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SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The Berkeley resident's new novel is “Promise of the Wolves.” She'll read from and sign copies today at 6 p.m. at Book Passage in San Francisco’s Ferry Building and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Kepler’s in Menlo Park.
Why did you decide to have a wolf be the “first-person” narrator of your book? I didn't have much choice in the matter. The voice was just there.
How did you come up with the topic of connections between wolves and humans for your first book? It surprised me; I always thought I'd write something like Margaret Atwood. But I found I was fascinated with how people relate to dogs, and how it's reciprocated, and how that goes really, really far back in our history.
The book, which is set 14,000 years ago, touches on theories that wolves — and dogs — may have influenced how humans have evolved; who supports the theories? Much of the knowledge is speculative; information I found in my research was done in biology, population genetics and cognitive science.
How is the experience of having your first book published? It’s literally a dream come true. My agent presented it to both young adult and general publishers, and I got a three-book deal with Simon & Schuster. I had a wonderful editor to clean up the manuscript; there was a full-page ad in The New York Times.
Any idea why you've received such positive feedback, which is unusual for a writer’s first book? It's a marketable idea; everybody loves dogs.
How long did it take you to write the book? From start to finish, about six years.
Who has been coming to your readings? People who love wolves; there’s also a big wolf-dog hybrid community out there.



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3:26 PM MST on Wed., Oct. 8, 2008 re: "3-Minute Interview: Izzy Borges"
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WHITEE said:
YUU SHULD SEE HER NOW . =]
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Examiner Reader said:
OMG. IZZY IZZZZ SOOOO HAWT !
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Bringing the SF Bay Bombers back to San Francisco and especially home to Kezar was great news! Fitzpatrick skated for them years ago and is now helping pass the game on to a whole new generation. I wish him and his team good luck.
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I show great respect for Mr.Leyson God bless you.
7 agree | 6 disagree
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carl said:
Mr. Reiskin, While I agree that street cleaning does little good I believe its for a differnt reason other than saving tax payer money. Julian Ave remains filthy on a regular basis-full or urine, syringes and needles. Your right, save tax payer dollars hopefully for something more productive like building a DPW substation right on julian at 15th. That wont solve it either but I suspect the money is going to go to something as misguided as this. When Julian Ave no longer smells like the filth and stench it has for the last ten years than I wont be embarrassed to have friends and relatives over. Be proud of your accomplishments and add this one to your resume.
13 agree | 13 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Gretchen is my Aunt
18 agree | 16 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Great article. Glenda is truly a professional in her field. More hospitals should take her advise.
20 agree | 18 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Congratulations Newborn Connections for putting together such a great event!!
22 agree | 19 disagree
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SF Momma said:
This is great! I am a breastfeeding mom in SF and I truly appreciate a family friendly event like this. I got a mailer with all the info last week and you can RSVP online & learn more at www.cpmcbabysteps.org/rsvp Sounds fun! I am definitely bringing the entire family out for this one.
23 agree | 18 disagree
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Bay Area Taxpayer said:
Lisa who ?
22 agree | 21 disagree
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Maribel LaLanne said:
Thanks Uncle Jack for the continued support to give to Chris and I with the opening of LaLanne Fitness! We love you very much!
25 agree | 24 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
My mission in life is to help people, help themselves. Today... do something for the most important person on this earth, YOU! -Chris LaLanne www.lalannefitness.com
26 agree | 24 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
ive noticed she has gained weight. a lot of flowy tops. its okay. it happens to all of us!
30 agree | 25 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Love the music from the new Jon Peter Lewis album, "Break the Silence!" I'm driving about 6 hours to get to San Francisco to see his show this weekend (sad for me, it's the closest he's been to the northwest). I've seen him perform before, after his freshman album release...and he rocks! It'll totally be worth the drive :D
25 agree | 24 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I for one see no reason for two people of the same sex and truly love each and stand by each other. How can we decide how and can not be married. Look at David and Bruce they have been together 27 years. Let me ask you question how many men and women that are married are still together? Not many that I know of
36 agree | 32 disagree
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Michael Bakkie said:
I can only hope her 'realignment' is everything Barbara hopes for. And I hope we get to hear from her now and then. Missing her is okay, loosing her would be a heartache.
