| MEDIA RESOURCES |
| Author Kevin Brett |
About the Author:
Kevin Brett has been owned by Collies all his life. As a
young child, he was owned by a humongous mahogany
Collie named Macintosh. Later, in his teen years, he
was owned by a sable and white Collie, Piney Branch
Lindsay Lad. Currently he is owned by a tri-color,
Captain Jack.
Kevin is the President and CEO of Kevin Brett Studios,
Incorporated of Stafford, Virginia – a media and
entertainment company focused on family-oriented
books, and videos.
He is a certified martial arts instructor with twenty years
of martial arts training and teaching experience. Kevin
is also an experienced outdoorsman and survival
practitioner and seasoned enterprise architect and
author of critically acclaimed boo, The Way of the
Martial Artist: Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in
Life.
He was one of five co-founders of the United Karate
Institute of Self-Defense, Incorporated in Alexandria,
Virginia. He has taught martial arts and self-defense
combat classes to local law enforcement, military and
federal agents, focusing on realistic and practical
application of martial arts techniques.
He lives in Stafford, VA with his wife, three children and
their mischievous Collie, Captain Jack!
Kevin Brett has been owned by Collies all his life. As a
young child, he was owned by a humongous mahogany
Collie named Macintosh. Later, in his teen years, he
was owned by a sable and white Collie, Piney Branch
Lindsay Lad. Currently he is owned by a tri-color,
Captain Jack.
Kevin is the President and CEO of Kevin Brett Studios,
Incorporated of Stafford, Virginia – a media and
entertainment company focused on family-oriented
books, and videos.
He is a certified martial arts instructor with twenty years
of martial arts training and teaching experience. Kevin
is also an experienced outdoorsman and survival
practitioner and seasoned enterprise architect and
author of critically acclaimed boo, The Way of the
Martial Artist: Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in
Life.
He was one of five co-founders of the United Karate
Institute of Self-Defense, Incorporated in Alexandria,
Virginia. He has taught martial arts and self-defense
combat classes to local law enforcement, military and
federal agents, focusing on realistic and practical
application of martial arts techniques.
He lives in Stafford, VA with his wife, three children and
their mischievous Collie, Captain Jack!
Contact Info:
Lana@KevinBrettStudios.com
703-314-8405 (mobile)
Kevin@KevinBrettStudios.com
540-845-4755 (mobile)
Lana@KevinBrettStudios.com
703-314-8405 (mobile)
Kevin@KevinBrettStudios.com
540-845-4755 (mobile)
Entertainment | Education | Family
$18.00
Paperback: 319 pages
ISBN-10: 098193501X
ISBN-13: 9780981935010
Library of Congress PCN:
2009909902
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7
inches
Author: Kevin Brett
Availability: Amazon.com
Paperback: 319 pages
ISBN-10: 098193501X
ISBN-13: 9780981935010
Library of Congress PCN:
2009909902
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7
inches
Author: Kevin Brett
Availability: Amazon.com
Jack: The Christmas Collie
A new Collie novel in the tradition of the Terhune Collie adventures
This Christmas, the Barnes family will receive a gift; a gift that will teach them about
life … about making sacrifices and about giving back. Kevin Brett recreates the child-
like enchantment and romance of the Collie stories of old with this delightful tale of a
family and their Collie. Jack's ancient wolf instincts serve him well, as he becomes the
perfect addition to the Barnes family. Jack rollicks and romps his way through the
Barnes's home and their lives, changing all of them in ways they had never expected.
In true Collie tradition, Jack saves the day numerous times and protects his new
family. This Christmas, discover the gift that each of us carries inside, as a family
learns that life is not as perfect as our dreams, but sometimes our dreams may come
true in ways we might not ever imagine.
Meet Jack: Experience the adventures of Jack, the beautiful tri-color Collie
Inimitable, lovable, heroic, mischievous, majestic; yes, the Collie is making a
comeback to the American landscape and pop culture. Christmas (2009), a new
generation of American children, adults and animal lovers of all ages will have the
opportunity to fall in love with the Collie all over again. Captain Jack is a tri-color
Collie with a penchant for mischief and more than a few lovable personality quirks.
