About the Author

Jake the Yellow-Lab-sort-of-dog and Maria Goodavage have traveled throughout the state to check out some of the most dog-friendly parks, beaches, lodgings, and restaurants in the world. As part of their research, they’ve ridden on ferries, horse-drawn carriages, cable cars, gondolas, and steam trains. They’ve visited chichi art galleries, dumpy drive-in movies, kitschy tourist attractions, dog-friendly wineries, high-end stores, ski resorts, major-league ballgames, and even had high tea together. They’ve eaten at restaurants where dogs are treated almost like people (except they never get the bill). They’ve stayed at the best hotels, the worst flea-bitten motels, and everything in between. Jake’s favorite saying: “You’re not really gonna leave the house without me, are ya?” (This is usually accompanied by all his extra folds of neck skin drooping forward into his face, his floppy ears hanging especially low, his tail sagging dejectedly, and his big seal-like eyes looking wet and wide and oh-so-woeful.)

Since Jake still doesn’t have a driver’s license after all these years, he relies on Maria, former longtime USA Today correspondent, to be his chauffeur. Maria is well qualified—she started chauffeuring dogs many years ago, when her intrepid Airedale, Joe, joined her during some of her travels for USA Today. With all of their experiences on the road, it was only a matter of time before a book was born, followed by a series of books. Both The Dog Lover's Companion to California and The Dog Lover's Companion to the Bay Area are now in their seventh editions.

The guidebooks are far from Maria’s only dog-writing gig. Maria is editor and featured writer at a very popular blog at Dogster.com. (Come visit!)

Maria is currently immersed in another very exciting dog-related project: She is researching and writing the book, Soldier Dogs. The book, to be published by Dutton Penguin in March 2012, will be a riveting inside look at the fascinating world of war dogs in today’s high-tech military operations at a time when interest in their work has never been greater. The book will be full of true stories of the extraordinary courage of dogs under fire, and the soldiers who share their fate. But it's not just a book of stories; It's a look at every facet of the dogs, from how they're selected as pups to how they come to bond with their handlers to their deployment to what happens if they make it to retirement.

Back to the star of the show:

Jake lives near the beach in San Francisco with Maria, her husband, and their daughter. He encourages his fans to write to him, care of Maria (who won’t let him online anymore—long story), and tell him about new dog-friendly places he should sniff out for the book’s next edition.

About the Illustrator

Cartoonist Phil Frank's daily cartoon strip Farley kept a finger on the pulse of the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 21 years, ever since Phil decided to move the strip from national syndication to focus his considerable talents on issues closer to home. The strip was dearly loved and followed daily by a local cadre of fans. Indeed, Farley became one of San Francisco's most recognized and reliable landmarks. In 2004, Phil started a nationally syndicated strip with writer Joe Troise called Elderberries, which turned a humorous eye to the issues of aging in America.

Phil passed away in September of 2007. Besides being a top-notch illustrator, Phil was one of the kindest, most humble, most decent human beings you’d ever meet. He is greatly missed by everyone whose lives he touched.