Hello there!
Before we continue, let's get the official description out of the way. You know, the one that I hope a literary agent or book publisher randomly stumbles upon while internet surfing:
Chris was born and raised in Lynbrook, New York and grew up a struggling reader. This challenge eventually gave way to a love of reading and writing that led him to a career in education. Chris earned his master's degrees in Secondary Education and Library Services and now serves as a school librarian in his home district. There, he helps students cultivate their own love of reading and writing. With Mr. Ace and the Rainbow Bridge, Chris fulfilled his lifelong dream to write his own book and looks forward to sharing more stories with young readers. For more information on Chris and his writing, please visit christoffolo.com
Phew. Now that the hypothetical agents and publishers left, it's just us: the writer and the reader. Here's something important to know about me: as a kid, I hated reading. Whether it was because of a learning disability or an over-active interest in The Legend of Zelda, reading felt painful. Without telling a very, very long story, my relationship with reading changed as I grew. We became such good friends that I even wanted to write my own stories, just like the books I grew to enjoy. While my love increased, I never forgot how it felt to dislike reading, so with everything I write, I try to write from that perspective. I try to write books that will engage all, even the ones who struggle with it the most.
Reader, I am not sure how you stumbled upon this site, but I'm really glad and grateful that you did. It honestly means the world that you took some time out of your day for me.
The Story Behind Mr. Ace and the Rainbow Bridge
Mr. Ace's story started long before he ever met us. From what we know, Ace lived between ten and twelve years somewhere in or around South Carolina before being surrendered, along with his sister, to a local shelter. Based on his scars, hairless patches, and teeth (or lack thereof), we believe Ace was used as some sort of bait dog in fighting circles. While we never found out what happened to his sister, Ace eventually made it all the way up to Ruff House Rescue in New York.
For over a decade, Ruff House Rescue has pulled dogs from high-kill shelters around the US and acted as a stopgap on their way to forever homes. In their care, Ace became a favorite amongst the volunteer staff at the kennel, then located in Island Park, NY. Everyone there would give him extra treats and express how he was such a good boy. However, being a senior dog and a pit bull can work against you. Not to mention, Ace had some severe skin and allergy issues that came along with him.
In June of 2018, Meg, my future wife, and I had just moved in together, and we were looking to try and foster a dog. Fostering is when you take a dog into your home, care for them, and then help get them adopted. Meg had seen a posting in January of the same year about Ace on Ruff House's Instagram. When we were all moved in, she set up a meeting so we could meet him. I wasn't too keen on taking care of an older dog, but I trusted Meg, and we went for it. We quickly learned that taking care of a dog is a life-changing decision and a huge responsibility, but once we let him in, we were hooked. We continued taking care of his skin and allergies, and Ace seemed very appreciative to be in a nice home with warm blankets everywhere.
As a foster parent, it's understood that you are not the final destination for a dog. However, every time the conversation came up about finding Ace another home, our hearts would start to break. We knew that we would eventually fail as foster parents and adopt him. We just needed to figure out his allergies and medical issues first.
Across the six months we had him, Ace was loved. We'd play with him, take him on long walks, and drive him all over Long Island to specialized veterinarians. We desperately wanted to figure out what was wrong with him. Unfortunately, in December of 2018, Ace became very sick, and Meg and I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of our lives. The time had come for us to say goodbye, but just before he went, we officially adopted Ace. He left our world as part of our family, but he was part of it from the moment we met him.
Losing a pet (or anyone) is extremely difficult. Those who have gone through it know this too well. To cope with his loss, we started volunteering with Ruff House Rescue as a way to give back, and I took to writing as I always do in difficult times. This ultimately led to the creation of my first book, Mr. Ace and the Rainbow Bridge. Writing a book had always been a dream of mine, and the whole experience with Ace inspired me. When we first took him in, I never could have predicted how profoundly Ace would change us. What began as an act of kindness toward a struggling senior dog evolved into a journey that transformed our priorities, deepened our compassion, and ultimately inspired my long-held dream of writing. This book emerged from our grief, but also from our gratitude. The whole time I thought we were changing his life; Ace was, in fact, changing ours.
Thank you, Ace. We will see each other again.
