In Herriot's Shadow by Bill Stork
Intending to tell stories about dogs, cats, cows, sunrises, sunsets and music, a small town veterinarian, raised by a git 'er done dad and a pathologically kind stay-at-home mom, wrote a book about humanity. In Herriot's Shadow is a celebration of chivalry in a grocery store parking lot, generosity in a farm field, and gratitude in two packs of sandwich cookies. Dr. Bill Stork has fully evolved the notion that a person who is kind to animals is inherently good, often in the face of public perception to the contrary. Working alongside men and women whose physical strength is dwarfed by their superhuman depth of character and family values, he has felt the anguish of a corn crop spiking, turning brown and begging for a drop of water, and shared the unbridled exuberance when the million dollar rain came just in time. Embracing the notion that the human-animal bond applies to all creatures, great and small, Dr. Stork was centered and rededicated in his profession by a 70-year-old farmer openly weeping and hugging a 21-year-old cow named Iris as the sun rose on her last day. Shed a tear for a dog called Buck, hold your belly from laughing as Dr. Stork survives Jack going for his jugular, ponder how Pumpkin developed her outer rind, and make the acquaintance of the Amazing Dick Bass - In Herriot's Shadow weaves together stories about B.B. King, temperamental cows, biking through Texas, therapy cats and life-saving dogs.
Dr. Stork is a cradle flatlander from central Illinois. He was raised around a dinner table under a starving-artist rendition of The Last Supper. His mom was an incurably kind, comfort food gourmet. Dad was a git-'er-done construction worker, welder, and shade-tree mechanic. There was always an extra place at the dinner table for a neighbor with a trailer hitch or a carburetor to rebuild. A veterinarian by trade and a keen observer of the American experience, Dr. Bill Stork has an innate ability to see the best in people and appreciate the simple pleasures of a life well lived. Stepping from Herriot's Shadow is his second book. His first, In Herriot's Shadow, was published in 2014. In his books, Stork delivers powerful accounts of people, places, and things that many others would allow to go unnoticed. His stories are not those of politicians or titans of industry, but rather of ordinary folk who are not so ordinary upon closer inspection. Stork's father said he never learned a thing with his mouth open. That friendly curiosity has been passed on to the son. At various points in his life he's answered to Bill, Billy, Bill Bill, Little Bill, Willie, The Hick, Daddy, The Professor, Dr. Bill, Dr. Stork, and still does to this day. This book would not exist without Mittsy Voiles, Glenn Fuller, Robb Grindstaff, and many he's encountered throughout his journeys. Since writing his first book, Stork has been humbled and honored to meet his readers at local bookstores, pet wellness expos, and winter festivals where he signs and sells books. Each has story of their own to share and Stork is always more than happy to listen. The author says he's been buoyed and encouraged by critics, some complimentary, some not so much. As a result, his appreciation for those who bank their existence on their artistry and craft has risen exponentially from its already sky high levels. A 1992 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Stork currently lives in Cambridge, Wisconsin, and is the owner-operator of the Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. When not writing or wrangling animals, he can be found engaged in multi-day bicycling tours, tracing the roots of American music through the Deep South, searching for the perfect piece of beef brisket, or simply having a pint at the local brewery. Like a fine bourbon, his stories are immediately entertaining, but even more enjoyable upon reflection.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780989978446 |
| ISBN 10 | 0989978443 |
| Title | In Herriot's Shadow |
| Author | Bill Stork |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Little Creek Press |
| Year published | 2014-09-26 |
| Number of pages | 264 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |