Welcome to Lucy-books.com! Here you’ll find all things related to my debut memoir, Lucy’s Way: A Dog, A Drunk, and The Tao.
If you haven’t read Lucy’s Way yet, welcome! This book ties together the threads of addiction, pets and Taoism into a unique tapestry, spanning my first 12 years of recovery from alcoholism and substance abuse and how a dog helped teach me simple concepts of sobriety and spirituality. It’s definitely a book for pet people, and it’s for anyone who has dealt directly or indirectly with addiction, as well as for anyone who has ever wanted to simplify their thoughts on spirituality. I invite you to check out the section showcasing stories and pictures from people who have already found Lucy’s Way.
The ultimate goal of this site is creating a space where the ongoing journey of Lucy’s Way lives. You can keep up on fundraisers and promotions (first one coming soon!), as well as book signings and author events, which will start in early July at Barnes and Noble in Noblesville, IN (1-3 p.m. on July 5) and Marion Public Library in Marion, IN (1-3 on July 19).
You can learn more about my writing, and my purpose in carrying the message of recovery, under the “Drunk” page, or a bit about the simple teachings of Taoism and meditation under the “Tao” section. And, of course, clicking on the “Dog” tab will take you to the true star of this show, the dog who saved my life, complete with a photo gallery and Lucy bio.
There is also this blog space, delving into many things Lucy and recovery-related, and will include a recurring blog, “The Author’s Journey.” In talking to people who have read Lucy’s Way, I’ve discovered there is an interest in how this book came together. “The Author’s Journey” will delve into things like the decision-making process of which stories to include as I cut more than 40,000 words from a 100,000 word first draft, the choice of a non-linear timeline storytelling device, and the music that shaped the writing of Lucy’s Way.
Perhaps my favorite part of this site are those stories and pictures from people who have “found” Lucy’s Way. While there are several links available on this site to purchase a copy, the idea of finding Lucy’s Way goes beyond buying a book, which I still of course encourage you to do. 😊
I was told early on by close friends and family that people would connect with this story. But I wasn’t sure how that would translate outside of those closest friends and family. Within the first 24 hours of its release on Amazon, Lucy’s Way hit No. 1 in the Top New Releases categories of Alcoholism and Recovery, Pet Loss and Grief, and Love and Loss. While this is a far cry from bestseller status, it allowed me to see that people really did want to engage with this story. What I enjoyed even more is when people started sending me pictures of the book when they received it, reading it with their dogs next to them, or just sending me comments about how emotionally engaged they were with the story from the opening pages and how they were now trying to live their lives more like this dog.
They had found Lucy’s Way. I invite you to email me or share on Facebook your thoughts or pics for possible inclusion in this growing tribute to those Lucy has touched.
Have you found Lucy’s Way?
#LucysWay, #Lucybooks, #HaveyoufoundLucysWay
My description of “Lucy’s Way” – beautifully written, deeply honest, and filled with wisdom I didn’t expect from a story about a dog and recovery—but it’s so much more than that. Thank you for sharing your journey, Mark. I think Lucy helped more than you find the way.