ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards were established to bring increased attention to librarians and booksellers of the literary and graphic achievements of independent publishers and their authors. ForeWord is the only literary trade journal devoted exclusively to reviewing great books from independent houses. Their judgments are based on their own authority in each of the popular categories, and on their patron/customer interests

Our unique awards process brings readers, librarians, and booksellers together to select their top categories as well as choose the winning titles. Their decisions are based on editorial excellence, professional production, originality of the narrative, author credentials relative to the book, and the value the book adds to its genre.

ForeWord magazine has announced the winners of its tenth annual Book of the Year Awards. At a ceremony at BookExpo America in Los Angeles, 212 winners in 60 categories were honored. These books, representing the best work from independent publishers in 2007, were selected by a panel of librarian and bookseller judges.

For Pet’s Sake Do Something, Book 2 – How to Heal Your Sick, Overfed and Bored Pets with Nutrition, Supplements, Herbs and Exercise has won the bronze Book of the Year Award in the Pets Category.

Dr. Monica Diedrich's second book is a wonderful journey into the realm of animals. Who among us hasn't wished we could better understand our furry companions? Or better yet, that we could sit down with our pets and discuss their behavioral problems or health issues? Dr. Monica can do just that. In "Pets Have Feelings Too!" she discusses over 60 case studies involving everything from cats and dogs to goats and even wallabies. The book is engaging and almost impossible to put down. The stories will warm your heart, make you laugh and occasionally move you to tears. Dr. Monica's down-to-earth approach to animal communication allows their voices and perspectives to come through clearly. It is amazingly fun to journey with her through the world of these pets.

Dr. Monica explains the interconnection between humans and animals in personal and easy-to-understand language. This book contains many wonderful lessons for pet owners, even the seasoned ones. Sometimes being human gets in the way of the love and compassion our animals are trying to show us. But each glimpse into the world of animals reminds us that our human priorities often seem silly when viewed by our furrier halves. Covering everything from behavioral problems, reincarnation, illness and death, this book is great for anyone with a pet. I can also imagine it serving as a powerful tool for anyone trying to cope from the loss of a beloved pet, or just anyone trying to expand their own intuitive awareness. After reading "Pets Have Feelings Too!" I was inspired to sit down with my two cats for a heart-to-heart. I'm not sure if they understood the larger concepts I was trying to impart to them, but they smiled and purred all the same."

"Many people swear that their pets try to ‘talk’ to them. Through the psychic skills of Animal Communicators like Diedrich, it is possible to know exactly what they are saying. The author describes the techniques she uses to get in touch with the minds of dogs, cats, birds, horses, rabbits, and even a wolf. She discovers their complaints and preferences, their affection and fears. Directly quoted conversations reveal pet’s intelligence, devotion, and sense of humor. The author also works to heal sick animals and contact and guide lost creatures. Charming color photographs of an assortment of animals, plus snapshots of Diedrich with contented animal clients further enliven the chatty accounts of the sessions. Most books on animal communication concentrate on describing body language and vocalizations animals use to relate to one another as opposed to humans. (This one) stresses psychic communication and spiritual qualities of animal life."

"What Animals Tell Me is a collection of testimonies from an animal communicator. Dr. Monica Diedrich has been speaking with animals since the age of eight. Chapters recount her experiences with the strong wills of living animals, as well as the spiritual essence of animals that have crossed over to the other side. Pictures illustrate this heartwarming and spiritually uplifting anthology, sure especially to touch the hearts of devoted pet owners."

"If you have a pet, don’t just feed it. Listen. Dr. Monica can help you learn how. She’s a born teacher, alternating between clear instructions and real-life examples. I’m especially enthusiastic about her view of “The Energy Imprint Process”. Thank you, Dr. Monica, for another book imprinted with your distinctive qualities of compassion and insight."

"Dr. Monica takes animal communication to a whole new level in Pets Have Feelings Too! She offers advice on how to tell if an animal has reincarnated or is doing ‘energy imprinting’ – following in the footsteps of a previous family pet. She explains how animals can actively direct their own healings. She touches upon pets as soulmates and healers of themselves, their human companions, and other animals. Her ability to relate case studies about her experiences and include details that enable others to emulate what she does makes this book and invaluable contribution to the literature."

"Dr. Monica warmly relates her experiences of the healing power of communicating with animals after recovering her childhood telepathic connection. Walking us through her own skepticism of the information she receives, we learn about how animal communication works with her insights, confirmations, and results. Enjoy this compassionate addition to this amazing field."

