Seasoned writers have been known to blithely observe that the craft can be a lonely chore.
Will Rogers Middle School eighth-grader Karley Cable is now among those ranks.
“All I did the last summer was go to my room and my computer and write, write, write,” says the plucky and recently self-published author.
The efforts produced “Raisin, A Doggie’s Tale: The Story of How I Went From Dumb-Dog to Tail-Waggin’ Tutor.”
The book is based on Cable’s real life experiences training her dog Raisin, which the family adopted through Pugs And Pals. It’s a pug dog rescue organization, and the book is meant to help children who have a hard time learning how to read.
Cable is donating much of the book’s net profits to Pugs And Pals. Some of the funds will also go to Long Beach resident and community activist Justin Rudd’s efforts for animals.
Cable, who has turned 13 since her summer of writing the book, said the experience of creating it and now sharing the book with others has been its own reward. Cable said she is hopeful it can help raise awareness of kids who struggle with reading and raise some money for man’s four-legged best friends.
To that end, Karley, her mom Katy, and of course, Raisin, will sell “Paw-tographing” copies of the book from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5 at Polly’s Gourmet Coffee Shop in their Belmont Shore neighborhood. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 they will be at Fremont Elementary School, 4000 E. Fourth St., in Long Beach’s Holiday Market.
The Cables and Raisin are also visiting local schools to promote the book and sharing the writing of it with students in the classroom. She said she hopes people will read her story and consider getting a pet from a shelter or rescue organization rather than making one stop at a pet shop.
The book is 52 pages long and includes dozens of Karley’s photographs—mostly of Raisin, as the dog meanders through his path toward his destiny of becoming a teacher to others. It is available for $12.99 on AMAZON.COM or directly from the publisher at: http://www.createspace.com/3469234.
While Karley seems to have harnessed a bit of recognition from her first book, she is somewhat used to it. In addition to writing, Karley is also an actress and model. Her mother Katy relates that Karley has been in many commercials and has appeared in some Hollywood movies.
“She has been acting since she was born,” said her mother Katy, who grew up in Rossmoor.
She has been on the TV shows “Arrested Development,” “Eight Simple Rules,” and many commercials.
However, her mom said that Karley has cut down on the acting as her school class load has increased and she tired of the long drives to auditions.
In addition to her print and film work, Karley has also been drawn to the stage and has been in Musical Theater West productions.
Despite of, or perhaps because of the many projects she seems to juggle, Karley Cable has been an honor student at her school. She said her grades are good, but she does admit to struggle with one subject.
“I do have a hard time with math,” she said. “Everything else is great.”
