This is the calm before the storm, in many ways.

Here in Indiana, we’ve had a big old cooldown. The days are getting much shorter, and the daylight savings switch is right around the corner as October quickly fades into November.

It’s been a great fall. September was an awesome month. The weather was great and my first Lucy’s Way Fundraiser was a success with the Marion-Grant County Humane Society.

A huge shout out goes to Shea Buck at Pipe Creek Animal Clinic for spearheading this fundraising event and keeping copies of Lucy’s Way stocked at the clinic while also taking copies to weekend events.

After the dust cleared at the end of the month, we raised $600 for MGCHS!

When Shea and I met to take this pic, she walked me through the facility where I worked more than a decade ago, talking with me about some of the recent work that’s been done and plans for the future. When the time is right, this is where I want to find my next furever friend. Please head over there today. There are so many dogs there needing good homes.  

As the weather is really starting to cool down, all things Lucy are heating up. Yesterday, I was at Barnes and Noble Ft. Wayne kicking off a very busy six weeks for all things Lucy.

There’s a lot that goes into prepping for these events, and thankfully, I’ve got plenty of help. My manager of all things Lucy’s Way, the wonderful lady staffing these events is the awesome Wende Wright. She’s the smiling face that puts a smile on yours, helps me set up, tear down, help people check out, and provides me with ongoing emotional support. Couldn’t do these events without her. Well, I probably could if I really had to, but she sure does make the experience even more enjoyable.

Then there’s the wonderful Loretta Tappan. Let’s face it. She’s the reason I’ve got this good looking website. She is the behind-the-scenes magic that keeps it ticking, and keeps all the bots and other bad stuff at bay. I’m glad to call she and her husband, Roger Tappan, good friends. Roger has also helped out at events, filming and taking pics at my first Marion Public Library event, and creating my first social media reel promo for Lucy’s Way.

All the cool fliers you see leading up to these events, that’s all her as well. Rather than calling this shameless self-promotion, which it sorta is, I’d like to see this as a celebration of all the great work Loretta has been doing for me, and yes, a reminder of all these upcoming events.

November 1: Morgenstern Books, Bloomington, 12:30-3 pm; Really looking forward to this event in Bloomington at Indiana’s largest independent bookstore.

November 7: Kokomo Howard County Public Library Author Fair, Kokomo, 5:30-8 pm; Part of the monthly first Friday festivities in Downtown Kokomo, I’m looking forward to this opportunity to spread out to the Kokomo Community on the heels of  Heartland Magazine publishing a book excerpt in their September/October pets issue. You can find a link to that article here.

November 8: Gas City-Mill Township Public Library, Gas City, 1-4 pm; Even though these events come with a smidge of anxiety, I really enjoyed the outpouring of love at my author talk/reading at the Marion Public Library in July, and I’m excited to get back to another talk and reading at this event.

November 15: Marion Public Library Author Fair, Marion, 1-3:30 pm; The Harvesting our Stories local author fair will be a great opportunity to meet and work alongside other local authors while also getting the word out the story of Lucy’s Way.

December 6: Soul Weaver Alchemy, Huntington, 1-3; Opening December in style, Sky Dawn Bickel’s sweet corner shop in Downtown Huntington will provide the perfect backdrop for this event. This will be another chance to do a reading as well as a signing, and I am looking forward to branching out into a new recovery community with this event.

December 13: Barnes and Noble, Noblesville, 1-3 pm; Back where the summer Have you Found Lucy’s Way tour began, I’m closing out the year in style with my second appearance at Barnes and Noble in Noblesville.