is a collection of inspiring and heartfelt stories about dogs of all breeds across the world living life with seizures and/or Canine Epilepsy. The book also contains a plethora of information and resources for information on Canine Epilepsy. A portion of sales is donated through #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong to the Companion Animal Epilepsy Research Lab at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine'.
And...did you get your copy of my FiveSibes Tale children's book yet?
(Click on image below to purchase through my FiveSibes Amazon affiliate link)....

Follow Us on Social Media!Click on the logos below to go to some of our pages!










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