Hi Lisa, I gather we'll be meeting soon! So here's the thing: I'm speaking in UIUC on animal vision, but that is a project that grew out of "The Object Stares Back." At the same time, independently, I am writing a novel that turns on research into animal emotions. I have an entirely different perspective I might bring -- Panksepp and other neurobiological research that doesn't begin from stories (is opposed to stories). I don't know if there's a way to bring those people into your discussion, since your starting point what they abjure, but it would be interesting to find out.