Join us to launch Live Like a Guide Dog

Online party includes giveaways, trivia contest, and more!

I’m delighted to tell you that my newest book, Live Like a Guide Dog, coauthored with bestselling author Michael Hingson, releases soon! We’re celebrating with an online launch party where you can meet (virtually) Mike and me, ask questions, get some cool freebies and have a chance to win a free copy of the book.

The full title tells you what the book is about. It’s Live Like a Guide Dog: true stories from a blind man and his dogs about being brave, overcoming adversity, and moving forward in faith. It’s available for preorder on amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite online seller.

Michael was born blind, but never let that slow him down. Michael was working at the World Trade Center on 9/11. He and his guide dog Roselle escaped from the 78^th floor of Tower One. He knows a thing or two about being brave, and shares his strategies for turning fear into courage in this book.

In these fearful and uncertain times, this book is so needed. It’s both heartwarming and practical, with engaging stories of Mike and his dogs, alongside real strategies for overcoming fear and living courageously.

The launch party will be held on Zoom on Saturday, July 27 at 11 a.m. Pacific time. You must register for the event. Tickets are $5, but all the proceeds will go to Advocates for Service Animal Partners, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights of service and guide dog users.

Why you should attend

As a reader of the Powerful Story newsletter, I know you’re interested in writing and publishing. You want to know more about improving your writing, but also about how the publishing industry works. My goal is to provide you with solid information about writing and publishing. I’ve been at this for more than two decades, and I write this newsletter to pass along the knowledge I’ve gained over the years, to guide you through the adventure of publishing.

Many writers mistakenly believe that publication is the finish line.  It’s simply not. Once your book is published, you need to get it into the hands of readers. You need to let people know your book is out there and invite them to purchase it. That doesn’t happen without intention and wise action. Though many writers would rather “just write,” part of being an author is marketing what you write.

Smart authors know they can learn about marketing by watching other authors do it. They grab opportunities to join launch teams or events so that they can learn about this part of the publishing journey. It’s a chance to not just participate, but to step back and notice how other authors market their work.

I’ve been a part of numerous book launches, because I want to help other authors. And I want to learn all I can about how to market my books. Plus it’s kind of fun to connect with other readers and writers!

Marketing is part of publishing, especially if you self-publish. But even when you have a traditional publishing deal, authors get involved with marketing. Live Like a Guide Dog is being published by a wonderful Christian publisher, Tyndale House. They are investing time and money into promoting and marketing the book. The team there is top-notch. But as authors, Mike and I are very involved in marketing the book as well. We partner with out publisher to do everything we can to let people know about our book.

If you are an aspiring author, attending launch events is a way to go to school on book marketing. Helping other authors is a great way to build connections that will be useful when you are marketing your own book.

So the launch party is a chance to learn, and a chance to just have fun! Free downloads, a guide dog trivia contest, giveaways, and a chance to ask questions about the book and about our co-authoring writing process.

See you at the launch party. Click the button below to register, or just use the QR code!