Update:

I'm pleased to announce that we have met the minimum goal to support publishing a paperback version of Asha: Lessons in Hope and Life!  There is still time to participate and any funds above the $6500 goal will be used to market and introduce the book to a larger audience. It will also allow us to donate to some causes close to our heart.

The Story of Asha: Lessons in Hope and Life

Asha: Lessons in Hope and Life is the story of an unusual, often unwelcome teacher and the ways in which she imparts her lessons onto the life of the one who loves her the most. When Tracy adopts Asha, she is searching for validation that she is a good person, what she gets is so much more than that. All of Tracy’s doubts and insecurities come to the surface and she can no longer deny that she does not like who she has become. Only when her world comes crashing down is she able to find a way to rise into the life she always wanted. Using all she has learned from Asha, she finds truth and happiness in ways she never expected.

My name is Tracy Richards and I am the author of Asha; Lessons in Hope and Life. I wrote this book because I wanted to tell our story. I have been living with Asha for 11 years now, much of that time has been a struggle and up until now I have only told the parts that I thought people wanted to hear. It was finally time to tell it all and really examine the impact Asha has had on my life.

My hope is that, in reading this book, you will discover the challenges in your life that have taught you the most, I want you to see this book as an opportunity to realize that we are all connected. It will also allow you to overcome the obstacles you face and realize that at some point, life has brought each of us to our knees. You are not alone.

You will love this book if you have ever found yourself living a life you weren’t sure you wanted, if you have ever questioned what you thought you knew about yourself, if you have ever loved an animal or if you just want to believe that magic surrounds us all.

Asha: Lessons in Hope and Life speaks to those who found the way out of darkness and also to those who are still wondering how to rise.

Ultimately, I hope that Asha: Lessons in Hope and Life inspires reflection, pressing into engaging questions like:

• What happens when I don’t like who I have become?
• Is this as good as it gets for me?
• Am I am the only one who feels like this?

I really look forward to exploring these questions and beyond with my readers!

What We Need & What You Get

My book will be published with New Degree Press. I set up the pre-order tiers to help cover the costs for publishing my book. Money raised will go toward the following:

• The Editors I will work with to revise and publish my manuscript.
• The Cover Design of my book. (The mockups you see currently are a placeholder!)
• The Layout Design for the interior of my book (physical copy, ebook formats).
• The Copy Editing for my book to polish the grammar and spelling prior to publication.
• The Launch & Promotion Efforts for my book when I ultimately publish.

I am also offering some exclusive rewards for people who pre-order now:

• You will receive a personally signed copy of my book when I publish and a handwritten thank-you note.
• Your name will appear in the Acknowledgments section of my book (“with Special Thanks to”).
• You will receive early access to the Introduction and some excerpts from my book, with the opportunity to review it and give me early feedback.
• You will have the opportunity to be involved in selecting my cover and title.
• You will be invited to join my Author Community and get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the publishing process.
• And more!

Campaign Goals

When I hit $6500, the softcover editions get published (this is the minimum needed).
Any funds raised above and beyond that will allow for printing of a hardcover, production of an audio book and the opportunity to donate to organizations close to my and Asha's heart!

About the Author

Tracy Richards is an animal lover and advocate living near Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Reiki Master, certified in Animal Reiki, an Energy Teacher, Healer and student of The Universe.

Tracy spent a lifetime losing herself. Every decision seemed to take her further away from the person she remembered being and closer to someone she didn’t like. Then she met a deaf and blind puppy named Asha and her transformation out of the darkness was set in motion. Over time, she became curious about the lessons this dog was teaching her.

Tracy, like many of us, has lived a life full of obstacles and challenges. Only after the reality she had so carefully crafted came crashing down did she realize that she had the power to choose how to move forward. And so she chose.

For more information, you can connect with Tracy Richards at tracy@tracyrichards.co and Instagram
Facebook  
 

International Orders

At this time, books can only be shipped to addresses in the United States. If you would like to support the campaign in the meantime, I encourage you to purchase the eBook perk. 

Risks & Challenges

The biggest challenge with publishing a book is delivering the finished book to the backer, specifically my mailing of the book to you. I have eliminated this risk by building into the campaign the mailing and shipping costs of your signed copies to you within each pre-order tier. For international backers, please see section above.

The risk of delivering the pre-sale copies of my book is contingent on the publisher we use. I will be working closely with New Degree Press to make sure we get the earliest possible ship date of the signed book copy to you. We will keep all pre-sale backers up-to-date as my book hits each key milestone and publishes. You will know when the copies are expected to ship.

Other Ways You Can Help

Not everyone can support, but that doesn't mean you can't get something out of it!
I will reward the top 3 people who refer the most backers at the end of the campaign (30 days). Here's how:

At the top of the campaign page, you will see the "share" buttons. Click on the "chain" icon to get a custom link just for you. (Note: don't use the URL in the browser window as it won't work to track referrals and you won't get credit ?)

Copy that link and paste it on your social media, email it to a friend, or text a fellow book lover.

When someone clicks on that link and backs the book, you get 1 entry!