End of Summer Book Tour & Other News

I have so many things to share about the second half of my summer 2026 book tour with My Life as an Asthmanaut! Are you strapped in? Because all the coverage you want is coming your way!

So, where did I leave off? Oh yes, Disability Pride Month. It feels like a million years ago now that September is here. On July 14th, I went to the Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Library in my birth town of Clearfield, PA for an author event as part of their dino-themed "Unearth a Story" summer reading program!

The event was a roaring good time! I met faces both familiar and new as I not only read my book but signed copies for those interested in purchasing. I was even asked to sign a clipping of the newspaper article that I had appeared in days prior. An author first!

I also got to pass out stickers that were custom-made by a local print shop. There were four templates. Which one is your favorite? I'm partial to the big one of Jacob for obvious reasons...

I finished out Disability Pride Month by working on my next online interview, which was posted on Stacey Bennett Ramirez's blog on July 27th. I took this opportunity to talk about the challenges of book promotion and the importance of perseverance after experiencing unsuccessful author events. I hope this interview helps other authors who find themselves struggling to sell their books:

https://www.staceybennettramirez.com/blog/my-life-as-an-asthmanaut-interview-with-author-jake-lockett

I wanted to maintain a strong momentum going into August. Because I had a great turnout for "Unearth a Story" in Clearfield, I researched other venues that also featured that program and soon booked a spot at Moshannon Valley Elementary's "Dinosaur Party on the Playground" event, the school's final summer reading session. 

I didn't get to meet the other special guests (Paw Patrol), which was a bummer. But I did have my largest audience of the entire tour, with a literal crowd of about 50 listeners of all ages! There were so many people that the reading required a second book to be held and flipped through by my sister. I don't think I've ever passed out so many stickers and bookmarks in my life! Truly a highlight of the summer!

Then on August 9th, National Book Lovers Day, I traveled over an hour from home to the next stop on my tour: the Watershed Journal bookstore in Brookville, PA! This was more of a personal event where I got to share my book for the first time with members of family who have been helping spread the word about my story since its release. I sold some copies here, too!

I went to the press about receiving my $2,000 Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The story was soon picked up by reporter Colette Costlow and published both online and in print in the Altoona Mirror. Now Colette has written two features about me! A screenshot of the full article from August 11th is below.

The image used in the newspaper story shows yours truly at my Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Library event beside SBDC Business Consultant Aleshia Marshall, who had aided me in securing the grant. I feel so grateful that she came out to Clearfield to support me. And I'm also grateful that my sister Maggie Ann took such a newspaper-ready pic!

On August 18th, I was informed that Skipping Stones Magazine reviewed My Life as an Asthmanaut! Skipping Stones was one of the first outlets to publish my writing back when I was an unknown struggling to break into the industry, so seeing a review of my nationally published book on their website, lovingly crafted by the stellar Megan Blattler, honestly felt like my writing journey had come full circle! My publisher loved the review so much that they posted it on my Amazon listing. I want to thank Arun N. Toké, the editor of Skipping Stones, for all his support and kindness through the years!

Since publication in April, I've done events at bookstores, a state conference, libraries, a YMCA, and a school playground. But there was one essential venue I had yet to visit: a daycare! So I decided to check that off my list, doing my final stop of the summer at Teeny Treasures Childcare in Clearfield, PA! I'm glad so many listeners really treasured the story and its messages on August 20th.

WHAT A SUMMER! So many events and memories! And so many surprises in between! I hope that in all my travels over the last few months, my book got to reach a lot of people who really needed to hear it and feel inspired.

And now that schools are back in session, I'd like to remind you that I'm available for classroom visits! My updated rates are below. And with the help of my grant to fund my small business as an author and asthma educator, I can now afford travel to school districts outside my region! So reach out, wherever you are!

Look forward to my next post, where I'll reveal some BIG updates about what I've been doing for the back-to-school season and Asthma Peak Month, which is THIS MONTH!

Until then, stay stellar!