Stay — On The Nose

STAY: MY FOREVER FRIENDSHIP WITH AN AGING DOG

This debut memoir by writer and comedian Lisa Rimmert earned a silver Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book, part of the Independent Book Publishers Association’s 35th Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards program.

After a slew of untimely goodbyes to childhood pets, Lisa made a vow when she adopted Dakota, her first dog as an adult: to give her a long, happy life and to be there for her until the very end.

Thirteen years later, when an accident in the house leads to a visit with a veterinary neurologist, Lisa, 35, struggles to accept Dakota’s mortality.

Will she be able to keep her vow to stay present, or will she double down on her usual defense mechanisms—rationalizing, making jokes, and leaving it up to her husband, Brad, to be the adult?

This heartwarming and humorous memoir is for anyone who has ever cared for an elderly family member or has the good fortune to do so in the future.

For readers who enjoyed:

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley,
Woodrow on the Bench by Jenna Blum, or
Gizelle’s Bucket List by Lauren Fern Watt.

Order your copy directly from the author. Signed copies available!

$16.99 plus tax

Praise for STAY

“Caring for an older dog can feel like a constant fight between your brain and heart: one aware of reality, and the other desperate to ignore it at all costs. Lisa Rimmert’s tender and funny examination of this struggle will leave you teary-eyed, and extra appreciative that we’re able to share any time at all with these incredible creatures. Our best friends. Our whole hearts.”

— Kelly Conaboy, author of The Particulars of Peter

“When our beloved dogs have come to the end of their roads, we are called upon to be at our most selfless, to put their peace and comfort above our own. I know from personal experience how excruciating it is to let go, but I doubt I could have written about it as beautifully.”

— Peter Zheutlin, author of The New York Times bestseller Rescue Road

“The unconditional love of a pet, especially a dog, is the most remarkable of relationships. Combine that love with the ache of the inevitable circle of life and the realities of aging, and you have a story that goes deeper than the love of a pet. It is a larger tale of a bond that transcends the human condition, reaching the level of magic. Author Lisa Rimmert tells us a personal story of her own extraordinary connection with her beloved Dakota, a dog that will forever stay in her heart and the reader's too.”

— David W. Berner, author of the bestseller Walks with Sam

“Stay is a testament to love in all its forms. Rimmert’s memoir is a profoundly human tale about how the bonds we form with our pets can prove to be just as precious and rewarding as those with our children. With lively colorful prose, Stay is an engaging, poignant love story.”

— Rachel Michelberg, author of Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver

“A beautiful memoir that had me reaching for my two senior dogs to give them extra hugs and kisses. Stay will resonate with anyone who's had to say farewell to a beloved best friend.”

— Victoria Schade, author of Dog Friendly

“Even though many dogs come in and out of Rimmert's life, it's when the beloved Dakota is about to cross Rainbow Bridge the author speaks words that must jab even the hardest of hearts: ‘I found myself begging the universe for time to slow down.’ A heartfelt story to which many of us can relate, I must agree with the author on this one: companionship at its best is a dog.”