“Jack: The Christmas Collie” is a new novel based on a true Collie. It is sure to
capture a whole new generation of Collie lovers with a fresh take on our favorite
breed of sheep dog.
A new Collie novel in the tradition of the Terhune Collie adventures
This Christmas, the Barnes family will receive a gift; a gift that will teach them about
life … about making sacrifices and about giving back. Kevin Brett recreates the child-
like enchantment and romance of the Collie stories of old with this delightful tale of a
family and their Collie. Jack's ancient wolf instincts serve him well, as he becomes the
perfect addition to the Barnes family. Jack rollicks and romps his way through the
Barnes's home and their lives, changing all of them in ways they had never expected.
In true Collie tradition, Jack saves the day numerous times and protects his new
family. This Christmas, discover the gift that each of us carries inside, as a family
learns that life is not as perfect as our dreams, but sometimes our dreams may come
true in ways we might not ever imagine.
Meet Jack: Experience the adventures of Jack, the beautiful tri-color Collie
Inimitable, lovable, heroic, mischievous, majestic; yes, the Collie is making a
comeback to the American landscape and pop culture. Christmas (2009), a new
generation of American children, adults and animal lovers of all ages will have the
opportunity to fall in love with the Collie all over again. Captain Jack is a tri-color
Collie with a penchant for mischief and more than a few lovable personality quirks.
“Jack: The Christmas Collie” is a new novel based on a true Collie. It is sure to
capture a whole new generation of Collie lovers with a fresh take on our favorite
breed of sheep dog.
Reader Reviews:
Great Family Read
“ …a wonderful story that parents can read to their children. They can
share in the heartwarming and hilarious moments of pet ownership. It's
also a story for anyone who has ever had a collie own them and
experienced the love, loyalty and companionship they bring to a family.
If you don't have a collie, this book will make you want one! Kevin Brett
wrote wonderful stories that you can picture in your mind as you read
each chapter. Make this a Christmas read for your family!”
Shari Parsons
Stafford, VA
-----------------------------------------
Best Collie novel in a long time! Couldn't put it down!
"The only negative thing I have to say about "Jack: The Christmas"
Collie is that it was over much too soon! What a captivating story.
Literally a page-turner. The more you read, the more you want to read.
The storyline and action accelerate as you go further into the book. I
love the way Mr. Brett seems to invite you into the Barnes family home;
get you to know and care about their three sweet kids, and of course,
Jack! This reads like one of the classic Collie novels like Lassie Come
Home or the stories by Albert Payson Terhune.
I think this is a great general dog, story, but it certainly brings in some
warm feelings about a family, Christmas and the holidays and the
importance of giving, forgiveness, sharing and caring. Some of the
antics of the children and their banter, sound like my kids today! What
a wonderful collection of themes and values for readers of all ages. I
would judge this book as appropriate reading for ages 12 and up. I
agree with the earlier reviewer that you can read this to your younger
children (ages 8-10) and they will still enjoy it. I especially liked how,
throughout the book, the author fills you in with various interested facts
and points about Collies and what makes this breed so unique. The
Prologue about how Collies came from Scotland and even the brief
historical narrative in the Prologue about how Scotland was formed
and how Collies descended from Wolves, sets the scene perfectly to
introduce this interesting dog.
I highly recommend this book for adults as well as middle-school age
and up. I certainly hope the author has a sequel or a series of these
planned. Lassie books are great, but Jack is a nice, fresh face and
certainly has a fun personality."
Michael Gillian
Pittsburgh, PA
Great Family Read
“ …a wonderful story that parents can read to their children. They can
share in the heartwarming and hilarious moments of pet ownership. It's
also a story for anyone who has ever had a collie own them and
experienced the love, loyalty and companionship they bring to a family.
If you don't have a collie, this book will make you want one! Kevin Brett
wrote wonderful stories that you can picture in your mind as you read
each chapter. Make this a Christmas read for your family!”
Shari Parsons
Stafford, VA
-----------------------------------------
Best Collie novel in a long time! Couldn't put it down!
