Michelle Waitzman Discusses Her Latest Book, "Happy As Your Dog," & Her Self-Publishing Journey

2/7/2025

Author Michelle Waitzman has an agent, three books published with a traditional press and she self-published her latest book, "BE AS HAPPY AS YOUR DOG: 16 Dog-Tested Ways to Be Happier Using Pawsitive Psychology." If you're a writer wondering if you should self-publish or go the traditional route, this interview is a masterclass in the self-publishing industry. And, Michelle gives some excellent insight into the question..."What if you could be as happy as your dog?"

More About Michelle

Michelle Waitzman is a plain language consultant and trainer, writer, and editor. She is the author of Be as Happy as Your Dog: 16 Dog-Tested Ways to Be Happier Using Pawsitive Psychology, as well as Sex in a Tent: A Wild Couple’s Guide to Getting Naughty in Nature, Moon: Living Abroad in New Zealand, and Psychic Animals: Superstition, Science and Extraordinary Tales. Before her freelance career, Michelle worked in TV production and corporate communications. She lives with her husband and two mixed-breed rescue dogs, Marlowe and Nuka, in Toronto, Canada.

More About the Book

What if you could be as happy as your dog?
Dogs really seem to have happiness figured out—every treat, every walk, every squeaky toy is a reason to celebrate. Wouldn’t it be great if we could discover what makes dogs so happy and use that information to bring more joy, gratitude, and enthusiasm to our own lives?

Be as Happy as Your Dog is a book that bridges the gap between the ways that dogs approach the joys and challenges of everyday life and the ways humans do.

Author Michelle Waitzman brings together the work of leading dog behavior experts and positive psychology researchers to reveal the simple changes you can make to level up your happiness.

There’s no all-or-nothing program to follow, just common sense actions you can take today to become as happy as your dog. You’ll wish you had a tail to wag!

Tech Issues

I was SO disappointed. I had read Michelle's book, prepared the interview questions, and as a dog lover I was excited to interview Michelle. But...unfortunately, I had tech issues and was unable to execute this interview. A HUGE thank you to George Butters from the Canadian Freelance Guild who filled in for me and absolutely rocked this interview.