Book excerpt: Is your dog an old soul who came back to guide you? A wise Hindu woman, Nanibala, believed that a pet who comes to you in an unusual way is an ancestor. Her son, from India, and daughter-in-law, from Indiana, observed the humanlike virtues displayed in their beloved dog. They wondered if their pets soul once belonged to a forbearer, and if so, did he or she come from India or Indiana? Weaving together fact, supposition, and imagination, Nanibalas Belief explores the virtues of nineteen fascinating men and women from opposite sides of the world. Defining moments in seven generations of parallel lives are revealed through linked short stories. If you like cross-cultural and inter-generational works of historical or visionary fiction, you will enjoy Nanibalas Belief.