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Author of THE DIVINITY OF DOGS & GOD STORIES
Journalist/TV Producer/Dog Lover

Thank you, friends, for taking The Divinity of Dogs to the top of six Amazon bestseller lists in the past month! I'm extremely grateful for your fantastic 5-star reviews!

The Divinity of Dogs is a book where people describe the moment they learned something spiritually profound about life from an experience with a dog. It's also a memoir. According to reviews, reading this book is like taking a journey. Expect to laugh, prepare to cry (tears of joy.) The Divinity of Dogs includes stories where love, tolerance, comfort, compassion, loyalty, joyfulness, and even death, have provided inspirational lessons about life.

Here are a couple of my favorite reviews:

"Reader advisory: Must be read with tissues! The Divinity of Dogs captures the unconditional love and loyalty of dogs and delivers it with one big wet kiss." Carole Tomko, President of MyDiscovery


"Five stars and two paws up!" Koko, star of the movie RED DOG

"Do yourself a favor, read this book, adopt a dog, and join the rest of us who know the secret of a happy life." Karen Rhodes, President, Dogs' Refuge Home

"I loved this book. It's a powerful page-turner!" Debi Boies, Co-founder of Pilots N Paws.


"Every dog I've had the privilege of knowing has imparted some special lesson, insight or transcendent gift to me. It's what they do... Wonderful stories." Francis Battista, Co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society

From The Divinity of Dogs: "As much as we look up at the stars and know there is more than life on earth, the divinity of dogs is just as unexplainable and profound. They may be the purest example of divine love in an earthly soul many of us ever experience. If we take their lead, open our hearts and embrace their love, we may just find our own journey a lot more enlightening." Jennifer Skiff

From God Stories: "As you turn the pages in this book a chill may overwhelm you, your eyes may fill with tears and the hairs on your arms may suddenly stand as the answers to the questions you've always wanted to know become apparent." Jennifer Skiff

skiff

Jennifer Skiff is an award-winning television producer, journalist and author. Her #1 Inspirational bestseller, God Stories: Inspiring Encounters with the Divine is published in seven languages. Her next book, The Divinity of Dogs hits bookstores in October.

For more than a decade Jennifer traveled the world working as an investigative environmental correspondent for CNN. Her programs promoting animal welfare have aired on The Discovery Channel and networks globally. Among other honors, she’s received the prized Environmental Media Award.

Passionate about animals and their welfare, Jennifer works with charities throughout the world to bring relief to abused and abandoned animals. She is a Trustee of the Dogs’ Refuge Home in Australia and is a Director of the SPCAHC and Pilots N Paws in the United States.

With her favorite Aussie and beloved dogs, Jennifer spends her life in perpetual summer between Maine and Australia.


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The Divinity of Dogs Music CD

To celebrate the release of the book, The Divinity of Dogs, Atlanta musician and composer George Skaroulis has worked with author Jennifer Skiff to create the music CD: The Divinity of Dogs: Music to Calm Dogs and the People Who Love

Them. The duo produced the CD using the latest auditory and acoustical research into the positive effects certain music has on the canine spirit.

Available on Amazon and iTunes

Amazon
iTunes

"When I read research proving certain types of music has a calming effect on the auditory senses of dogs I knew I wanted to create this CD with George," explains Skiff. She is referring to one of two research studies finding that dogs
in a crowded animal shelter became calm when listening to classical pieces by one instrument with slow tempos. When the researchers played music by heavy metal bands, the dogs became agitated and barked. A second study showed similar findings on family dogs in the home environment.

George Skaroulis, who holds the title of official musician of the Atlanta Humane Society has produced 13 other CDs, popular with spas, massage therapists and healers. He and Skiff collaborated on the beautiful soundtrack that complements Skiff's book, The Divinity of Dogs.


doghoney Studio Photo courtesy of Alex Cearns, Houndstooth Studio

Passionate about animals and their welfare, Jennifer works with charities throughout the world to bring relief to abused and abandoned animals. She led the successful campaign to build the first bear sanctuary in the country of Laos, is a Trustee of the Dogs' Refuge Home in Australia and is a Director of the SPCAHC and Pilots N Paws in the United States.


Excerpt from the acknowledgments in The Divinity of Dogs: "My sun shines when I'm around animals and the people dedicated to helping them. I'm grateful to everyone who rescues and whose hearts are filled with empathy for others. In my lifetime I've been involved with organizations whose members have become family. I love this family and admire and respect all its warriors. If there's a storm that rages inside me, it's due to the fact that we have to battle the limitless greed that motivates some to abuse and exploit animals. Unless we join forces against puppy factories/mills, our work will never end. When you buy a dog and cannot physically see where it came from or meet its parents, there's a very good chance you have just paid someone to abuse another dog. Caged like factory hens and often diseased, matted, and malnourished, these dogs are purposely hidden away, so people can't see how they're treated. Unless we work on laws that put an end to puppy factories and do not participate in buying dogs that come from these people, the horrific abuses will continue. Please join in the effort to end the cycle. I thank all of you who are already doing your part and share your pain." Jennifer Skiff.

