Throughout his life, Dr. Bill has found guidance in the blue-collar adaptations of centuries-old wisdom: I have never failed, but I have extensive experience with things that do not work; there is no such thing as bad weather, just a poor choice of clothes; and shut up and do your work. He has modeled the exemplary lives of his parents and been tailwinded by the unconditional support of his wife, Sheila. Dr. Bill shares stories about OCD Shepherd crosses and a German Shorthaired Pointer with three testicles. There are tributes to a one-eyed mechanic, the Pike County Jesus, and Certified Nursing Assistants. Dr. Bill shines a light on the plight of loneliness among the elderly, calls into question the dehumanizing effect of technology, and respectfully opposes The Wall Street Journal and Princeton Professor Emeritus Harry W. Frankfurt. Dr. Bill lives each day to earn the words said, and the tears shed at a Baptist church in Atlanta in April 1999. The two hundred stories he's written leading up to ADB were only a warmup to properly honor the legacy of The Amazing Dick Bass.
About the Author: Dr. Stork is a cradle flatlander from central Illinois. He was raised around a dinner table under a starving-artist rendition of The Last Supper. His mom was an incurably kind, comfort food gourmet. Dad was a git-'er-done construction worker, welder, and shade-tree mechanic. There was always an extra place at the dinner table for a neighbor with a trailer hitch or a carburetor to rebuild. A veterinarian by trade and a keen observer of the American experience, Dr. Bill Stork has an innate ability to see the best in people and appreciate the simple pleasures of a life well lived. Stepping from Herriot's Shadow is his second book. His first, In Herriot's Shadow, was published in 2014. In his books, Stork delivers powerful accounts of people, places, and things that many others would allow to go unnoticed. His stories are not those of politicians or titans of industry, but rather of ordinary folk who are not so ordinary upon closer inspection. Stork's father said he never learned a thing with his mouth open. That friendly curiosity has been passed on to the son. At various points in his life he's answered to Bill, Billy, Bill Bill, Little Bill, Willie, The Hick, Daddy, The Professor, Dr. Bill, Dr. Stork, and still does to this day. This book would not exist without Mittsy Voiles, Glenn Fuller, Robb Grindstaff, and many he's encountered throughout his journeys. Since writing his first book, Stork has been humbled and honored to meet his readers at local bookstores, pet wellness expos, and winter festivals where he signs and sells books. Each has story of their own to share and Stork is always more than happy to listen. The author says he's been buoyed and encouraged by critics, some complimentary, some not so much. As a result, his appreciation for those who bank their existence on their artistry and craft has risen exponentially from its already sky high levels. A 1992 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Stork currently lives in Cambridge, Wisconsin, and is the owner-operator of the Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. When not writing or wrangling animals, he can be found engaged in multi-day bicycling tours, tracing the roots of American music through the Deep South, searching for the perfect piece of beef brisket, or simply having a pint at the local brewery. Like a fine bourbon, his stories are immediately entertaining, but even more enjoyable upon reflection.