It will come as no surprise that the hound on the front of the book is Reggie, of ‘Reggie & Me’ fame! This is the real ‘Reggie’ who is not only the inspiration behind the canine character in the story, but part of the inspiration that created the entire Dani Moore Trilogy.

Reggie is an incredible friend to me. He has taught me about acceptance, loyalty, trust and that when I get things wrong, he won’t love me any less. He didn’t have the best start in life, and the picture on the front cover represents a new found freedom for us both. Starting out on a new adventure together, I booked a break to the Lake District. My friend, Dave Padgen, a mountaineering legend, recommended Wasdale as the perfect escape and it’s something that I am eternally grateful to him for.

Reggie and I packed our bags, well, I packed them as Reggie thought it was a game and scattered most of the contents around the living room. We set off on the epic drive to the middle of nowhere and found our very own paradise. I wanted some time out, some peace and quiet and the opportunity to spend some time with Reggie now that we were teamed up for life. He wanted to run around in circles chasing his tail, cry because he wasn’t allowed to play with the sheep and roll in as many smelly patches of grass that he could find. We both had our wishes granted.

Reggie was still very young when we went to Wasdale. It was the first time I’d ever been away without another human, the first time I had been away with any canine, let alone a seven stone powerhouse I was trying to tame and I was more than a little nervous.

I felt safe with Reggie by my side. That wasn’t a feeling I was used to and one that I absolutely loved. We walked for miles, he listened as I talked utter nonsense and despite the penchant for rolling in smelly things, he was the perfect companion. The lessons that are shared in the book through Reggie being misunderstood because of his breed, and Dani being misunderstood because of her survivor status are all powerful messages that I have experienced first-hand.

The picture on the front of the book is one of my favourite shots of Reggie. Not only was it pure luck that he sat so beautifully with his distinctive head tilt, he did it with such an iconic view behind him. That photograph has had pride of place in my living room since we returned from our holiday to Wasdale. It marks a shift in my life, one that I had not planned and one that I wouldn’t change for the world. To say that Reggie completely turned my life around really doesn’t even begin to explain the impact he has had, and continues to have on me. The impact Dani’s Reggie has is equally as powerful and something that I am privileged to be able to share.

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