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From the introduction: “I believe life is a journey and that we’re here to learn and grow spiritually. I also believe dogs are a gift from the Divine sent here to help us on our way. The Divinity of Dogs is about people’s moments of enlightenment with dogs. It includes stories where love, tolerance, comfort, compassion, loyalty, joyfulness, and even death have provided inspirational lessons about life from experiences with dogs.

Whether you believe dogs are divine or a gift from the Divine, The Divinity of Dogs gives you permission to accept what you know: dogs provide us with a clear example of all that is good. They are healers, educators, protectors, and tangible examples of divine love. For those of you who agree with this philosophy this book confirms all we know and puts an exclamation point on it!

My dogs have been the reason I have woken up every single day of my life with a smile on my face. They have protected me from mean people and have given me insight into potential partners. They have been my children and my parents. They have loved me the most. I am among the ranks of millions of people who appreciate the souls of dogs and know they are a gift of pure love and an example of all that is good. More than anything, they have taught me how to be a better person. I’m not alone. The world is filled with people who have reached the same conclusion and are happy to share why.


• Scott Thornsley thought his life was over. He lost his job of 19 years, and his wife left him. He felt no one loved or wanted him. He decided to kill himself. At the very moment he chose to act on his decision, his Rottweiller Emma ran into the room, grabbed his hand ferociously, and pulled him to the front door. What happened next, in the darkest moment of his life, saved him.

• Joy Peterkin lost her home and belongings in Hurricane Katrina – but she still had her Chihuahua, Little Bit. Just as Joy was finding some normalcy in her life, Little Bit began persistently nudging a spot on her breast. In this book, we find out what Little Bit knew that doctors didn’t.

• Mazie the Lab was on death row at a shelter. She was rescued by a prison canine training program and then by a service dog charity. Freda Powell was in her own battle with life. She had challenged autistic twin boys and was trying to survive the loss of her oldest son in a heartbreaking tragedy. The last thing Freda wanted was a dog until Mazie came and rescued her entire family.

• Alyssa Denis was in her early 20’s when she was diagnosed with Severe Systemic Lupus. She was a shut-in, confined to her bed, in pain and living alone. Doctors told her she wouldn’t live past the age of 25. That’s when she applied for a service dog. In this book you learn how Luna the Labrador gave Alyssa a reason to get up and live the life she was told she’d never have.

• In 1956 and 1957, a number of teenagers in Chicago were brutally murdered by a suspected serial killer. Gloria Wardrum was 19 and worked during the day. The only time she could walk her always-friendly Airedale Terrier Ginger was in the evening. One afternoon, at dusk, while playing with Ginger in a park, Gloria fell asleep against a tree. She abruptly awoke to Ginger’s fierce growls as the dog tugged at her leash, trying to get to a man who was approaching. The man was twisting a rope between his hands as he got closer. What happened next proved to Gloria the divinity of dogs.

As much as we look up at the stars and know there is more than life on earth, the divinity of dogs is just as unexplainable and profound. They may be the purest example of divine love in an earthly soul many of us ever experience. If we take their lead, open our hearts and embrace their love, we may just find our own journey a lot more enlightening.”  Jennifer Skiff


Reviews:

"Reader advisory: Must be read with tissues! You don't have to be a pet lover to fall in love with these stories. The Divinity of Dogs captures the unconditional love and loyalty of dogs and delivers it with one big wet kiss." —Carole Tomko, President of MyDiscovery

"The Divinity of Dogs is a fascinating read - bringing to life the very special, sometimes incredible, aspects of dogs, with whom we have the privilege to share our lives." —Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer of Dogs Trust-A Dog Is For Life

“Every dog I’ve had the privilege of knowing has imparted some special lesson, insight or transcendent gift to me. It’s what they do. The Divinity of Dogs captures the essence of dogs and their many gifts to humankind. Wonderful stories.” —Francis Battista, Co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society

“This wonderful book is a treasure trove of fascinating stories that will entertain, inspire, enlighten, and amaze you. Soul-enriching.” —Lewis Regenstein, President of the Interfaith Council for the Protection of Animals and Nature

god stories

God Stories is a #1 Inspirational and #1 Spiritual Amazon bestseller and has been on the bestseller list for 150+ weeks.

