More Than Rescue Animals: Writing, Connection, and Purpose with Holly Gutwillinger (E212)
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Holly Gutwillinger, a heartfelt writer born and raised in a small town in northern Ontario. Holly is a proud dog mom to two rescue dogs and one cat, and her love for animals shines through in both her life and her storytelling. We talk about her podcast and debut book, North of Broken and Furever Home, and the creative journey that led her there. Holly shares what it looked like to build a creative life over time, the seasons of trying different paths, and what it finally felt like to land on writing as her true passion.
Episode Highlights:
The journey of trying different paths before finding writing.
The inspiration behind her stories and connection to her own animals.
Writing anthropomorphic characters and asking readers to see the world through a dog’s perspective.
The mindset shift from “rescuing” her dogs to truly accepting them.
Why creativity doesn’t have to be rushed and can evolve over time.
Connect with Holly:
Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.
Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
Too Good to be Real by Melanie Johnson
Animals in Fantasy Book Flight with Books Are Magical Podcast (Ep. 54)
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Book Flight
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel
The 2026 Bookish Flights Reading Challenge is here—a simple, nostalgic way to be intentional with your reading. One book per month, with options for individuals and families. Download it at https://www.bookishflights.com/read/2026readingchallenge
