Reviews Of The Safe Place...
Exclusive interview with the author of The Safe Place, Don Cronk
Diana Thurbon interviews Don Cronk, the author of The Safe Place. Don wrote this book for children, but it has been very popular with adults who have read and reviewed it. The story is based on the work of the Soi Dog Shelter in Phuket. Profit from sales will go into the Soi Dog Foundation Distemper Fund.
Diana: Hello Don, I want to thank you in advance for writing your book, The Safe Place. The proceeds from the sales will benefit the Soi Dog Foundation and its ongoing fight against the scourge of distemper.
Don: its one thing to ask people for a donation of money for any particular cause but it is quite something else for them to receive a book to read as a result of their generosity.
Diana: Why did you decide to give up your time for this project? Did you enjoy writing it?
Don: I was issued a challenge. It's rather like the hang-glider who has to muster up the courage to jump off a 1000 foot cliff. You prepare yourself for the jump. You come to the edge of the cliff and you commit. You ask if I enjoyed writing the story. I enjoy being the writer of words and I enjoy playing with my characters. The day will come when I can no longer see them in my mind's eye.
Diana: You wrote a fiction story wrapped up in a package of fact. Was that difficult? How did you manage when you used the character of real people? Are your dog characters based on real dogs?
Don: Once the characters take the stage I give them free rein. I've written down what I want them to do and they perform in a way that they seem to take control, but they still stick to the original script. As for the dog characters, yes they are real dogs. Every week I visit the house where the Black and Tan lives. The dog is daffy as ever, only now it is full grown. So when it jumps on you it packs an extra punch.
Diana: Have you ever visited the Soi Dog Foundation shelter in Phuket? What was your impression?
Don: Yes, I visited the foundation in November of 2010. John and Gill along with their workers are kept busy with animals coming into the shelter like humans turning up at the emergency room of a hospital. I'm constantly amazed at the resilience of the dogs at the shelter. No matter how badly they've been treated in the streets they are all too ready to lick the hand that is helping them. Dogs do not bare grudges but neither do they forget a street lesson.
I have found after visiting the Soi Dog shelter that a dog is man's best friend. This does not necessarily mean man is the dog's best friend. It was a spine chilling experience to see the joy a dog received from just one human hug. A well looked after dog will always be there for another hug...it makes them feel good all over.
Diana: Do you have a dog of your own? Do you think your own dog is different to the Phuket street dogs?
Don: Over the years I've had about a dozen dogs, mostly German Shepherds. In my opinion a dog is a dog and they all smell the same. It all comes down to how people treat them. In the Western society most dogs are cared for better than humans. In Phuket they are treated like a nuisance.
Diana: Did the tsunami make a big impression on you when it happened. What about later when you visited Phuket.
Don: I think most people that hear of events in the news take in the information then get on with their daily activities. When I stood on the beach in Phuket I could imagine the people screaming as the water washed over them. People were on the beaches taking pictures of the incoming wave. The Thai people ran away, but the tourists stood there with their cameras taking pictures. In the hotel where I stayed you could see where the water had hit the second floor. The really scary thing about real life action is that you never know how the story ends until it becomes history.
Diana: Do you think the Thai people and maybe even the dogs are more resilient because of the tsunami?
Don: The dogs no. Their daily routine is based on survival. However, the Thai people are naturally resilient. I sat on the beach in Phuket watching a group of men rebuild a house that had been destroyed during the tsunami. One man had brought some nails while another brought some wooden planks. Another man had loaded a barrow with corrugated iron. They worked with what they had available. Thai people are some of the kindest people I've ever met.
Diana: The Safe Place book is quite philosophical I thought. There are life messages in the book. For instance: courage, hope, acceptance of life as it is and yet never giving up. Was it important for you to say those things?
Don: I didn't say those things; the characters did, because they were walking the walk. I would never try to put my beliefs onto the pages. These are truly developed characters walking through the reality of life.
Diana: I enjoyed the book myself. I found it often very humorous. You have written a book for children that adults can enjoy. Was that your intention or did it just turn out that way?
Don: I think in reality I've never really grown up and hope I never do. Grown up people seem so tired with life. You ask what my intention was. I plan a book before I write one single word. I choose my setting, characters, plot and word count. Then I carefully fit the puzzle together. I really have no intention. I'm just very good at fitting the right pieces into the right places.
Diana: Thank you Don for taking the time to answer my questions.
Don: Don't forget you can purchase a copy of the book The Safe Place by emailing me for a copy. They sell for $20.00 and the profit from the sales goes to helping the Soi Dog Clinic save the lives of the street dogs of Phuket.
doncronk@billabongvalley.com
A book to give children to read that their parents will enjoy. The
David Prossor – writer columnist
The
Although the book is fictional, it is based on reality, and has an educational value. The sentence structure and paragraphing are simple, and would be a good choice for older learner readers.
There is action piled on action to hold the interest. References to bodily functions, and the harshness of real life and death tragedy, are faced honestly.
I can well imagine this made into an animated film, and can see an audience of all ages gripping their seats, as one trauma after another develops. Join Sanai and his friends, both adult and animal. Experience the life style of his country, the harshness of reality, the dedication of volunteers, and know that humour and hope are alive.
Ruth Strachan - moderator for Writer’s Dock group. accomplished poet, noted judge of literature contests in
A book that is deceptive in its simplicity there are many life messages within its pages. This is a book that joyfully exaggerates and yet seriously reflects real life, Never shying away from life’s difficulties and trauma there is is nevertheless plenty of fun. Children and adults alike will love Sanae’s dog friends - the lazy Snowser, the faithful
This is a book about a different world, and within it, the reader will discover amazement, passion, humour, fun and faith in the future.
A book not to miss. Because the English is of simple construction readers who are not native English speakers will still enjoy it. I imagine Thai people who have some English would enjoy this book. It is a big plus that this is a book where all the profit will go to a charity to end distemper on Phuket.
Margo Bradley
Children and Youth Services Librarian Shire of
The Safe Place - über die Arbeit der Soidog Foundation Phuket Thailand A book titled - The Safe Place - through the work of the Foundation Soidog Phuket Thailand
The Safe Place is fictional but the book is based on reality. Set in a Phuket dog shelter it has educational value. It is written simply and is a good choice for children over 12 years. Also for many of us for whom English is our second language, because adults will also enjoy this story.
With plenty of action in the hardness of life and death, it is is open and honest as well as humorous and keeps interest until the end. You learn about the lifestyle in
FROM: (PR-inside.com 01.14.2011
This story is all about a 12 year old boy who works in an animal shelter in Phuket. Phuket is an island under Thailand in Asia. Lots of exciting things happen to Sanae and to all the animals that are part of his life. In the end the boy and the dogs save lots of people. He can talk to animals but he will grow out of that. He talks to a ghost of his Aunt too. Children see and know things that adults don’t know anymore.
I like the book because it is different. It doesn’t have chapters it has different happenings. The boy called Sanae is very mature for his age and he is very patient with grown ups who don’t believe the animals talk to him. All the animals have different personalities and say funny things. Lots of this book is very funny.
Some of the story is sad and made me think I am lucky to live in America in a nice home with my pet dog who sleeps with me every night, I learned a lot from this story and I enjoyed the chance to review it very much. I recommend this book to anyone who likes dogs. I stayed interested all the time I was reading. It was a bit hard sometimes for my age. I think I would like to be a vet now and help the dogs who live on the streets with no home of their own. This is an important book because all animals deserve a better life than the stray dogs have in this book.
Reveiw by, Mandie Penny (11yrs) Appleton, Wisconsin.
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