At the way-too-young age of six, Gracie contracted a rare complication from Lyme disease that compromised her kidneys. Proving herself the anti-Marley, she behaved beautifully, calmly curled at my feet - until she decided she’d had enough and simply walked off set on live national television. She also was pressed into service repeatedly to pose in photos with me as I promoted Marley & Me’s release, culminating in her traveling via limousine with me to New York City for an appearance on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer.

Most of her energy went to hunting rabbits and woodchucks and stalking our backyard chickens. As Gracie grew into adulthood, she proved herself quiet and calm, intelligent and intensely focused. Her parents and grandparents were all proven gun dogs, singularly dedicated to the pursuit of prey. Unlike Marley, Gracie came from carefully selected hunting stock. John lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenny, and their three children.Nine months after we buried Marley in the backyard, we brought home a red-gold female Labrador retriever puppy who would prove herself the polar opposite of her predecessor. His second book is The Longest Trip Home. His first book, Marley & Me, is a number one international bestseller that was as a major motion picture on 2008. His work has won numerous awards, including the National Press Club's Consumer Journalism Award. He is also the former editor on chief of Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine. Previously he worked as a reporter, bureau chief, and columnist at newspaper in Michigan and Florida. John Grogan has spent more than 25 years as a newspaper journalist. John lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenny, and their three children.

John grogan e marley