Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 1, 2017 5A
Monmouth woman inspired to write
Brittney Hall sets out to share the story of her ‘wonderdog’ with children, parents everywhere
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Brittney
Hall never aspired to be a
published author.
The Monmouth resident
keeps herself busy as an
event planner, bookkeeper
for Marr Bros., and a mother
of two.
But when she and her
family bought an English
s h e p h e r d p u p py, Ha l l
thought someone had to tell
a story about this breed, un-
recognized by the American
Kennel Club.
“Being a published au-
t h o r w a s n’t re a l l y m y
dream,” Hall said. “It’s not
that I wanted to write a
book. I’m very business-dri-
ven. I thought this dog is so
cool. He’s the coolest dog.
He’s hilarious. He should
have books about him. He
should have TV shows about
him. This is a good story. I
would buy this book.”
At first, she thought about
finding someone else to tell
the story.
“I thought I should find a
writer who can write it,
maybe get a ghost writer,”
Hall said. “But I thought, I’m
a mom. I read children’s
books all the time, and I
know which ones I like to
read and which ones I
don’t.”
So she sat down and
wrote the story of George,
“The Adventures of Guh the
Wonderdog,” published by
Dorrance Publishing Co.
Inc.
The Halls bought George,
affectionately called, “Guh,”
when Brittney’s daughter
was just 1.
“It was like having anoth-
er baby,” Hall recalled. “He
EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer
Brittney Hall takes George, aka Guh, the wonderdog, out for a walk in downtown Monmouth.
was great, but I thought,
‘now I have two kids.’”
Guh would wake up early
and be ready for his morn-
ing nap just as Hall’s daugh-
ter was ready for breakfast.
She found it ironic that her
baby finally slept through
the night, and the puppy
was not letting her get much
shuteye.
“He’d be sleeping under
the barstools, and I thought,
‘You. Dog,’” Hall said. “And
that kind of started it. He
has this funny personality.”
Guh thinks he is part of
the family, and insists on
sitting on the couch while
watching TV, or sleeping on
the bed — in spite of his 70-
pound size.
“He’s just a goofy dog,
and he’s also a breed that a
lot of people don’t know
about,” Hall said. “A lot of
people think he’s an Aus-
tralian shepherd, but he’s an
English shepherd.”
The breed is of a collie
lineage, Hall said, and is a
herding dog.
“They were bred to pro-
tect the flock,” she said.
“They’re excellent family
dogs. They have energy if
you let them go use it, but in
the house, they don’t go
crazy. They’ll just hang out
with the family.”
Though Guh is not
pleased when everyone is
scattered around the house,
Hall said.
“He does not like the
chaos,” she said. “He gets
really mad at us if we’re
playing and being ram-
bunctious. He says, ‘Every-
body stop what you’re
doing.’”
Hall’s daughter — and
now son, too — are Guh’s fa-
vorite buddies.
“In the book, it talks
about the mom being not so
sure about this dog, but this
little girl adores him, and
they’re playmates, and he
always wants to be with the
family,” Hall said.
She wrote the book with
bedtime in mind.
“You have to appeal to
the child, but who’s going to
buy the book,” Hall said.
“It’s the parents. So it has to
be something that’s not
super lengthy, because at
bedtime you want to get
through the book and get to
bed.”
Hall wrote two books,
starting with a more current
version of Guh, but realized
that she needed to write an
introduction to the charac-
ters first.
“Nobody’s going to know
why his name is ‘Guh,’” Hall
said. “His name is George,
but they’re not going to
know how the heck he got
that name.”
The second installment of
the adventures of Guh will
be published later. For now,
Hall is focused on the suc-
cess of the first.
She said she has learned a
lot getting a book pub-
lished.
“I thought, ‘what’s the
worst thing that could hap-
pen? They could tell me
no,’” Hall said. “But if you
don’t try, you won’t know.
Maybe you’ll make a million
dollars, or maybe not. But at
least you did it. I think it’s
good to accomplish stuff.”
The book is available on
Amazon in hardcover and
electronically.
Also, Hall will participate
in storytime at Independ-
ence Public Library at 10:30
a.m. on April 5.