"Dr. Monica Diedrich’s second book on communicating with animals gives us powerful lessons about the effectiveness of communicating and healing with animals in her delightfully personal and seasoned approach. She explains complex metaphysical concepts about the soul/body/personality connection relating to humans and their animal friends in clear, uplifting terms. Understand more fully the intelligence, healing power and love that animals bring to us."

"This book reveals animal thought, feelings and motivation. When it is time to let your pet go, Dr. Monica's stories, advice and wisdom will provide you with courage, compassion and validation."

"If you care, as I do, about your animals, this is one book you'll want to keep nearby. Learn that your animals are trying to communicate with you and how you can communicate back to them. You will be better able to care for your animals and help them live a better life."

"Through her captivating stories, Dr. Monica proves that animals can think and feel and that they experience lives not so different from our own. This courageous account of her psychic exploration will help you understand the power of your own mind and open your hear to the inner world of your animals. Bravo, Monica, on a job well done!"

"I think your book is great. I really enjoyed it. From one animal communicator to another, we need to teach more pet owners and trainers how simple and easy it is to talk with the animals. All one needs is an open mind. Keep up the good work."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Skeptics may scoff, but sooner or later animal communication will be recognized as a valid phenomenon. And when that happens, it will be thanks to books like What Your Animals Tell Me. Dr. Diedrich’s humanity, modesty, and integrity shine forth on every heart-warming page. Three paws up!"

"...(Dr. Monica) uses what she has learned to heal - with Cosmic Energy - relationships between animals and humans, demonstrating that the Source has enough love for all creatures and that miracles are possible for every bein..."

"I am most impressed by the author's passionate writing about her subject. Further, completing and self-publishing a book requires a tremendous emotional investment, so I commend her for her dedication. The stories are engaging portraits of animals communicating with the author."

"What Your Animals Tell Me by teacher, speaker, and consultant Monica Diedrich is the personal testimony and selection of 50 case stories from a professional pet communicator, whose job it is to understand what the psychology and emotions of dogs and cats, what they are trying to say to their human companions, as well as their unconditional love for their caretakers. What Your Animals Tell Me also deals with the spiritual issue of what happens to beloved animals after they die. A heartwarming book, What Your Animals Tell Me is especially recommended reading for men and women wanting only the very best for their animal companions."

"This wonderful book came into my hands just as I was going through the agony of deciding what to do for my darling little shih-tzu. He could not be healed, but the vet could keep him alive for awhile longer. I decided I would ask my dog and see what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to let him go. Such a difficult time for me was made so much easier by having Dr. Monica's book to help me with so many of the questions that came up. How wonderful it must be to have the gift of being able to commune with animals, and write a book so we can all share in her experience, and be helped in making our pets' lives more comfortable since they do so much for us. The book made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time."

Dr. Monica devotes the majority of her time to providing private consultations in person, by phone or by e-mail for her many clients around the world. Frequently, she also works in community and other group settings, during which she offers 15 minute introductory consultations for each pet.

Using her intuitive gift, with heartfelt love, she enables her clients to participate in a dialogue with their pets by helping them look at their pets' experiences from the animal’s point of view. After a consultation, they're better able to understand their pet's wishes, needs, fears, behavioral problems, health challenges or end-of-life requests.

Because Dr. Monica believes that inter-species communication is a natural gift which everyone has, she also spends part of her time helping people learn to develop their own intuitive gifts. Since 1989, she's been teaching classes, both locally and nationally, titled "How To Communicate With Your Pets," and has also developed a set of audio cassette tapes for home use with the same title. In addition, she presents seminars, and is a regular contributor to several TV and radio shows, including a TV show aired in South Korea.

She's published two books titled What Animals Tell Me and Pets Have Feelings Too! Her third book, a how-to guide, titled For Pet's Sake, Do Something! will be published in the Fall of 2006.

Her first book has won several awards and has already been translated into several other languages, including Spanish, Japanese and Croatian.

Dr. Monica feels that her two greatest accomplishments come from bringing physical, emotional and spiritual healing to as many animals as possible, and from teaching people, who have an especially deep bond with their pets, to communicate effectively with them, which helps improve the quality of their pets’ everyday lives.

You can enjoy learning much more about how she communicates with animals in the How Do Animals Communicate and FAQ’s sections, and from her books and tapes which are listed below. On the Testimonials page, many of her clients share their own heartwarming experiences with you.

If you’d like to request a consultation for you and your own pet, you’re invited to call or e-mail Dr. Monica. You’ll find all the information you need on the Consultations page.