As I’ve been promoting A Healing Justice, people have asked why I write about animals. My answer is simple: There’s no way I could not write about them.
I was born on October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, and I have always been supremely sensitive to creatures. My father took me as a child to western movies; and when cowboys dug their spurs into horses’ sides, I cried so hard that he had to take me to the lobby. During a drought in Texas, where I grew up, I worried the whole summer after third grade about the thirsty deer, raccoons, and squirrels. All my life I rescued dogs and kitties.
As an adult, I became a freelancer for magazines but never thought of writing about animals. Then I had an accident and injured four disks in my spine. Unable to work for months, I lay on my office sofa with Beatrice, my beloved beagle, loyally cuddled up beside me, and I didn’t know if I’d ever be pain-free enough to write again.
When your career is hanging in the balance like that, you do some serious thinking. And I slowly realized that I’d been frittering away my life, writing about subjects that had meant nothing to me – and I’d left my heart behind in the dust. I wondered, what’s the meaning of my life? Beatrice reminded me that, no matter our species, meaning comes by loving and helping others. One day it occurred to me that I had always loved animals more than anything — so I should write about them and try to improve their lives.
I vowed that if I were ever strong enough to work again, I’d align my heart with my career. And that’s what I’ve done in articles, nonfiction books, and now a novel. I’ve tried to show how worthy animals are, how important they can be to us, how much they have to teach. Every morning I get out of bed, knowing I’ll work for something bigger than myself, and trying to give back to the world the love and kindness that animals have given me.
“Von Kreisler takes us deeper into the powerful connections between humans and animals.” —Jacqueline Sheehan
From the bestselling author of Earnest and An Unexpected Grace comes a novel about a woman, a dog, and the hope and love that can emerge from tragedy . . .
Two years ago, police officer Andrea Brady fell madly in love with a black-muzzled, slightly rumpled German shepherd who showed up at her house one misty autumn day. Now, with the brave and intuitive Justice as her expert K-9 drug sniffer, she’s found an unbeatable partner. Then the unthinkable happens. A savage attack leaves a teenager dead and Andie trapped in every cop’s worst nightmare. Placed on administrative leave, she’s pursued by media and investigated by a deputy sheriff whose handling of the high-profile case could earn him a
coveted promotion. Haunted by self-doubt, Andie is in danger of losing everything—her career, her freedom, and the critically injured dog who’s her soul mate. But as she finds kind allies in her Puget Sound island community, the road back becomes a journey of healing for both Andie and her canine companion. And Andie learns important lessons about justice—and about Justice—as she struggles to find the courage to forgive herself and reclaim the gift of her life. . .
“Be sure to set aside a quiet secluded time to read this book. You won’t want to put it down and you will resent any interruption. Von Kreisler safely navigates the treacherous waters of guilt, fault, consequences, honor and blame. Her compelling characters will have you rooting for them. In Andrea and Tom, Von Kreisler has given us wonderful, complicated human characters, and Justice, the canine of the title, is so perfectly drawn that the reader falls in love with him. A Healing Justice is a terrific novel and a great addition to Von Kreisler’s canon.” –Susan Wilson New York Times Bestselling Author of One Good Dog and The Dog Who Saved Me
“Policewoman Andrea Brady is living a contented life until a shocking encounter on the job leads to an inexplicable tragedy. As she struggles to cope with the traumatic aftermath, her greatest source of comfort is the gift of love and devotion from her beloved police dog, a regal German shepherd named Justice. Kristin von Kreisler is spot-on delightful when she writes, with uncanny sensitivity, from the point of view of Justice, who is not “just” a dog but a fully realized character whose resilience provides inspiration to his despairing human when she needs it most. A Healing Justice demonstrates why dogs are, and always will be, man’s (and woman’s) best friend.” – Amy Hill Hearth New York Times Bestselling Author of Having Our Say
“Kristin Von Kreisler writes masterfully about the connection between a police officer and her dog in this gripping story of heartbreak and redemption.” –Helen Brown New York Times Bestselling Author of Cleo and Bono
“When a book as wonderful as A Healing Justice brings tears to my eyes, and warms my heart I know I have a ‘keeper’ in hand. A Healing Justice is that kind of book. I have no doubt that I will read this book again and again because I personally experienced how a dog’s love and devotion can see you through the darkest days of your life.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels
Praise for the novels of Kristin von Kreisler
“Kristin von Kreisler deftly spins a tale of human failings and canine devotion.” —Susan Wilson
“In this terrific and uplifting novel, von Kreisler shows how the love between a dog and a person can prove transformative.” —Modern Dog Magazine
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