I am a fiction writer trying to learn how to write memoir, in small manageable bites. My dog, Cricket, is small and she bites, so I thought she could help.
Cricket is a fourteen pound Cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle mix), born on July 13th 2007. She has a strong grasp of the english language, when she wants to. But, most important, she is my social bridge. In the real world, she drags me outside to meet my neighbors, and random strangers with dogs who smell interesting. I’m hoping she can act as my social bridge online, as well, despite the lack of obvious smell.
update: We added Butterfly to the family on November 20th 2012. She was rescued from a puppy mill at eight years old and has added years to the life of this blog.
Butterfly before her bath
update: Miss Butterfly died at age 12 and 3/4, after almost five years of wonderfulness. It took us a year to find a new dog to keep Cricket company, but I’m pretty sure Butterfly found Ellie for us. Ellie came to us in July of 2018, a five year old Havanese, recently retired from a breeder.
I recently self published my first novel, Yeshiva Girl, with Amazon. Please check it out!
You can reach me at: cricketpages@earthlink.net
rachelmankowitz 
חַג כָּשֵׁר וְשָׂמֵחַ
Rachel! Thanks for visiting my blog tonight, it made me feel very warm inside to “meet” you on that occasion… and now to be the comment #1,000 on this page, makes me feel even more special! ❤
Thank you so much! Chag Kosher v’sameach to you too!
Hi Rachel, thanks for visiting our blog lambiestravels.com
Hi Rachel, thank you for visiting and liking my blog. I really appreciate that.
Sincerely,
ayetonia.com
Thank you for visiting my blog, doggedhope.com and for liking my post. I look forward to reading more from you!
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Hi Rachel. I’ve nominated The Cricket Pages for The One Lovely Blog Award. Of course participation is optional but if you are interested you can get more information here on my recent post: https://goldenkali.com/2017/08/08/one-lovely-blog-award/
– Take care,
Mike and Kali
Nice Website.
Thank you.
Attractive and Beautiful Blog.
Thank you!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I appreciate it 🙂
Thank you for liking my post Mafaldina Pasta in Basils and Pistachio Sauce. I’m also a fur mom, my Greta is my biggest fan and my worst critics. 😉 Have a good week ahead.
Pleased to meet you!
https://jannat007.wordpress.com
Hi! Rachel, thanks a ton for visiting and liking my blog at http://www.garlicandonions.in. Your dog is too cute :* .
Love from India 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Rachel, thanks for visiting and liking my posts on https://monkey-bites.com! Your support is much appreciated and I’m now working my way through your archives. I write fiction as well, but my inner editor is strong and usually thwarts my creative process, arg. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Give that inner editor some chocolate to keep it busy and keep going!
Hey Rachel and of course Cricket – would you like to pawticipate in one of my K9 Questionnaires?
Scrappy Doodlepip 🙂
I’ll have to think about it. But thank you for think of us.
As you so wish Rachel 🙂
Hi Rachel! Thank you so much for stopping by and checking my blog. Your furry babies are adorable. I have three of my own (2 black pugs and 1 daschund terrier) they bring so much joy to my heart.
Hello! Hope this finds you well! Hope you know that I came across your work today and I hope you keep writing and sharing your words with the world! Hope your 2018 has been great! What made you want to share your work?
Thank you! I love writing and I love hearing from readers.
congratulations to your writing and your photo…..
best regards
Thank you!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I love your dog stories. We have 2 Miniature Schnauzers who are crazy smart, who have learned our spelling code and just added pure joy to our lives. There’s nothing like them.
Pure joy sounds wonderful to me!
Such a warm blog, like a hearth! 🙂
Thank you!
Thanks for visiting my blog which inevitably led me to yours! Good luck with the memoir writing. Meditation/visualization seems to help restore memories. Kudos to you for rescuing a canine. Surely Butterfly will receive much love in Cricket’s and your care.
Thank you!
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Wow, what a lovely blog you have, Rachel.
So glad to have tumbled across it.
It’s blowing a hoolie out there, but cosy in here.
Thank you.
Thank you so much!
Hello Rachel from Minnesota! I love dogs (and cats) and writing, so your blog is especially appealing. I appreciate your advice to a writer, to just keep on going. I’m taking that to heart because in October 2018 I’ll put my cancer book up for reduced prices in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Then it’s back to finishing my first novel. Shalom.
Good luck with everything! And thank you for the visit!
You’re welcome, Rachel! Mazel Tov on your first book and getting it out to the world! I like the subject matter of your book so I just bought a copy; I’m hoping to dive into it soon. I’m so glad that you self published! Why? Because someone once told me something I will never forget, and it helped me to decide to self publish rather than go the traditional route. They said: “you don’t need a traditional publisher to tell you that you are a good writer or that you have a good book. If you believe in your heart that you have a good book, then put it out into the world (Amazon) so others can enjoy it, too.” To that I would add: you are a good writer. What do all the publishing companies know!The novel I am writing now will be done the same way, although while it’s out there to the public, I will also try to sell it to a publisher–just for fun and to see what will happen. Speaking of self publishing…I am happy to say that I am adding proofreading and line editing for authors. Not saying you will need it. If you have author friends that could use my fairly-price services, please pass on my name. I love proofing almost as much as I love writing. 🙂 A great big woof-woof to Butterfly, and I am so glad Cricket and you have another furry companion.
