Why am I talking about Christmas in the middle of August? I need your help. I’m writing a book, which takes place between Thanksgiving and New Years, and that includes Christmas. The hero and heroine are working together to give away twelve dogs to deserving children. The dog giveaway is part of a documentary commissioned by a very wealthy man who owns a dog food company. The documentary is part advertising and part charity. At some point in the documentary, the heroine is going to sing this song based on the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” I’ve got part of the lyrics, but I need your help coming up with the rest. All of the items have to be dog-related in some way and carry on as much as possible the same rhythm of the original song.
Here’s what I have so far.
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a little dog on a settee.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two pooper scoopers
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me three fluffy beds
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me four china dog bowls
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five golden collars
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six toys a squeaking
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me seven leashes retracting
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me eight balls a rolling
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me nine sticks for throwing
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ten
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me eleven
On the twelve day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve
As you can see, I have something for every line except the last three. If you think I could rearrange any of the items or if you can think of better items I can include, please give me your thoughts. All suggestions will be appreciated.
I recently got the cover for this book. It will be book five in my Kellersburg series. Here are the first four books.
Here is my new cover.
I’ll be giving away the first book in the Kellersburg series, Hometown Promise, to one person who leaves a comment. I will draw the winning name on August 24, 2021, at 9PM MST.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
Just wondering if the first one could be doggie instead of dog as doggie would sing better.
and you could have10 bones for chewing, and 12 puppy outfits.
cant think of another
How about 11 treats for eating?
Good luck 😉
Hi Merrillee!! This avid reader always enjoys when an author has a unique premise for stories. Love Christmas, the history of the 12 days of Christmas and how authors have used the story. Had to look at the original song’s lyrics. Here are my ideas: 10 treats a eating, 11 combs for grooming and 12 outfits for photo taking. In the original song – from day 4 the verbs end in “-ing.” As a dog owner, bones are controversial with dogs have digestive issues. Personally I would change – 8 balls a bouncing (more fun for a dog – I roll balls to babies). Looking forward to read the suggestions. Happy planning and writing. Can’t wait for the new book. Best wishes.
I love this! Some good suggestions so far. Maybe ten dog park passes?
I have a book coming out in December, Eight Cats of Christmas, themed around a pet rescue for both cats and dogs. If you’d like to cross-promote, please contact me through my website!
10 doggy sweaters
Cute premise .
I like ten bones for chewing, eleven bags for feeding, and twelve heartworm treatments. Lol! Number twelve was hard, but they are necessary!
Ten rawhide bones for chewing.
Adorable! How about 10 pounds of puppy chow…fits with advertising…and don’t forget flea collars🤯
Trudy! Heart worm meds – so important. Also flea and tick control. Plus meds given monthly!
10 treats for eating
11 coats for wearing
12 training sessions
Hope this helps somehow. I like what you’ve got so far, very creative!
Hi Jenny, thanks for your suggestions. That’s an excellent idea about using doggie.
Hi Linda,
Thanks. That’s a good one.
Hi Renate,
Thanks. You’ve given me some more good ideas.
Hi Erin,
That sounds like a good idea. Maybe we could cross promote in our newsletters.
Hi Lori,
Thanks for your suggestion.
Hi Yvonne,
Thanks.
Hi Trudy,
Thanks for more good ideas.
Hi Theresa,
Thanks. Rawhide bones for sure. Our granddaughters have a little dog, and her rawhide chews are all over the house.
Hi Megan,
Thanks. More great ideas.
Hi Paula,
Thanks for the idea about the advertising.
I’ve never considered myself good with rhyming, so I’ll leave that to the experts ;) lol.
On the other hand, I love your new cover! It’s beautiful, and I’m really loving the fall theme plus the doggies :)
10 pairs of doggie booties
11 spray/neuter appointments
How about Doggie treats for eating?
I don’t have any ideas, I am not really good at these kinds of things. But it sounds like a lot of fun! I also adore the cover
Hi Priscila,
Thanks. I love it, too. I especially think the couple captures the characters in my imagination. Sometimes I have trouble finding the photos of people who match what’s in my mind.
Hi Jcp, thanks for the suggestions.
Hi Catherine,
That suggestion can work nicely.
Hii Angeline,
Thanks so much. I’m glad you like the cover.
What fun! I had a “Twelve Dogs of Christmas” idea in the back of my mind, but it’ll probably never get written and I LOVE your idea!
How about BONES FOR CHEWING?
I bet! But so glad it worked out for you this time :)
Your book sounds like a really cute book and I love the book cover! Have a great week and stay safe.
10 squeaky toys
11 tasty treats
12 lbs of dog food
In the same spirit as the suggestion for training sessions, how about “vet visits”? Also, I have to say that “pooper scoopers” makes me think more of cleaning a cat box than of dogs. Since we live way out in the country, we don’t collect our dogs’ leavings. Also, hope a dog in your story got to go to a senior instead of a child. Studies show how important pets can be in the life of a senior adult.
1st day A fluffy furry ball of energy
2nd day A leash and a collar
3rd day 3 bowls of kibble
4th day 4 bones to gnaw on
5th day 5 squeaky toys!
6th day 6 friends to play with
7th day 7 bouncing balls
8th day 8 chewed socks
9th day 9 missing shoes
10th day 10 hairy shirts
11th day 11 loads of laundry
12th day 12 puppy snuggles
Hi, Merrillee! Wow, so many good suggestions. I’ll add just a few to the mix. In the music, 5 is such a major change in rhythm, I would recommend avoiding the extra syllable in “collars” and maybe go with something like “Five rawhide bones!” I also think “retracting” is awkward for leashes. Maybe “straining” or “tugging”.
Since 10, 11 and 12 all have the same basic rhythm, these might work (some may draw from some of the other comments…)
Groomers sudsing
Clippers snipping
Vet health visits
Collars jingling
I really like Alicia’s…
Pounds of dog food
Thanks for a fun post. I hope all the suggestions lead to the perfect parody!
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ten….treats for tricks
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me eleven….slippers for chewing
On the twelve day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve….puppy kisses
sounds like a great book!
Hi Deb,
Thanks for sharing your idea. Glad you like the idea.
Hi Alicia,
I’m glad you like the cover and thanks for the ideas.
Hi Ellen,
I love your idea of including senior citizens. I’ll have to include that. City dwellers must pick up after their dogs. :)
Flea collars, chewy bones, puppy boots. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
How about:
10 puppy playdates
11 rawhide bones for chewing
12 puppy dreams while napping
Hi Dianne,
Thanks for all the suggestions. Great list.
Hi Lincoln,
You’re right there are a lot of good ideas. Thanks for yours.
Hi Trixi,
You’ve given me some more good ideas. Thanks.
Hi Shelia,
Thanks so much!
Hi Debra,
Thanks for some more good ideas.
Hi Catrina,
Thanks. The good ideas just keep coming.
Love your Christmas ideas. That dogs book looks so interesting.
I’d love to get the book
ten pounds of kibble for eating
eleven ID tags a jingling
treats for chewing
The first thing I thought of was flea collars!
On the twelve day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve chewy elves.
(My grandmother’s dog had a chew toy hahaha.)
I already won book one from hometown promise in another draw! so I just came to leave the comment hahaha.
Stuffed toys for shredding…. our dog always chews stuffed toys until the stuffing is all over the house!!
Maybe leashes for walking, beds for curling up, actually this is quite challenging. Good luck with it!
What a beautiful cover! Love it!
How fun. Rawhide bones for chewing. Balls for retrieving.
I think this book cover is so sweet!