Thursday, September 20, 2012

Three Days 'til The Oconomowoc Public Library

Hello Everyone!

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone at the Library this Saturday, September 22 at 1:00pm.  I'll share how I got started in fostering, a bit about the rescue and also how the average family can get involved in rescue!

I'll also be bringing along my friend Lucky Jimmy so everyone can see what a great guy he is!

If you cant make it to Oconomowoc, please join us next Saturday at Minooka Park in Waukesha at 10:00am for the First Official Fluffy Dog Charity Walk. Meet some people who are fosters, meet a bunch of foster dogs and come out and enjoy the weather!

Next Sunday at 4:00pm, A Foster's Tail will in the Riverwest Area at The People's Books. I'll talk some more about fostering, rescuing and even read some from the book!

In other exciting news ... I just found out that A Foster's Tail has made it across the pond. There are two lucky people who are reading our dog "tail" somewhere in the UK. That's pretty exciting stuff! 

Thank you to everyone who has helped us to get this far. Thank You to all of the independent book stores who have taken my books in and given them new homes!

Looking forward to seeing many of you on Saturday at the Library!

Those of you who cant make it, as you live further away, please private message me and let me know if there are independent book stores near you that I could visit!

Thanks!

PS - Dont forget to check out A Foster's Tail Facebook Page for pictures of the events but more importantly, THE DOGS!!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Pre-Event Run Down!

WoW - It seemed so far away when we made the date but now that its here, I'm a starting to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. 

On Saturday, we'll be at Book World in Fond du Lac for Fondue Fest. The kids are so excited! They keep asking if they'll get to eat fondue. OH YEAH!!

Fondue Fest in Fond du Lac Wisconsin is a city wide, shut down the streets party and we'll be there as a part of it. I'm hoping to arrive a little before 9:00am and stay til we run out of books.  I'm not sure what else to tell you about it except we'll be there and hope you can come over too!

While I am in Fond du Lac, my Travelling Author Board will be at Martifest. Martifest began seven years ago as a group of friends getting together and jamming for a night. It evolved into a fund-raising effort and over the course of the years, have raised over $33,000. Yeah, it's that awesome. 

There is food, a silent auction and yes, lots and lots of music. This year, look for A Foster's Tail on one of the tables. A portion of the sales goes back to the host and the rest to feed homeless dogs.

I know that it may seems a ways off, but there are several events coming up in September, one in October and one in November already. Here's a quick run down so you can mark your calendar if I'm going to be near you.

September 8 - Fondue Fest, Fond du Lac, WI - Book World

September 8 - Martifest - Traveling Author Board, Concord, WI

September 22 - Oconomowoc Public Library - Hello to my Hometown. Hope you can all join me at 1:00p

September 29 - Minooka Park, Waukesha, WI - Fluffy Dog Walk - Come on out and meet some Fluffies and take a walk around Beautiful Minooka Park!  We'll be there at 10am

September 30 - People's Books Co-op - 804 E. Center St., Milwaukee - Starts at 4:00p Going to be reading out of the book! Bring a tissue, I've picked out some good samples!

October 16 - Book World Beaver Dam, WI - 25th Anniversary Celebration! 11am 

November 10 - Fireside Books, West Bend - Annual Holiday Kick-Off Party! Fun starts at 10:30am! 

So far, that's all I've got! Hope to see you at one of the events. I'm always on the look out for more cities and bookstores to go to. Next may be the Appleton - Green Bay Area! Also, I'm working on going to Illinois as well. Will keep you posted! Check back here or Check out our Facebook Page - A Foster's Tail.

Thank You for Reading! Thank You for Thinking Rescue!


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

New Events! New Stores!

Hard to believe its been a month since I've posted on this blog. I've been a bit busy lining up new book stores and events for you to visit!

I've been visiting all over Wisconsin and placed books in a lot of stores.

In the early part of August, the kids and I went to Minoqua & Eagle River and placed books at Book World's in both cities. We also had the awesome opportunity to be "on air" on WRJO with Menomonee Falls native, Mike Wolf.

After our big radio debut, we drove a little further to Hazelhurst and caught up with our previous foster, Chancey. At first he didnt recognize the kids as both of them had grown so much since the last time he saw them. After a few treats, Chancey was much better. It is always so wonderful to see our foster's again.

