Say the name Dean Koontz and it is understandable if you shudder involuntarily. After all, it is strongly recommended to read many of his books with the lights on - unless you enjoyed being spooked. Here's one exception - his latest release: “Bliss to You: Trixie’s Guide to a Happy Life.” Actually the real author is Trixie, the beloved Golden Retriever who died last year. She relies on Dean to “tell” us two-leggers about the eight steps to true bliss.

Dean readily tells people that Trixie made him a better person. Trixie was in training to be a service dog at the Canine Companions for Independence. She was released from service after needing elbow surgery and landed a wonderful home and life with Dean and his wife, Gerda, ardent supporters of CCI. Dean appeared at the CCI center in Oceanside, CA yesterday to give a talk about Trixie and to sign copies of this latest book in which all proceeds are donated to CCI. Hundreds of fans of Dean and CCI patiently stood in line for more than 3 hours to have their copies of his books personalized.

I was among them. When you stand in line, you get to know the people around you. I was fortunate to meet Teri McCartney, who has volunteered to raise six CCI puppies. She and another CCI volunteer named Lynn introduced me to Amya, a 1-year-old Golden retriever now in training. Standing in line with a sweet dog always makes the time go by much more happily.

More than three hours later, I finally meet Dean who shows no signs of impatience or fatigue in penning his message and name on countless books. I gave him a signed copy of my latest book, “Happy Dog, Happy You.” He loved the cover design and the book’s message - offering fun, low-cost, time-saving ways to bring out the best in people and pets. Dean’s writing career is off the charts. He has sold more than 375 million books with 24 titles earning #1 New York Times bestseller status. I’m not in his league, but he made me feel welcomed and happily posed for a few photos of us showcasing our latest books. I invite you to learn more about CCI by visiting their website: www.cci.org And, catch the latest news on Dean by visiting his website: www.deankoontz.com Trixie was a lucky dog to land a life with Dean and Dean knows he was blessed to share his life with this still-giving canine.