From the Introduction: “Does God exist? Why am I here? Is there more? These questions nag at us incessantly throughout our lives. But the answers are forever elusive, always just out of reach. Today we are fact-driven people: we need evidence before we form opinions and often dismiss events that can’t be logically explained. Yet we desperately want the security that comes with having a certain future. The search for these answers has divided people into two camps; those who look for solace in organized religion and its promise of an afterlife and those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious: they believe their souls are going somewhere but they’re just not sure exactly where. Regardless of what camp you’re in, we all want the same thing. We want confirmation that what we believe is true. We want proof of modern day encounters with the Divine.

 "As you turn the pages in this book a chill may overwhelm you, your eyes may fill with tears and the hairs on your arms may suddenly stand as the answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to know become apparent.” Jennifer Skiff


Reviews:

• “This book is a perfect way to explore and discuss your own relationship with the spiritual.” -Redbook (Book Club pick)

• "God Stories is the most uplifting and inspiring book I've read this year!" -
Dr. Bob Hieronimus, Radio Talk Show Host



• My eyes filled with tears and my heart lifted as I read God Stories. Jennifer Skiff has presented us with a wide range of heavenly touches, everything from quiet hugs to stunning out-of-body experiences, and readers of all faiths will be moved. As the praise song goes, ‘Our God is an awesome God!’ Each page of this beautiful book attests to that.”
 -Joan Wester Anderson, author of Where Angels Walk and Angels and Wonders.

• God Stories are the stuff of life and living. Reading this book is a touching and soul penetrating experience. -Mark Victor Hansen
, Co-creator, #1 New York Times best selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul ® 
Co-author, Cracking the Millionaire Code and The One Minute Millionaire.

• "Simple, honest and direct, each of these stories tells of its own 
small miracle - rainbows do actually happen. We all have a God Story 
tucked away in our hearts. I do too, and so will you. I have to admit 
it made me cry - and I don't cry easily."
 -Elisabeth Luard, author of Family Life, Still Life, and 
My Life as a Wife: Love, Liquor and What to Do About the Other Women.

• God Stories arrives at a perfect time. With each of us struggling to find our personal missions and how to manage the madness of everyday life, this book reminds us that clues, signs, and moments can be found everyday showing us that God is here." 
-Carole Tomko, 
Executive Vice President 
Discovery Networks.

• "Skiff has gathered a bouquet of inspiring stories written in plain 
English. This book is for the believer and non-believer alike. " -Julia Cameron, bestselling author of The Artist's Way"

• God Stories: Inspiring Encounters with the Divine Edited by Jennifer 
Skiff. Harmony, $21.95 (288p) ISBN 978-0-307-38268-9
Skiff, an award-winning investigative journalist and correspondent for 
CNN, compiles an inspiring if uneven assortment of real-life accounts 
of meeting with the divine. Whether readers are actively religious or 
die-hard skeptics, the stories recounted will reaffirm God's existence 
and intervention in human affairs. Skiff draws upon such themes as 
listening to God's voice, answers to prayer, healing and confirmation 
of an afterlife. While less spiritually inclined readers may find some 
stories more attributable to coincidence than divine intervention, 
other tales are beyond rational explanation. In one account, a woman 
who had irreparable brain and organ damage was completely healed and 
discharged from the hospital after prayer. A man felt an urgent 
caution against taking an airline flight on which nine people were 
subsequently killed. In a similar tale of miraculous warnings about 
danger, a woman heard an audible voice tell her to stop right before 
she stepped in front of a seven-foot Australian snake's mouth. 
Mysterious and faith-inspiring, these stories are valuable even if 
some don't conform to readers' particular religious beliefs. (Nov. 11)
.Publisher's Weekly Review

These magazines and The Today Show recommend God Stories.

coverallyou  NatureHealthCover ReadersDigest Redbook SeleccionesFinalist StickerToday

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Would you like Ms. Skiff to attend your book club discussion on The Divinity of Dogs? Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and tell her why you'd like the author to attend. Your request will be included in a monthly drawing. If you're the winner, Ms. Skiff will attend your book club via Skype. Thank you for reading The Divinity of Dogs!

 

god stories

About This Guide

In our fast-paced heedless modern world, more and more people are searching for a sign that God exists and that their lives are part of a larger plan. Many spend their whole lives looking for confirmation. But some have experienced that “Ah-ha!” moment – an encounter so profound that it affirmed their belief in a higher power. When Jennifer Skiff received a devastating diagnosis, she was buoyed by the outpouring of love and support from her family and friends. Then in a miraculous turn of events, her tumor went from malignant to benign. For Skiff, that moment confirmed that God is present in our daily lives and led her to compile the stories of other miracle-like encounters found here. Inspirational and heartwarming, God Stories reaches across cultural, geographical and religious lines and will appeal to readers of all faiths.