"The only negative thing I have to say about "Jack: The Christmas"
Collie is that it was over much too soon! What a captivating story.
Literally a page-turner. The more you read, the more you want to read.
The storyline and action accelerate as you go further into the book. I
love the way Mr. Brett seems to invite you into the Barnes family home;
get you to know and care about their three sweet kids, and of course,
Jack! This reads like one of the classic Collie novels like Lassie Come
Home or the stories by Albert Payson Terhune.
I think this is a great general dog, story, but it certainly brings in some
warm feelings about a family, Christmas and the holidays and the
importance of giving, forgiveness, sharing and caring. Some of the
antics of the children and their banter, sound like my kids today! What
a wonderful collection of themes and values for readers of all ages. I
would judge this book as appropriate reading for ages 12 and up. I
agree with the earlier reviewer that you can read this to your younger
children (ages 8-10) and they will still enjoy it. I especially liked how,
throughout the book, the author fills you in with various interested facts
and points about Collies and what makes this breed so unique. The
Prologue about how Collies came from Scotland and even the brief
historical narrative in the Prologue about how Scotland was formed
and how Collies descended from Wolves, sets the scene perfectly to
introduce this interesting dog.
I highly recommend this book for adults as well as middle-school age
and up. I certainly hope the author has a sequel or a series of these
planned. Lassie books are great, but Jack is a nice, fresh face and
certainly has a fun personality."
Michael Gillian
Pittsburgh, PA
Sample Interview Questions:
Why did you write this book?
Like millions of adults and children over the years, I fell in love with Collies at an early
age. When I was about five, we had a mahogany Collie named Macintosh (after the
red apple) He was a wild one. We lived in a more rural area at the time, surrounded
by farms and Mac would run off sometimes for days at a time and chase rabbits and
other small game. He often got in trouble for chasing one neighbor's sheep and on
one occasion, came back with some buck shot in is back end. In my teen years, we
had Lad, whom my sister named after Lad from the Terhune novel Lad: A Dog. Now
we have Jack. But obviously Lassie and the Terhune books are what made many
people come to know and love this wonderful breed. As Jack grew and experienced
some of the things in his life, I realized that I felt like I was living in the middle a Collie
story. It didn't take much to put real-life on paper and create "Jack". I also felt that
since Terhune died in 1942 and Eric Knight (the creator of Lassie) died a few years
after that, there had really been no novels of that level for quite a while. Yes there
were Lassie movies and TV shows, but no full-length novels as in the past. So this is
my attempt to contribute to this wonderful classic genre.
What audience are you trying to reach?
Middle-school to adult. The thing that was always so enjoyable about these classic
dog stories is that they don't lose their appeal and they easily appeal to a family
audience.
What is the appeal of this book?
If you're a cat owner, it probably doesn't have any, but if you're a canine person,
then you're in. I think there is appeal on may levels; adults who are looking for a
story with a clean, almost small-town, family appeal will enjoy this. The fact that it is
based mostly on true events is certainly appealing - they always say truth is stranger
than fiction. For most of "Jack" it really didn't take much imagination. The old adage,
write what you know about, is definitely a good piece of advice. I think I have
achieved a degree of realism with some of the comical behavior in a few scenes with
the Barnes children and with the chapter where Jack goes on a backpacking trip with
the Boy Scouts. I think the reader is drawn in to the Barnes family. They have their
issues, but in an odd sort of way they are kind of a typical surban family.
I think readers will find that as the book progresses and Jack grows up, he has more
encounters and experiences that become more interesting as the story goes and the
book picks up its pace. All throughout the story I sprinkled tid-bits about the Collie
breed, their traits and qualities. I even start out the book with a fictional depiction of
the formation of Scotland some 300 million years ago. For that segment, I was
inspired by James Michener's Hawaii and his description of the formation of the
island chain. I continued with how the Collie breed descended from the wolves of
Scotland; including how they gained such a high degree of intelligence over other
breeds. These dogs truly are unique and unequaled in the canine world.