Mid-Valley
Christian Academy
would like to invite you to attend its
Monmouth Area Community Events Calendar
Annual Spring
Mar 3
Open House
Tuesday, March 7, 6:30 pm
and
Visitation Day
(Where the parents and children visit classrooms)
Wednesday, March 8
8:15 am – 3:15 pm
1483 16th Street N., Monmouth, OR
This Christian school, nestled in the heart of the
Willamette Valley, provides education for preschool
through grade 12. Caring staff and small classes pro-
vide a nurturing Christ-centered environment, pro-
moting faith, integrity, learning and leadership.
Join our family!
Nationally accredited by AdvancEd
Come see us. We look forward to meeting you!
PCL
Partnerships in
Community Living
503-838-2403
480 E. Main St.
Monmouth
DownTown
Trends
503- 838-1445
Monmouth
503-838-2818
midvalca@midvalca.org
355 N Pacific Ave.,
Ste A
Monmouth
503-838-4268
Find out in the Itemizer Observer.
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on local people - that’s our specialty.
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
147 SE Court St., Dallas • 503-623-2373
Mar 11 & 12 Spring Rickreall Gun Show. Cost $6
Admission for Adults, Free for Kids 12 and Under. ♦ Buy ♦ Sell
♦ Trade ♦ Guns ♦ Knives ♦ Ammunition Saturday, March 11th
9am - 5pm. Sunday, March 12th 9am - 3pm. Free Parking.
Food Available on site. Polk County Fairgrounds and Event
Center 520 S Pacific Hwy W. Rickreall
Mar 18 Craft Supply Store. The Friends of the Monmouth
Senior Center are hosting a Craft Supply Sale at the Monmouth
Senior/Community Center. It is located at 180 Warren St. S. It
will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is a "clean out your
stash sale". Great selection and great prices!! 9 am – 3 pm.
180 Warren St. S. Monmouth
405 Hogan Rd
Monmouth
503-837-0700
www.minetfiber.com
Your Local
Service Provider
Serving Polk Co. Since 1875
503-623-2373
503-838-3467
www.windermere.com
503-838-1141
297 N Pacific
Monmouth
800-732-0173
464 S Pacific Hwy
Monmouth
oregonstatecu.
Saving
Carpets
Daily
Mar 27 - 31 Spring Break! Have a great mini vacation!
142 Highway 99 West
For more information, please call
What’s YOUR
neighbor up to?
No School Grades K-12, Central School District.
Mar. 5 Polk Flea Market 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Polk County's
oldest and largest market with 183 tables selling antiques, col-
lectibles, tools, etc. 520 S Pacific Hwy W. Rickreall
Carpet Hero
March Forum:
Wednesday, March 8. 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Western Oregon University (Actual meeting
place TBD) Tour of Western Oregon
University Lunch will be available for
purchase in the Werner University Center at the conclusion
of the tour.
52nd Annual Community Awards Banquet
The Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce &
Visitors Center presents the 52nd Annual Community
Awards Banquet. Join us as we celebrate businesses,
organizations, and individuals for their contributions and
support of our community!
Date: Friday, March 10
Location: Eola Hills Wine Cellars (501 S Hwy 99W, Rickreall)
Time: Social hour begins at 5:30 PM; Program begins at
6:30 PM
Tickets & Registration: $40 per person (includes dinner and
one drink ticket); register and pay online at micc.org
Thirsty Thursday
Thirsty Thursdays are held the third
Thursday of each month from 5:30 PM to
7:00 PM at member locations. Registration is
requested to help the host site properly
prepare. Attendees are encouraged to bring a
small giveaway (less than $10) to promote your business or
organization. This month – March 16 at Redgate Vineyard
8175 Buena Vista Road, Independence.
503-838-0869
Monmouth
LOOKING
FOR RENTALS?
297½ N. Pacific Hwy
503-838-1278
Western View
Properties
Property Management, LLC
503-838-2951
165 E. Main St.
Monmouth
503-838-1773
410 E. Main St.
Monmouth
To advertise in this calendar call Heidi
at the Itemizer-Observer 503-623-2373 ext 115