EDWARDS, Colorado — When Dagny McKinley saw a classified ad in Steamboat Springs newspaper for a dog sledding job, she took a chance and called, despite having no prior experience. To this day she works at Grizzle-T dog and sled works.

“After I finished my MFA at Naropa, I was looking for an outdoor job to balance out life behind a computer. When I a saw the job for dog sledding, I jumped at the chance,” she said.

She recently published a book called “Wild Hearts: Dog Sledding the Rockies,” about her adventures dogsledding. Today she'll lead storytime at the Bookworm of Edwards for kids ages 3 to 5. McKinley took the time to answer a few questions for the Vail Daily.

1. Vail Daily: What can people expect from your appearance at the Bookworm?

Dagny McKinley: At the Bookworm, the talk will be tailored for children, and will focus on the atmosphere of dog sledding, the personalities of the dogs and their basic day-to-day life. It's going to be very interactive with lots of howling and jumping around.

2. VD: Did you begin working for the dog sledding company first and then decide to do a book or vice versa?

DM: I had worked for Grizzle-T for a year and decided to put together and I-Mac photo book as a momento for the staff of my first year. Customers saw the book and were interested in buying it, so the idea slowly progressed until I was able to recruit my sister to do the graphic design and layout for me and I had enough pictures to make a book worthwhile.

3. VD: Is there a particular event/memory that stands out that you could tell us about?

DM: I guess it would have to be the first time I walked into the kennel. Kris wasn't there yet, but as soon as the dogs saw me, there were 125 barks, yips and howls. One of the guys told me I could pet the dogs and all I could see were tails wagging and happy faces. What better place could there be to work, I thought.

4. VD: Why did you decide to call the book ‘Wild Hearts'?

DM: Because these dogs are wild, which is easy to forget when they are on their back legs hugging you, but they come from a long line of animals that have faced some of the coldest temperatures on the planet, lived outside and survived. To me, they are still tethered to another time and place, before development and cities, so being with them takes me to a timeless place.

5. VD: What did you learn from the experience?

DM: I'm definitely still learning, but I have gained a sense of self-esteem that I was sorely lacking. Working the the dogs has built up my confidence in my strength and shown me what unconditional love and selflessness is all about. These dogs bring their hearts and energy to every day, every run.

6. VD: Do you own a sled dog?

DM: I do. Her name is Alma Rose and she's named after my paternal grandmother (Alma). I don't recommend sled dogs for most people, as they are very high energy. We go on three walks a day, one where she can run and explore. She's an incredibly graceful dog to watch. She climbed her first fourteener at four months old and hasn't looked back since.

7. VD: Would you rather spend a day with people or dogs?

DM: Dogs. Relationships with dogs is much simpler than humans. They love you, you love them, there's no drama.

High Life Editor Caramie Schnell can be reached at 970-748-2984 or cschnell@vaildaily.com.