About this project

In 1989 I rescued a feral six month-old Rottweiler mix from the hills of Mendocino, CA; he was the offspring of guard dogs on a marijuana grow. I named him Lou.

Lou saved my life twice, caught a rapist, foiled an armed robbery, saved hundreds of dogs from euthanasia, taught sign language to kids, literally won me a life-changing job- too many things to list here. Lou was a great hero, and the best friend I ever had. I became a dog trainer and author because of this magnificent guy.

Yes, St. Martin's bought the book. It comes out in June 2010. The title is LAST DOG ON THE HILL: THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF LOU.

I do not need your help to get the book published. But I do need help to produce an effective book trailer video to help publicize the boo, and to fund a national book tour to get the word out. That's where you come in.

Without Lou, a rapist he captured would still be free to roam the streets of Seattle. And, three robbers in Los Angeles would have killed me and gotten away had it not been for Lou foiling their plans, and out-dueling a gang member with a .357. What a dog.

Lou's charity was even more impressive. Hundreds of troubled dogs slated for euthanization would have been put down if not for Lou's help; he was my training partner for many years, and helped socialize and teach these dogs to be dogs again. And he kept me safe whenever I worked on the rehabilitation of big, dangerous dogs. More than once he went to the mat to save me. What a dog.

Lou even helped my girlfriend, an American Sign Language teacher for toddlers, teach sign language! For each of the one hundred-fifty or so verbal commands and behaviors Lou knew, there was a corresponding hand sign; by showing the kids how a dog could perform complex, linked behaviors simply by me flashing him hand signals, they became jazzed to learn ASL. What a dog!

Lou was a modern-day Rin Tin Tin, a reticent hero. I need to honor him, but if no one ever hears of the book, it won't happen. Without ample publicity, the book will sit on shelves collecting dust. A sad outcome I will not let happen.

I want to raise $5000.00, to produce a quality book trailer, and to fund a national publicity tour for the book. I can't do it without you.

The money will be used to hire someone to help produce the trailer, which I'll then use for promotions on Facebook, YouTube, my website, literary blogs, and other sites dedicated to promoting books. I will also be able to show the video at appearances across the country, as part of my planned "Lou Crew" national road tour. Money left over after producing the video will fund this tour, which will start in Seattle and go as far as the cash lasts. The trailer will also be included in a press kit sent out to media outlets all over the country in hopes that it will win me appearances on national radio and television. If any cash is left, I will use it to buy more publicity.

Please check out the rewards, seen on the right. I'm happy to share these with you! In addition to these, I will donate ten percent of every dollar made over and above the funding goal to the Humane Society, to help save homeless pets. Lou would have liked that.

Check out these endorsements:

“Lou’s story is an emotional and deeply felt tribute to the powerful bond between dogs and humans. Last Dog on the Hill will make you long for that one special super-dog that can truly change your life. We should all be so lucky to have a dog like Lou in our world.”--Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

“Last Dog on the Hill is a wonderful mixture of humor, heartbreak, and high jinks. I couldn't put it down. Lou will steal your heart.”--Janet Evanovich, New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series

“If Jack Reacher had a dog, he’d be Lou. If Jack Reacher were a dog, he’d be Lou.”-- Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series

Visit my website (http://www.steveduno.com), blog (http://whatwouldloudo.vox.com) and Facebook group page (LAST DOG ON THE HILL) for more info, including chapter excerpts. Here is a short excerpt from the first chapter:

"The essential crime committed against all dog owners is born of the love we hold for them, which, like the love of a child, runs deep. No parent should have to bury a child, they say, but that is what we dog owners must do, not once, but time after time, throughout our lives. While we remain unchangeable to their sweet eyes, they run from birth to the grave in an instant of our own measure. They burn like kindling, and though we know we can never replace one dog with another, we keep trying, in hopes of reviving hints of some great dog gone by. No; they are not children we bury. But dogs like Lou come close. They come very, very close."

Lou was a dog in a million. In June you'll read why.