We've seen quite a few of them this summer. 

We stopped at Carter's house and hung out with his mom and later his dad for a bit. Karma was also here at The Lodge for a few days while her mom was away for work. At the first book event we did, several foster's came to cheer us on! Isabella, Carter & Teddy!

More recently, we were a little closer to home in Beaver Dam. We met up with LueAnn and placed some books in her Beaver Dam Book World location. We will be there in October celebrating Book World's 25th Anniversary. Look for us there on Tuesday, October 16th at 11am. I'll also be interviewed on the Beaver Dam radio station but I have no times for you yet. Stay tuned, Beaver Dam!

Here is the latest schedule of events for those who would like to come out and talk dog!

Sat., Sept 8 - Fondue Fest, Fond du Lac - Book World, 9a - 12p

Sat., Sept 22 - Oconomowoc Public Library - 1p - 4p

Sat., Sept 29 - Minooka Park, Waukesha, WI - First Annual Fluffy Dog Walk - Come out and meet some Fluffies and learn how to become a foster mom to a needy pup!

Sun., Sept 30 - People's Books Cooperative, 804 E. Center St., Milwaukee, 4p - 7p

If you have questions about a location or would like to see A Foster's Tail in a store near you, please email me at m.r.grade@gmail.com

If you're into Facebook, check out our Facebook Page for all the fun pictures and event reminders. 

Thank You for reading!!

Monday, July 30, 2012

After Event Blog

WoW - Thank you all for coming over to the Taste of Lake Country book signing event over at End of the Leash on Saturday. We had a beautiful day with breezes coming off of Pewaukee Lake. The sights, smells  and sounds from the party just down the block were incredible.

I got my first email regarding back to school this morning from one of the kids principals at school. Man, just not ready for the chaos of getting everybody back to school. UGH.

However, I know I cant speak for everybody but I've had enough of the hot and humid. I know I'll whine about how cold it is but for now I'm done.

In August we'll work on putting some polish on the event kit. Maybe some better photos of the fosters in the album I have. Maybe some fancy stuff for the event table. 

I've got three dates for event lined up for September - 8th, 22nd & 29 - We'll be in Fond du Lac, Oconomowoc & The East Side of Milwaukee, respectively.

I'm also going to  be researching some other book stores in Wisconsin and Illinois. Maybe head over towards Oshkosh & Madison. Maybe head down towards Gurnee & Wheaton. 

I'm up for taking suggestions as well. 

What I'd really like to do is travel to Missouri and Alabama to meet the volunteers who start the ball rolling and sending the dogs northward.We're friends on Facebook but I would really like to get a flavor of how it really is down south.

That's all I've got for today. 

Thank You for Reading! Thank You for Thinking Rescue!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

More Stores - A Foster's Tail is on Vacation!

I love road trips! I love summer road trips with my kids. 


Yesterday we had an adventure to Minoqua, Eagle River and Hazelhurst.


We started out with some rather dicey weather here in southeastern Wisconsin that turned into the most beautiful day up north!


On Highway 51, we watched (and laughed hysterically) when a crop duster plane, who was practicing his maneuvers, buzzed the oncoming traffic. I'm glad I was in the outgoing lane. Eek.  Funny for us. Not so much those other guys.


In Minoqua, we left some books at the Book World and knocked around a bit. It's very pretty up there. Have been all over Wisconsin but never there. Very nice. We'll have to go back and stay longer. If you want to check out the store locations - click Book World


After that, we headed over to Eagle River and to a local radio station. A friend of mine is the Program Director for several stations and offered to put us all on the air and talk about the book. How cool was that? The DJ's name is Mike Wolf and the station is WRJO-Oldies. If you google it, you can listen online anywhere. The link is here - WRJO


The kids got a kick out of it and I guess I probably did too. The station is located inside an old bank building. Kiera was expecting it to look like the set from Frazier. Yeah, maybe in the big city. 


After the interview we drove to bustling downtown Eagle River and dropped off some books the Book World  - Check it out if if you're up there - Book World


The final destination of our trip was an old friend's house. Our foster dog, Chancey, if you remember him from the book, lives up there and we couldn't go all that way and not stop in to see him and his family. It was great to see them. At the outset, he didnt remember us. Who could blame him? Both kids have grown and changed significantly in three years - he growled a little at Connor. After some bribes of dog treats, Connor and Chancey were buddies again. 