Thank you so much! I will definitely keep your editing services in mind for the next book!
I read with interest the posts that refer to your health problems, because I have some of the same ones. Have you been tested for anti-thyroid antibodies? Because you have psoriasis, you have at least one autoimmune disease, and autoimmune diseases tend to run in herds (so to speak). The thyroid disease you have may be Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis, and the vertigo may be due to autoimmmune inner ear disease (AIED). I have Hashimoto’s, AIED, and pernicious anemia (another autoimmune disease). I have symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome, too, but it hasn’t been officially diagnosed. My blog “Butterfly Be Free” (https://wp.me/p6ktGc-5) explores my life with autoimmune disorders. Perhaps you’ll find some interesting reading there. Best wishes!
That’s fascinating! Thank you for the link!
Thanks for liking my ‘blog. I have to admit I saw your title and thought it was going to be a sports page. Just as well I persisted, since I enjoyed reading about your trials getting a new driving license! Best!
Your pups are super adorable. I have a new addition and she too bites. Well at other dogs. I’m working on that with her. Her living situation was not ideal before she came to me. Isn’t it wonderful how much these furlings bring to our lives? Never a dull moment around here! Be well and see you on the blogsphere! Hugs! Koko
Thank you!
Hi Rachel, thank you for visiting and liking our blog. It gave us the chance to visit your more than interesting blog.Ciao from Italy !
Thank you!
Thank you for visiting and following my blog. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Thank you!
Hi Rachel- Thank you so much for liking my blog, and congratulations on publishing your book 🙂
Thank you!
Super cute doggie and congrats on your book! Thanks for visiting and liking my blog.
Thank you!
Hi, Thanks very much for the like on my blog. Happy 2019.
For such a shy person, you seem to get book promotion! I like your sense of humor, I’m intrigued by your dog love and I want to know how one gets Amazon to publish a book. Is that an agent-free situation? And thanks for the like on Flag Girl, Part II. Hope you check out the final part next week. (Freak Flag Girl.)
Amazon has a free self publishing program called kindle direct publishing, I think. You upload your manuscript and create your cover and they lead you through the process. It’s a little bit overwhelming but it’s an amazing opportunity. Good luck to you!
We have followed each other’s blogs for a while now but only recently did I read your book and I have to tell you how much I loved it! While I’m an avid reader, I admit that I’m an amateur book reviewer, but that didn’t stop me from leaving what I hope was a positive review on Amazon. The Yeshiva Girl is an incredible story and I’ve already recommended it to numerous friends. All my best to you!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked the book!
Very lovely dogs. Thank you.
Thank you!
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for visiting and liking my blog. I was pleasantly surprised by that.
Appreciate it!
Jasdeep Kaur
Rachel – Thank you for taking the time to read & like my blog. It’s fun to learn that people I’m not related to might be interested in my writing – especially another dog-lover! Lisa
Congrats on passing your exam. Also, happy Passover. Thanks for liking my recipes. I read some of your post, And I too went to diet camp in the 1950s, in the later years. I think I saw someplace that you went, if i read it correctly?.
Good luck on your job search and with your book too! Your dog pictures are very sweet!
Thank you!
Rachel, I wanted to let you know I really enjoyed Yeshiva Girl, if ‘enjoyed’ is even the right word. I’ve put reviews on Amazon, Good Reads, and my book blog. Thanks for a great, thoughtful read that was both heart-breaking and hopeful.
Thank you so much!
Good luck with your novel and thank you for checking out my blog.
Thank you!
Hello Rachel. Just wanted to pop by and say thanks for stopping by. Your pooches are adorable! Have a lovely day. — Laureen
Thank you!
I just started reading your book. Though I’ve only just started….I am loving it.
Thank you so much!!!
Rachel, How wonderful you are! Your dogs are precious.I am so glad you found me so I could find you. Checking out Yeshiva Girl ASAP. Best, Beth
Thank you so much!
Thank you for liking 1 of my recipes please follow and I’ll be add alot more I have just started. Regards sara
What a great blog, Rachel! It’s inspiration for me.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad!
Greetings—So wonderful to meet you. I just purchased your book on Amazon. Look forward to reading your story. And, thanks in advance for sharing!
Thank you so much!!!!
Rachel, thanks for recently stopping by my blog at Life in the Slow Lane. Thanks for “liking” my review of Educated. I’m also hopeful you got a chance to look at some of the memoir writing resources I have listed on my blog. So nice to meet you!
Hi Rachel, again–I no longer write under scrap. My new blog is called I Can’t Believe I Did This! at https://icantbelieveididthis.blog/
Hi Rachel, thanks for liking my posts at Eye On Nature! I’m glad that at least some people are reading and liking it. ^_^
Hi Rachel,
We followed one another on WordPress, before I stopped blogging for health issues. It’s good to be able to continue following you by email. A big hello to your mom, and hugs to Cricket and Ellie. ❤
Mary (formerly weaving simplicity)
So good to hear from you!