There is a lot of positive in the book. You see how a family learns the importance of
being thankful and finding reasons to be thankful - the cup is at least half full. I try to
focus on the importance of appreciating what gifts and blessing we all have, rather
than on being greedy little consumers who just can't consume things rapidly enough
to satisfy our thirst for more.
I emphasize the virtue of sacrifice and giving of yourself to help others, even if it is an
animal, but that's all I will say so I don't ruin it.
There is the message in the backpacking chapter about being prepared and how our
modern society has become too dependent upon modern infrastructure, services,
benefits and convenience. Most of us wouldn't last a day in the wilderness or other
challenging situation and many suffered greatly during events such as Katrina,
because, as a nation, we really don't emphasize enough, the importance of
emergency preparedness and self-reliance. Something we could all become better
at so that we can take care of ourselves and our families in an emergency. Maybe I
might inspire some to try to regain some of that stalwart self-reliance that the early
settlers had.
What do you want readers to get out of this story?
There are several messages, values and themes in "Jack". First, it's about the love
and loyalty that a dog brings to a family. As the book says, "Dogs just help kids
grown up right". It's about making tough choices that involve sacrifice and looking at
sacrifice, not as a negative, but as a blessing and an opportunity to do something
good. I hope readers get a sense of history and wonder about the long, rich
heritage of this breed, and I hope to help revive the exciting and memorable tales of
these awesome and magnificent companions.
Is this just a Christmas story?
No, not at all. Not to give away too much, but the story begins and ends at Christmas
time, but the messages, values and themes are not limited to just one time of year.
It's a fun read in the middle of the Summer! That's when much of it takes place. It's
about life in-general and how things don't always work out as we imagine, but that's
ok and you have to able to adapt to the hand your dealt and not feel like you're a
victim, but grow from the experience.
Are Collies really all that different or smarter than other dogs?
Yes. I read a research study when I was doing research for this book that a
university developed a series of tests where they taught various words and
commands to a Collie to measure the intelligence. After a few months of training, the
dog had a 240 word vocabulary and could comprehend and execute three-part
commands and instructions consistently and willingly. Someday, I hope to get my kids
to that level (LOL!)
These dogs are incredibly easily trainable. They literally learn new commands and
tricks in a matter of minutes - very fast learners. Because of their high IQs, they use
their brains to invent a lot of trouble as well, so you have to be on your guard. Jack
is like my kids, intelligent, sweet, loyal and loving and not fully trained, so plenty of
parents can relate :)
If there was one message or principle you want readers to "get" from this,
what wold it be?
I hope that readers from middle-school to adult, might actually grow a little from
reading this and actually develop a sense of giving, sacrifice and service. If we all
give a little more in this life, we won't have quite so much time to focus on what it is
we want to take from this life.
Are there any sequels planned?
Yes, Jack is already off on some of his next adventures.
Why did you write this book?
Like millions of adults and children over the years, I fell in love with Collies at an early
age. When I was about five, we had a mahogany Collie named Macintosh (after the
red apple) He was a wild one. We lived in a more rural area at the time, surrounded
by farms and Mac would run off sometimes for days at a time and chase rabbits and
other small game. He often got in trouble for chasing one neighbor's sheep and on
one occasion, came back with some buck shot in is back end. In my teen years, we
had Lad, whom my sister named after Lad from the Terhune novel Lad: A Dog. Now
we have Jack. But obviously Lassie and the Terhune books are what made many
people come to know and love this wonderful breed. As Jack grew and experienced
some of the things in his life, I realized that I felt like I was living in the middle a Collie
story. It didn't take much to put real-life on paper and create "Jack". I also felt that
since Terhune died in 1942 and Eric Knight (the creator of Lassie) died a few years
after that, there had really been no novels of that level for quite a while. Yes there
were Lassie movies and TV shows, but no full-length novels as in the past. So this is
my attempt to contribute to this wonderful classic genre.
What audience are you trying to reach?
Middle-school to adult. The thing that was always so enjoyable about these classic
dog stories is that they don't lose their appeal and they easily appeal to a family
audience.
What is the appeal of this book?
