There's no bond like a girl and her first dog. And, once it's all said and done, there's no loss like it, either. Hugo has lived a long, happy life with Bay, his one and only human. When their time together comes to an end, Hugo watches Bay's life unfold from an afterlife designed just for dogs. While Hugo watches from Dog Heaven, Bay makes a grief-stricken wish from the heart and Hugo vows to answer it for her, even if she doesn't know it. Forced to watch the rest of Bay's life unfold from a distance, Hugo plots to bring joy back to her, and he knows just how to do it. Content warning: pet loss ONC 2024 entry, prompt 24: A wish made from the heart is always answered, sooner or later. Total word count: 23,049 Recognition: - 2024 Open Novella Contest Shortlist - Contemporary Lit Experimental list - Ambassador's Slice of Life list - Ambassador's Reads list - Featured in February 2025 Ambassador's Recommendations

Bertie's Meaning of Life explores life through the humorous point of view of a ninety-year-old woman, Bertie, who joyfully wants to end her life on her own terms. Bertie's decision sends her neighbor, Stella, on a mission to save her. The book has an engaging soap opera centred around Stella as self-appointed savior with Bertie explaining her reasons for ending her life through fun metaphysical ideas about the nature of the universe and life after death. Stella's life is transformed as Bertie's unique perspective becomes her catalyst to change in ways she couldn't ever have imagined.