1. The people who contributed to God Stories come from various walks of life, including a Hollywood actress, a politician, a window washer and a waitress. Why do you think editor Jennifer Skiff chose to represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds?

2. In the introduction, Skiff states, “Today we are a fact-driven people: we need evidence before we form opinions and often dismiss events that can’t be logically explained” [p. 1]. Do you agree with her? In modern society, are we too focused on rational explanations? Or are there times when we are too quick to assign divine intervention to an outcome?

3. What are your spiritual beliefs? Do you or did you practice religion? What role does faith lay in your life?

4. Which stories did you find most compelling and why?

5. When Charles Dixon tests God and finds coins on the ground as he’s walking [p. 100], his mother says somebody probably lost the change through a hole in his pocket. What is the difference between coincidence and divine encounter? Is faith a matter of perception? Can they both be right?

6. Many of the stories contain similar themes. For example, Barbara Eikhost [p. 12], Michelle Biagi [p. 30], and Julia Bonadonna Dziewisz [p. 228] all saw rainbows after loved ones died. Do you find it significant that multiple people have experienced the same phenomenon? Why do you think Skiff included three stories about rainbows instead of just one? What effect did that have?

7. Bruce Bramhill changed his flight based on a last-minute premonition and later learned his original flight was involved in an accident [p. 159]. Do you listen to your intuition? Have you ever changed your plans as a result?

8. Francine Williams had a dream that she believes kept her children from a terrible accident [p. 164]. Can dreams reveal the future? Have you ever had a dream that later came true?

9. Teresa Paradis recounts the reaction of three horses at the moment that their owner died [p. 230]. If you have pets or have worked with animals, did this surprise you? Do you think animals have a sixth sense?

10. Perhaps the most shocking story is Shirley Blake’s account of being raped [p. 44]. How does she ultimately view the attack and how did her religious faith help her through this ordeal?

11. Do all of the stories rise to the level of a miracle-like encounter? Which ones struck you as miraculous and did those stories share any elements in common?

12. Not all of the stories involve extreme circumstances. Some are about everyday affairs, like needing a broom or the outcome of a football game. Do you believe we can have ordinary encounters with God? Is a divine presence at work in all outcomes, not matter how great or small?

13. Maggie Geene recounts years where her prayers seemed “dry and artificial” [p. 80]. How do you define prayer? Is it more than a wish or request? Do you see prayer as a form of meditation and does it take practice? Why are some prayers answered and others not?

14. In the final section of the book, several contributors relate near-death experiences that include seeing a white light and traveling through a tunnel. What was your reaction? Do you find the uniformity of these out-of-body experiences comforting?

15. Do you have a God Story? Have you ever told yours to anyone? If not, why? Does this book inspire you to share your story?


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Please direct press, bookstore, book appearance and lecture/event requests to Kate Hamilton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Books by Jennifer Skiff are available at local bookstores, and online throughout the world.

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Dog Story Form
Do you have a story where you learned something profound about life from an experience with a dog? We'd like to hear it! Please submit your story here for consideration in future Jennifer Skiff publications.
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RE: The Divinity of Dogs by Jennifer Skiff (the "Book") For valuable consideration, hereby acknowledged, I hereby authorize Jennifer Skiff, Atria Publishing Group, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and their licensees, successors and assigns, to use and publish my name, likeness, photographs of me, information and quotations from and about me (with possible editorial changes) and any copyrighted materials provided to you by me, including photographs and unpublished letters, in the above-captioned Book, in all editions, derivations and subsidiary uses of the Book in all forms and mediums whether now known or hereinafter devised, and in the advertising and promotion thereof, in all languages throughout the world and on this website and in the social media.
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RE: God Stories:Inspiring Encounters with the Divine by Jennifer Skiff (the "Book") For valuable consideration, hereby acknowledged, I hereby authorize Jennifer Skiff, Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., and their licensees, successors and assigns, to use and publish my name, likeness, photographs of me, information and quotations from and about me (with possible editorial changes) and any copyrighted materials provided to you by me, including photographs and unpublished letters, in the above-captioned Book, in all editions, derivations and subsidiary uses of the Book in all forms and mediums whether now known or hereinafter devised, and in the advertising and promotion thereof, in all languages throughout the world and on this website and in the social media.
I waive any right to inspect the Book. I further waive any claims that I may have against Jennifer Skiff, Crown Publishing Group, and their licensees, successors and assigns, based upon the above use or uses, including without limitation any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, libel and copyright infringement.
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