30 agree | 31 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
great to hear local bay area sports. gives inspiration to others. not everyone gets to be barry b.
35 agree | 35 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Great answer on the last question.
35 agree | 34 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How nice it is to read about someone from our locale succeeding. Cudos to the writer for a fun well written interview and for following up in recognizing that a peninsula boy made it to an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.
38 agree | 34 disagree
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Bombers!!!! said:
Great!!! GO BOMBERS!!! This is so cool and brings back to when I was a kid eating this stuff up!!! YEA.
37 agree | 37 disagree
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George Chu said:
We attended the game last night and it was incredible! The house was packed and really got into it! The Bombers pulled off an exciting overtime victory. We can hardly waite till they skate their again.
39 agree | 38 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This show is absolutely HILARIOUS!! ...would love to see it again and have one of my friends chosen. And how HOT is Thomas Blake?!!
36 agree | 36 disagree
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MCPS parent said:
Ben is on a power trip, following the lead of Nancy Navarro. This know-it-all kid has been put in dangerous position of power that adds no wisdom to the decisions of the school board.
41 agree | 42 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
gretchen. three of us in Utah read your article, Snow prevents us from planting, but upon return to tiburon, we will plant sunflowers! Great idea to get data. Andy, Mara, and Evon
52 agree | 49 disagree
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Gregory Kohs said:
Ack! Examiner, you asked the forbidden question! What’s next for Wikia and the Wikimedia Foundation? Those two entities are NEVER to be uttered in the same sentence within earshot of Jimmy Wales! It makes him go CRAZY! He is convinced that the two organizations are "completely separate" (even though for years, 60% of the Board seats of the Wikimedia Foundation were filled with Wikia employees). He will stop at nothing to re-educate the media, until we all believe there is NO CONNECTION! Look, even in his response to the question, he only talks about Wikia, not the Wikimedia Foundation. This is because he was too busy thinking of new ways to claim analogous "COMPLETELY SEPARATE" relationships to respond to the WMF part. For example, "George Bush and the oil industry are COMPLETELY SEPARATE entities"; "Donny and Marie Osmond are COMPLETELY SEPARATE entities"; "Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler are COMPLETELY SEPARATE entities". Seriously, Examiner - play fair with Jimbo.
134 agree | 129 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
who is oskar schindler?
215 agree | 186 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is Sammy Hagar alive?
209 agree | 195 disagree
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Kimo Crossman said:
Ted Egen is the fellow who wrote the glorious study advocating untold savings and usability for the EarthLink Wi-Fi deal even in the face of huge red flags. Even as it was all falling apart he refused to revise his report.
230 agree | 205 disagree
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Examiner Reader said: said:
Corruption is rampant in the city....we would venture to say that over 75% of what happens in the city, at various levels is corrupt. Rosenstein in our opinion is doing as best as he can. But your talking about deep seeded corruption, that has been allowed to florish over the years. That's tough to break, but it can be done, with high profile arrests of certain individuals who use the limelight to hide behind, while at the same time doing dirty deeds...behind closed doors. But we believe the Fed's are aware of this, and they are watching and waiting....
310 agree | 302 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For the Captain to even give an interview , contradicts what residents hda feared all along. Why when this woman told what she knew was killed and her murder remains unsolved.? MPD need to really do more than only show up after fact. They need to do more policing and stop making excuses for how laxed they are in solving crimes. They have a protocol that does not help the prosecutors when they do get case. So many families in the District have lost loved ones and have been harassed by MPD that they don't even get the respect of serving and protecting. Read the Inspector General 2007 report of how unprofessional these detectives are. You can read a newspaper and stare into the the tv screen, but families in DC are sick and tired of the murders and tired of being accused of MPD blunders and mishaps...
349 agree | 318 disagree
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