It was sad to leave all of our friends in the north, but we had to head home. 


So here's to road trips, seeing old friends and bad Karaoke in the car. YIKES!


Thanks for reading and Hope to see you this weekend at Taste of Lake Country in Pewaukee on Saturday!



Saturday, July 21, 2012

News from the Event Department

The Promotions Department here at The Lodge asked me to remind everyone of all of A Foster's Tail's events coming up in future days. I said, "Yeah yeah, I'm on it."


I've been working on all kinds of stuff for everyone to see at the next couple of events. First of all, I'd like to thank my friends Pandy and Doris, who wrote Dancers at Heart, for the great example they set for me at the event we were at together. They came rolling up to Martha Merrell's and unfolded a whole lotta great stuff for their book. We had a little time while we people watched and I took a look at some of the fabulous things they brought along.


At the time, all I had was my great little Labrador bag that my friend Judy had sewn for me. I made the best of it but knew I should probably make a little more of an effort for the next event.


The next event is next weekend at Taste of Lake Country in Pewaukee. Saturday afternoon at 2:00pm at End of the Leash Store right on Wisconsin Avenue across from the beach. Hope you can come over for a bit!


I pulled some ideas together and came up with my own little event in a rolling backpack. I sewed a table cover for my table. Its kind of a wild print so it catches the eye. I've got a stand alone picture describing A Foster's Tail and a little bit about me, one for Facebook, and one for Pinterest.


I've also put together a Photo Album with pictures of the first twenty fosters. I went back and looked at my photo CDs and the previous blog posts and ... I have to admit, I got a little teared up. We've had some amazing dogs through our doors. The toughest dogs were, of course, the Labradors ...


The Labrador Phase started with Jasper, next was General Enzo, Sir, Denali, Axel, Cesar, Chocolate Will, and finally Carter. Such great dogs. And it wasnt just the Labs; they've all touched my heart in different ways.


I hope that you can come to one of the upcoming events. I'd love to meet you all in person and hear your stories. Every time I mention that we foster dogs, everyone has a story to tell. I should be writing them all down. They would make a great next book. No, there is not a next book on the desk just yet. I'm trying really hard to focus my energies on getting this one rolling, scheduling events and the like.


Here's the calendar as it stands on July 21. I may be adding more dates and times so stay tuned, watch the Facebook wall for info and pictures!


Saturday July 28 ... 2p - 6p - Taste of Lake Country at End of the Leash, 115 W. Wisconsin Ave.,            Pewaukee


Saturday Sept 8... 9a - 1p - Fondue Fest at Book World, 85 S. Main St., Fond du Lac


Saturday Sept 22 - 1p - 3p - Oconomowoc Public Library, 200 W. South St., Oconomowoc, WI


Additionally, I'm working on getting some more books placed at some stores up in the Manitowoc Area and also, rumor has it I will be on the radio with Mike Wolf of WRJO doing a live interview. They broadcast online as well and I'll let you know what day & time. 


Mike will be doing a couple of book giveaways too! So stay tuned!


Thank you for Reading!!



Sunday, July 15, 2012

An Event An Event Mark Your Calendar for a Foster's Tail Event!!

Today I was in Mukwonago visiting with Susie who owns End of the Leash in both Mukwonago and Pewaukee to see if I could leave some books at her store. She invited A Foster's Tail, complete with a foster dog of my choice to come to their new store for an huge event on Saturday, July 28. 


The event is for Taste of Lake Country and it officially kicks off on Friday night June 27 but A Foster's Tail wont be there until Saturday afternoon at 2:00pm. If you want to visit their link, Taste of Lake Country, to check it all out before handTaste of Lake Country 2012 - It looks like its going to be a really fun time!


If you live near either End of the Leash store in either Pewaukee or Mukwonago, check out their both their store and their blog (updated on Wednesdays) at End of the Leash Blog - The blog has all sorts of good stuff in it. The latest post has some helpful info about housetraining. Who couldn't use help with that??


Watch for more info about the event in upcoming days! 


Are you on Facebook? Our page is A Foster's Tail! Like it!