What are some of your favorite books and writers? Why?
KH: My favorite authors include a pair of fiction writers, John Irving and Toni Morrison, and a pair of non-fiction writers, Tom Wolfe and John McPhee. In reverse order, McPhee inspired me to become a more organized and ambitious researcher, beginning with the first time I read one of his long pieces in The New Yorker, called "Levels of the Game," and continuing with The John McPhee Reader, a collection of his New Yorker pieces that is a primer for all beginning writers. I use it as a supplemental text in the magazine writing course I teach at the UGA journalism school. I like Tom Wolfe for the same reason that most everyone likes Tom Wolfe-for inventing and/or perfecting the "New Journalism" form in non-fiction and for imparting his fiction with so much veracity that you swear it's real life. I like John Irving because he's a modern-day Dickens, another favorite of mine, particularly when I was young, in terms of his extensive and convoluted plot lines and intense characterization, and I like Toni Morrison because no one writes, thinks, or creates a mood like she does. I'm also fond of Nine Stories, a collection of J.D. Salinger short stories.
If you could only read one book over and over for the rest of your life, which book would it be and why?
KH: My favorite book is Cider House Rules by John Irving, followed closely by Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, and Thomas Harris' chilling Silence of the Lambs. But I don't think I'd want to read any of them over and over again.
Have you ever thought of writing another book? Would it be fiction or non-fiction? What would it be about?
KH: I am currently working on more Uga-related projects.
Why did you decide to write this book?
KH: I got interested in doing a book about the UGA mascots after writing a cover story for Georgia Magazine about Uga V and Sonny Seiler appearing in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."
How did you go about doing research for your book?
How long did it take to write the book?
Were there any surprises in researching or writing the book?
KH: I was surprised and delighted to find that Sonny and Cecelia Seiler have saved nearly everything you can think of that pertains to these dogs -from physical items like Uga I's student ID card and a Bible he chewed up while the family was at a drive-in movie one night to an engraved invitation to Uga III's gala retirement party at the Savannah Golf Club to "Midnight" movie stills of Uga V with Kevin Spacey and Jon Cusack, plus a host of wonderful and unusual memories.
What do you want readers to come away with after reading the book?
KH: That these dogs are typical family pets at home and versatile entertainers once the cameras start clicking. And that, for members of the Bulldog Nation, these dogs are more than a symbol of Georgia athletics . . . they are the embodiment of the tenacious, never-say-die quality that Bulldog sports teams have exemplified over the years.
a discussion with Sonny Seiler and Kent Hannon
SS: When I do have time to read books unrelated to the practice of law, I enjoy John Grisham’s novels. His vivid imagination and his ability to keep the reader guessing make fascinating entertainment for me.
SS: If I had to choose one book to read over and over I would pick The Best Loved Poems of the American People selected by Hazel Felleman. No matter what mood you are in, you can find inspiration, laughs, and enjoyment in the wonderful collection.
SS: Having practiced law for 44 years I have done a lot of professional writing related to briefs, trial outlines, and other legal documents. I have very little time for recreational writing. I have no time to write either a fiction or non-diction book.
SS: Well, the thought of a book about the mascots never seriously occurred to me until recent years. Many fans and friends have suggested that I write a book to memorialize our experiences. At first, I intended to organize the material and dictate a history for family reference. I later concluded that a book would be the best way to preserve the story for the University of Georgia, the Athletic Department, our fans, and our friends. I knew if it was to happen, I would have to write it.
SS: Through the years, I have kept meticulous records on all of our Georgia mascots. The collection includes correspondence with fans, sports writers, animal lovers, students, and faculty, and of course, the University of Georgia and Athletic Department. We have kept all of the cards, trinkets, photographs, publications, books, and movies that were saved by us or sent by fans. From time to time, I wrote my own memoirs of various incidents and events, which were also helpful.
SS: It took me over a year to organize and sort the files I saved on the dogs. I organized the material in chronological order starting with Uga I and ending with Uga VI. I began serious dictation on the book in Janurary 2002 and worked steadily for over 6 months. Much time was also spent on selecting photographs that were appropriate with the story.
SS: There were no surprises in the material, but I discovered a lot I had forgotten about the dogs and I have to admit that I spent a lot of time reading and remembering.
SS: My aim is to document our experiences with these dogs, and give the readers, young and old, an insight into what it has been like raising and living with Georgia mascots. If the readers come away with half of the pleasure that the Seilers have experienced in having had the privilege of furnishing these dogs to Georgia, this book will have accomplished my purpose.