Strays Book Launch

June 9, 2026

Every once in a while, the planets will line up in the night sky, treating onlookers to a rare and magical spectacle. And every once in a while, life aligns in a similar way, and the results are just as magical.

Such was the case for the June 6, 2026 launch of STRAYS, my latest middle grade novel - a story incredibly close to my heart.

The story of STRAYS began unknowingly in the summer of 2023, when an adorable but frightened pup was dumped in my neighborhood in San Antonio TX. Against all odds, I was able to rescue him, but unable to keep him. That story, coming as part of Wet Nose Wednesday, had the most beautiful ending.

Not too long after, STRAYS the novel began taking shape.

With publication set for June 2, 2026, I began (as many authors do) to think about how I wanted to launch this story into the world, and last fall, I began to meet with Liz, owner of Bobzbay Books in Bloomington IL to plan our event. I had a big vision, and Liz was right there with me. My vision included a dog adoption event. Games and activities for kids. Library summer reading partnerships. I even imagined (though I wasn’t quite sure in what form) a collaboration with local coffee company, Coffee Hound. Fitting by name, and just a few doors down from the bookstore.

With nearly nine months to go before my pub date, it may have seemed like we were getting the launch ball rolling a little on the early side. But it’s astonishing how long it can take to prep for something like this. Getting a special events permit from the city alone is a feat of endurance. But our vision and patience paid off, and last Saturday, June 6, I had the launch event I’d been dreaming about for all those long, long months.

Click right arrow to see more images!

Bobzbay Books set up a station outside with us where folks could buy their copies (thank you, McKenzie!) and get them immediately signed. It was the perfect set up to help avoid some of the street construction going on this summer. The Humane Society of Central Illinois brought several adoptable dogs for folks to interact with (thanks, Nicole!). Alex Bell from Bloomington Public Library got the kids (and grown-ups!) pumped for their summer reading programs and to give away some of the cutest “I ❤️ To Read” plushies ever. The Coffee Hound offered a specialty drink called the Stray Hound, a Mexican Mocha Freeze (coffee or non-coffee options - thank you, Paul!) with a shortbread dog cookie on top – delicious.

We even had a guest appearance by Andy the Armadillo from the Texas Roadhouse (I can neither confirm nor deny an author-armadillo dance-off).

We had a spinner with prizes, cake and paw-shaped cookies from BB's Cookies and other goodies, and a Grand Prize table with not one but two awesome prizes packages. (We’ll update this post as soon as the winners are notified.)

But more incredible than all the other incredible things combined was the way this community showed up for story, for books, and for the joy of reading. I got to hang out with some awesome young readers, with teachers and librarians, with local champions of literacy.

And I got to meet with so many members of the Blo/No community who were out enjoying our local market offerings, celebrating the Route 66 Centennial, reveling in some sunshine (okay, yes, it was pretty warm and a li’l humid, but I’ll take that with a heavy dose of sunshine any day).

One of the things I love about Illinois in general and Bloomington specifically is the love and support of literacy, and the love and support of community. And on Saturday, that is exactly where I felt held. Thank you for the perfect launch, Bloomington!

Here’s that dancing video. More to come!