Albert Class

The Infallible Dog Albert Class

The Infallible Dog has a problem. He's short, grumpy, and going bald. He exercises, meditates and sees a shrink twice a week. He's not very happy.. Imagine writing a book backwards. Not knowing thebeginning, the middle, or the end. That's how 'TheInfallible Dog' and 'A Suitable Shell' (the second book) came about. There was no structure or a storyline. Just mental pictures of my travels, colorful memories and the bitterness of a failed relationship. I wanted to convey all of the above on paper and ink. I was on my way from Dijon to Paris when it occurred to me that I wanted to write a book -- a children's bookno less! The idea about a naughty cat that did nastythings to his owner and his mate (the dog) was sort offunny to me. I wrote a few scribbles on a napkin, butnothing stuck. I then had to decide which writing style I wanted to go with, pick the format, choose a voice, and developed multiple designs. What was I thinking? What did I know about writingstyles or for that matter, design? Absolutely nothing! I flew to Manhattan and stayed in the city for two weeks. I wandered around Soho, the music shops and the local museums. I became a sponge, soaking as much as the city would give me. I kept an eye on everything ranging from the commercial displays to what people wore on the streets. The writing processes for both books were painful andlethargic.