If you're a cat owner, it probably doesn't have any, but if you're a canine person,
then you're in. I think there is appeal on may levels; adults who are looking for a
story with a clean, almost small-town, family appeal will enjoy this. The fact that it is
based mostly on true events is certainly appealing - they always say truth is stranger
than fiction. For most of "Jack" it really didn't take much imagination. The old adage,
write what you know about, is definitely a good piece of advice. I think I have
achieved a degree of realism with some of the comical behavior in a few scenes with
the Barnes children and with the chapter where Jack goes on a backpacking trip with
the Boy Scouts. I think the reader is drawn in to the Barnes family. They have their
issues, but in an odd sort of way they are kind of a typical surban family.
I think readers will find that as the book progresses and Jack grows up, he has more
encounters and experiences that become more interesting as the story goes and the
book picks up its pace. All throughout the story I sprinkled tid-bits about the Collie
breed, their traits and qualities. I even start out the book with a fictional depiction of
the formation of Scotland some 300 million years ago. For that segment, I was
inspired by James Michener's Hawaii and his description of the formation of the
island chain. I continued with how the Collie breed descended from the wolves of
Scotland; including how they gained such a high degree of intelligence over other
breeds. These dogs truly are unique and unequaled in the canine world.
There is a lot of positive in the book. You see how a family learns the importance of
being thankful and finding reasons to be thankful - the cup is at least half full. I try to
focus on the importance of appreciating what gifts and blessing we all have, rather
than on being greedy little consumers who just can't consume things rapidly enough
to satisfy our thirst for more.
I emphasize the virtue of sacrifice and giving of yourself to help others, even if it is an
animal, but that's all I will say so I don't ruin it.
There is the message in the backpacking chapter about being prepared and how our
modern society has become too dependent upon modern infrastructure, services,
benefits and convenience. Most of us wouldn't last a day in the wilderness or other
challenging situation and many suffered greatly during events such as Katrina,
because, as a nation, we really don't emphasize enough, the importance of
emergency preparedness and self-reliance. Something we could all become better
at so that we can take care of ourselves and our families in an emergency. Maybe I
might inspire some to try to regain some of that stalwart self-reliance that the early
settlers had.
What do you want readers to get out of this story?
There are several messages, values and themes in "Jack". First, it's about the love
and loyalty that a dog brings to a family. As the book says, "Dogs just help kids
grown up right". It's about making tough choices that involve sacrifice and looking at
sacrifice, not as a negative, but as a blessing and an opportunity to do something
good. I hope readers get a sense of history and wonder about the long, rich
heritage of this breed, and I hope to help revive the exciting and memorable tales of
these awesome and magnificent companions.
Is this just a Christmas story?
No, not at all. Not to give away too much, but the story begins and ends at Christmas
time, but the messages, values and themes are not limited to just one time of year.
It's a fun read in the middle of the Summer! That's when much of it takes place. It's
about life in-general and how things don't always work out as we imagine, but that's
ok and you have to able to adapt to the hand your dealt and not feel like you're a
victim, but grow from the experience.
Are Collies really all that different or smarter than other dogs?
Yes. I read a research study when I was doing research for this book that a
university developed a series of tests where they taught various words and
commands to a Collie to measure the intelligence. After a few months of training, the
dog had a 240 word vocabulary and could comprehend and execute three-part
commands and instructions consistently and willingly. Someday, I hope to get my kids
to that level (LOL!)
These dogs are incredibly easily trainable. They literally learn new commands and
tricks in a matter of minutes - very fast learners. Because of their high IQs, they use
their brains to invent a lot of trouble as well, so you have to be on your guard. Jack
is like my kids, intelligent, sweet, loyal and loving and not fully trained, so plenty of
parents can relate :)
If there was one message or principle you want readers to "get" from this,
what wold it be?
I hope that readers from middle-school to adult, might actually grow a little from
reading this and actually develop a sense of giving, sacrifice and service. If we all
give a little more in this life, we won't have quite so much time to focus on what it is
we want to take from this life.
Are there any sequels planned?
Yes, Jack is already off on some of his next adventures.
