Willie Morris’ memoir, My Dog Skip, became an instant bestseller when it was published in 1995. For Morris, a Rhodes Scholar and former editor of Harper’s magazine, the autobiographical recollection of his first and favorite dog represented a welcome change of pace.

"I wrote My Dog Skip because the previous book I had done, New York Days, was a terribly difficult book to write. My wife JoAnne locked me in my basement for four years and I wrote it," says Morris. "I decided the next one I wanted to do would be affectionate and tender, and what better approach than to write about the dog of my childhood."

The resulting book was indeed affectionate and tender, as Morris recalled his early life as a shy young child in the South and his special relationship with his dog, a friendship that helped young Willie face many of life’s bigger challenges. Morris strove for a tone that reflected the innocence of a time gone by and respect for the freshness of a child’s perceptions.

The story was also moving to director Jay Russell. "As I shut the book, I first had to dry my eyes from crying and the second thing I did was call Willie Morris to inquire whether the rights were available," recalls Russell, who first worked with Morris as producer and director of the five-part PBS highway series "Great Drives."