Blessing of the Animals Featured in Press Enterprise

Well, I am currently in New York at the big Book Expo America and will have lots of stories to share. I just find out a feature story appeared in California about my new book, Blessing of the Animals check it out online.

Book Expo America 2007: Is your pet a blessing?

Most people think animals are a blessing according to author and animal trend watcher, Diana L Guerrero. The California scribe also says that the fur flies over some ceremonies such as pet mitzvahs and pet weddings. This week the Latina heads to New York for BEA to join the "who's who" of the book industry and to reveal the secrets behind the timeless traditions of pet blessings and the new wave of pet ceremonies sweeping the nation. Learn more in Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures (ISBN 1402729677).

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 25, 2007 -- Is your pet a blessing? Local California author Diana L. Guerrero thinks so. She is the author of the newly released "Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures (ISBN 1402729677) and both will be found at the biggest book event in the United States May 31-June 4, 2007.

The Book Expo America is attended by the "who's who" of the book industry. This year the expo will be held at Jacob K. Javitz Center in New York. Over 2,000 exhibitors, 1,200 publishers, 500 authors, and 1,000 media members will attend. In addition, booksellers from all over the United States will converge in New York for previews to new and exciting titles of books just hitting the shelves.

Guerrero will be amidst the weekend jungle of bibliophiles in her newest safari hat covered with animals. Her newest book, Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures (ISBN 1402729677) was recently released throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

When asked about it Guerrero said, "Blessing of the Animals is a compendium of stories, prayers, ceremonies, and engaging tidbits. It welcomes all creeds, all breeds, and covers everything from amusing contemporary phenomena--with such chapters about "bark" and other pet mitzvahs, pet pageants such as the Miss Crustacean contest and Lobster Dog competition--to more serious issues of pet illness, loss, and burial."

Guerrero toured extensively with her last book but is only doing local events before embarking on a virtual tour. So far, she has conducted a couple of pet blessings live on the air and pet parents have already shared that they are using it for their own ceremonies.

She said, "The book is really fun and unlike similar titles, Blessing of the Animals is more than a collection of poems or blessings. Although there are blessings for the furry, feathered, scaled, and finned, there are also ceremonies and prayers for pets, fascinating background on the historical roots of the animal blessing traditions and where to find some of the most popular ones today."

There are also tales of muttrimony and other pet nuptials--for pets or adding critters to human wedding parties. If you need advice on hosting a purr-fect party or where to participate in a pet pageant you'll find that included too.

When asked for insider information, Guerrero said, "The fur really flies over pet nuptials and mitzvahs, and believe it or not, during animal blessings most creatures remain calm and cooperative...but some critters need a list of commandments: Thou shall come when called, Thou shall behave in public..."

Guerrero included those commandments in Blessing of the Animals and you can preview excerpts online at www.blessingoftheanimals.com. For a schedule of events visit www.dianalguerrero.com.

If you are attending Book Expo America drop by the Sterling Publishing booth (4138-39) to take a look. Guerrero's book is available from most major book distributors and local bookstores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Guerrero's What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality: Inspiring Lessons of Wild & Tame Creatures (ISBN 1893361845) is available at the Skylight Paths Publishing booth (3249) and can be found at most major bookstores in the United States, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Blessing of the Animals Book Signing at Serenity Place Gallery

Fawnskin residents showed up to support my signing last weekend at the Serenity Place Gallery in Big Bear Lake, California. This weekend there will be two more events over Memorial Day weekend--the Book & Bean on Saturday from Noon until 4pm and at Edelweiss Books from 1pm until 4pm on Sunday.

Below are a few photos inside the gallery just before the event took place. Serenity Place is my favorite gallery and each book event (one was at their monthly artist reception) has sold out all copies of Blessing of the Animals--they had to reorder again!

Diane from Hawaii traveled the longest distance for the event. She had to come in because her friend has the same name. She is currently on a tour on the mainland and has decided to read the book and pass it on to see where it ends up.

Other visitors included many residents from Fawnskin (the forest side of Big Bear Lake) and assorted pet lovers from all over southern California. It was a very fun day--especially since two friends that I have not seen in a long time showed up.

After the event I got to visit with them and then headed over to Puppy Club--a group I run to socialize puppies. All in all it was a great day!

Author Diana L Guerrero

An unusual reader at Serenity Place Gallery

Serenity Place Interior

Serenity Place Interior

Serenity Place Interior

Serenity Place Interior

Serenity Place Interior

Serenity Place Interior

Serenity Place--preview of next artist's work

Nice Notes...

I am out of town and getting ready to head out to another event shortly but wanted to take a minute to thank those of you who have taken the time to write and call.

Yesterday I received a message from Nancy in the Los Angeles area. She received Blessing of the Animals as a Mother's Day gift and called to say how much she loved it and that she was really happy to see that someone produced such a book that reflected how she felt about animals.

I have also had a few readers who have recently lost pets and found the perfect prayer or ceremony idea within the work.

Such comments are what make an author's heart full. As a writer you put a lot of time and energy into your work and hope that it impacts the world in a positive way. So thanks for contacting me and letting me know. You can also just post your comments below.

Finally, this guest commentary by Nancy Carlson was disappointing--she could have used the Fishy Funeral .

When we change our practices and teach others to respect and honor other creatures we can only change the world for the better. When we take the time to celebrate what our pets have done for us, our children, our grandchildren, or others--the message sent ripples throughout our communities--and hopefully around the globe.

