No, Maree Church didn’t just splurge on a fancy “pup-top” for her faithful American Eskimo dog to churn out his debut book. Let’s be realistic here, folks. A dog can’t type.

But somehow, this pooch managed to crank out a paperback titled “Dog Days in Italy: How I Became an Expat Dog” right after running his own blog. Can you believe it?

According to Church, it’s the tale of her 20-year love affair with Italy and her life there, narrated in a humorous fashion by none other than her canine companion, Dino.

While this literary gem has yet to make the Beast Seller List, “Dog Days in Italy” is definitely making some noise and climbing up the charts.

The desire to pen a book has been burning within Church for years. She’s a Fairfield woman who has made so many trips from California to Italy that pilots mistakenly assumed she was a flight attendant. Back in her days as a New Jersey English teacher, she once submitted a children’s story for publication, only to have it rejected. But Church never let go of her dream of becoming a published author.

“That was quite a long time ago,” she reflected over the phone on a Tuesday afternoon. “I don’t want to dwell on the distant past.”

Fast forward to years later, when Church and her husband of 43 years, Jim Poedy, resided in Danville. It was during this period that she began writing a book in the first person and sought feedback from numerous individuals. Fortunately, the response was positive.

In 2018, the couple made the bold decision to return to Italy, and that’s when Church embarked on a literary journey from her dog’s perspective. Dino took up his pen (or pencil, if you will) and started penning letters to his fellow canines back in California, offering vivid accounts of life in Italy. And that’s how “Dog Days in Italy” came into being.

“The blog gained quite a following,” Church revealed. “Everyone loved Dino’s voice and his humorous take on things. So, I thought to myself, ‘Since that’s been working, why not have Dino serve as the book’s narrator?’ It was much easier for me to write in Dino’s voice than my own. Assuming the persona of a dog gave me the freedom to express things I wouldn’t say as a human.”

And so far, the response has been favorable. Well, at least if we’re judging by the five glowing reviews on Amazon.com.

Within the book, Dino takes on the role of narrator and shares his owners’ deep affection for Italy. Along the way, he discovers some fascinating quirks about his human companions.

“Dino has a curious nature,” Church explained. “He questions the usage of various funny expressions humans employ and delves into the intricacies of language. He tackles a multitude of subjects related to life and living with people.”

In a whimsical twist, Dino decides to try his paw at poetry, allowing Church to indulge in writing what she affectionately refers to as “stupid poems.” When his poetic endeavors meet with rejection, he turns to a different artistic outlet, channeling his inner Jackson Pollock.

Or should we say, Paw-lock.

But here’s the kicker—the resulting artwork is abstract because, as Church chuckled, Dino would often dart across the painting while in hot pursuit of a suitable spot to relieve himself. This is a book that revels in humor, not sadness. Dino is a veritable riot.

And he’s quite the popular pup too. Church proudly boasts that this creative canine has amassed an impressive following of 7,230 on Twitter, all thanks to his presidential campaign. Yes, you read that right—Dino ran for president and made lofty promises such as diligently cleaning up his own mess.

“As I mentioned before, it’s a rather quirky book,” Church remarked.

Throughout the story, Church and her husband dedicated five years from start to finish, purchasing a house in Italy, selling a house in Italy, and ultimately settling down in Fairfield a year and a half ago. It was a frustrating process, she conceded, admitting that she often micro-manages Dino’s life, frequently interfering in his affairs.

“There’s a constant clash between the roles of dog and ‘mom’ throughout the entire book,” Church confessed, acknowledging that she learned a great deal about herself along the way.

Had it not been for the passing of their previous furry companion, Luca, at the ripe age of 14, Dino might never have entered their lives.

“Luca was truly the most wonderful dog,” Church reminisced fondly. “When he left us, we knew we had to bring another Eskimo dog into our home. And that’s how we ended up with Dino. But let me tell you, Dino is nothing like Luca. He’s a bit of a nutcase, to be honest. But he always manages to bring joy and laughter into our lives.”

Dino’s time in Italy was a resounding success. He particularly adored pizza—well, more accurately, the crust, as Church clarified.

“We took him to various restaurants across Italy, and he would just sprawl on the floor,” she recounted. “But when we visited a pizza joint, the moment the pie landed on our table, he practically leaped into my lap.”

Church shared that her husband thoroughly enjoyed the book, although he might harbor some reservations about certain statements made within its pages.

As for Dino himself, he was unavailable for comment. Nevertheless, Church expressed her hope that he feels an overwhelming sense of pride. After all, his loyal following on Twitter certainly thinks highly of him.

And here’s an exciting tidbit: come November 27, there will be a “Twitter Doggie Book Tour,” wherein Dino will showcase a delightful assortment of photos from his adventures and introduce some of his furry friends in Italy.

In fact, Church is already hard at work on a sequel to this enchanting tale. It’s titled “I Bark, Therefore I Am: Dog Days in California.”

So stay tuned, my friends. The adventures of Dino and his captivating narrative are far from over.