St Anton Blessing of the Animals in the Isles of Malta: Pictures

These photos from the Blessing of the Animals in Rabat, St. Augustine are lovely! Photographer Jessica C Moritz did a great job on this one.

Pet Blessings

Pet blessings can be found all around the United States at many different times of year. In Salt Lake City, Utah they celebrated a day of prayer with pets and another pet blessing made the news in Canada.

If you live near the Pasadena, California area, I hope you caught the Church of Truth's second Blessing of the Animals on May 12, 2007.

I enjoyed this article about a pet blessing held in New Jersey--Monty the python attended!

Donkey Lovers Celebrate: AP Video

Since 1965 one town in Mexico has celebrated the donkey. I don't know how I missed this unique celebration during the research of Blessing of the Animals but I didn't want you to miss the video of the annual donkey festival from the AP Video archive.

More Pet Hospice & Funeral Related Articles

Another funeral home in Ohio is offering pet funerary services.


Pet hospice is a fairly new pet business and this lawsuit is of interest. Pet hospice and other trends are discussed in Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures.

This article talks about a new service called A Paw Print in Heaven...if you visit the Paw Print in Heaven Website be warned that they automatically play music on the site--I hate that.

The Chicago Tribune also covered a pet funeral business started up by two business men.

Pet Memorial Trends

Blessing of the Animals covers many of the newest trends related to pet memorials--and those that were edited out are delivered via email to those of you with bonus codes. Recent items of interest have appeared in a few news stories.

Here you will find a new pet memorial wall in Tennessee

In Ohio a funeral home is adapting to the pet memorial demands.

Yet another article titled, The Last Good-bye.

Rancheros Vistadores de Santa Inez

Blessing of the Horses is a unique ceremony celebrating our equine friends. During the early part of May the Rancheros Vistadores saddle up for a weekend of frivolity. The elite social club was founded by John Mitchell in 1930 and the tradition is still going strong.

As they do annually, the Rancheros Vistadores saddled up for adventure this weekend. Part of the celebration includes a blessing of the horses as shown above in a photo at the Santa Inez Valley News story about the visiting ranchers.

Skofield Park is one of the locations the group rides through and they have a great archive photo of the Rancheros up on the page.

Here are a few more interesting links about the Rancheros:

View the short movie clip about the Rancheros Vistadores here

San Lucas Ranch: Rancheros Vistadores

Santa Barbara Magazine 2004: Ranchero Vistadores Article

Rancheros Vistadores Art

Santa Barbara News Press: Rancheros Vistadores

Wikipedia: Rancheros Vistadores

Art of Edward Borein: Member of Rancheros Vistadores

William Etlings Commentary about Rancheros Vistadores

William Etlings 2006 Commentary on the Rancheros Vistadores

McCabe & Company Bookstore Event & The Kitty Supervisor

This weekend I drove down to Crestline, California for a book signing event at McCabe & Company Bookstore. It is one of my favorite little independent stores in the San Bernardino Mountains. I was glad to meet the new kitty supervisor, BeBe. Sadly, Sam the old black and white cat who resided at the store for many, many years passed over on February 14, 2006. However, BeBe is good at supervising all the book mavens and visitors!

You know I forgot just how long McCabe's has been in its current location but the nice surprise is the addition of the gardener in the adjacent building. She also serves up some great tea, coffee and scones. The tiny store is filled with treasures and worth the trip. If you visit the area, tell Roxanne I sent you!

I am always happy to meet new friends. Gillian told me about her many animals that grace her life (including a skunk that comes to visit regularly) she is a whopping eight-years-old.

Carol and Marie are a happy duo and take great care of the locals as well as visitors. I met Marie ages ago--and she remembered me. Carol and I go way back and it was great to visit.

Wayne of Mountain Social Links had his lap taken over by BeBe who decided he was the most handsome man she had seen all day!

I headed for home but upon request of Serenity Place Galley I stopped by their monthly artist reception and signed many books--in fact they sold out! Wouldn't you know I forgot to take my camera to that event!

If you guessed I am one tired pup--you are right!

Blessing of the Horses

Blessing of the Horses celebrate our equine pals. There are a variety of different celebrations that happen throughout the globe and during different times of the year. I was alerted to this year's Horseman's
Sunday St John's in Hyde Park. This year on September 23rd will be the 40th anniversary of this Blessing of the Horses

In Savannah, Georgia at the end of March some people got caught horsin' around...yes, they also had a blessing of the horses in Rose Hill, Georgia.

Blessing of the Animals & LA Festival of Books

I am almost recovered from my adventures at the Los Angeles Festival of Books. Hopefully you have joined me on an armchair safari through my books but I call this trip the hat safari--as people hunted me down to get a photo opportunity. Although I took a few snaps with some adults, it was the kids that were especially fond of the silly hat designed to promote my books. Here are a few examples:








Getting to the event was tough because traffic was really heavy. Luckily enough I used to hang out in the Westwood/UCLA area and I took a backroad through the campus to get into the event. Missed the author parking but it worked out in my favor anyway. Below are a few pictures of the human traffic and one of the vehicle queue.





My favorite? The peacock lady who towered over everyone and the kids in backpacks especially found her interesting!



I only have a few local events left to do and then the trip to New York for Book Expo America. Hope to see you at an event but if not consider hosting a "livingroom tour." These fun potlucks are perfect for pet lovers and book clubs.