Amy Chally, MSW, LSW
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Mark your calendar 

6/19/2017

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Dates for 2017
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Sept. 16 I​'ll be giving an Author Talk. 
Where: Montgomery Campus
                    1111 Reading Drive
                    Montgomery, IL 60538

                    Map
Time: 1:00 pm
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. Books available for purchase and signing. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
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Sept. 20 I​'ll be giving an Author Talk
Where: St. Charles Public Library
                 One South 6th Ave. 
                    St Charles, IL 60174
                    Map

Time: 4:30 pm
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. Books available for purchase and signing. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
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Oct. 3 I​'ll be giving an Author Talk
Where: Aurora Public Library - West Branch
                   233 S. Constitution Drive
                  
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Time: 6:30 pm
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. Books available for purchase and signing. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
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Oct. 21 I​'ll be giving an Author Talk
Where: Aurora Public Library - Eola Branch
                   555 S. Eola Road.
                   Map
Time: 10::30 am
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. Books available for purchase and signing. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
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Oct. 25 I​'ll be giving an Author Talk
Where: 127 James St,
                  Geneva, IL 60134

                   Map
Time: 7:00 pm
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. Books available for purchase and signing. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
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​Jan. 29 I​'ll be attending a book fair
Where: Downers Grove Public Library
                    1050 Curtiss St.
                    Downers Grove, IL 60515
Time: 1:30-4:30 pm
Details: Meet authors from the Downers Grove area and browse a selection of locally written books available for purchase and signing. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
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Feb. 25 I​'ll be speaking at a Local Author Talk
Where: Wheaton Public Library
                  
 225 N. Cross St.
                  Wheaton, IL 60187

Time: 11-11:45 am
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. A copy will be available to check out.
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 Mar. 18 I​'ll be speaking at a Local Author Talk
Where: Plano Community Library District                                 15 W. North St.
                   Plano, Illinois 60545

Time: 10:30-11:30 am
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. A copy will be available to check out.
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​Apr. 8 I​'ll be speaking at a Local Author Talk
Where: Naperville Public Library
                   NSL Mtg. Room A/B
                    
3015 Cedar Glade Dr,
                 Naperville, IL 60564.           
    
Time: 3-4 pm
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. A copy will be available to check out.
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Apr. 23 I​'ll be attending a book fair
Where: Gail Borden Public Library District
                 270 N. Grove Ave
                 Elgin, IL 60120

Time: 
2-4 pm
Details:
 Meet authors from the Elgin area and browse a selection of locally written books available for purchase and signing. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
Dates for 2016
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Sept. 10 I​'ll be attending a book-signing.
Where: Santori Library
                      101 S. River St.
                     Aurora, IL 60506
Time: 2-4 pm
Details: A free & family friendly event. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.


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Oct. 1 I​'ll be attending a book-signing.
Where: Oswego Public Library Dist.
                      32 W. Jefferson St.
                      Oswego, IL 6o543

Time: 9-1 pm
Details: A free & family friendly event featuring sessions, displays, and vendors. 15% of my book profits made at this event will go to Canine Companions.
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Oct. 8 I​'ll be speaking at a Local Author Talk:.
Where: Sugar Grove Public Library - Youth Lounge
                      125 S Municipal Dr, 
                     Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Time: 11-11:45 am
Details: A free & family friendly event. Join me as I lead a discussion about my book, "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time." A story about my life and my relationship with my first Canine Companions Service Dog, Yazzen. A copy will be available to check out.
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I NEED YOU!

5/19/2017

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If you've ever wondered how you can help authors Here's nine simple ways:
  1. Buy the book. And, encourage your friends to buy it, too!
  2. Give it as a gift. Give the book to friends and family. Don’t wait for the holidays; the sooner you buy, the more confidence you’ll inspire in your friend. Early sales generate more attention in the media and the public.
  3.  Recommend it to your friends. If you like the book, tell your friends. Tell everyone about it. Encourage them to buy it. I'm trying to drive up sales and cultivate a following.
  4. Review the book. To those who have read my book, please don't forget to post a review. After all, as Wayne Turmel says, "An online review is like applause for the writer." 
  5. Recommend it to local librarians and bookstores. Encourage them to buy the book.  Let them know the book is by a local author. The more people ask about a book, the more likely the bookstore will stock it.  Suggest they invite me in for a book signing. My book's already in five public libraries, but the more the merrier!
  6. Recommend the book to your book club. If you belong to a reading group, recommend it as your choice for the next book to read.  If you know other local book groups, encourage them to select it.  If you know book groups in other cities, encourage them too.  Tell them know how to get in touch with me to buy the book or to interview me as part of their discussion.
  7. Tell me what you like about the book. Provide support by telling me something you like about the book. Was it a good read? Did it move you to tears or laughter? Did you learn something new? Were you moved to take action? Also, in either part of my book was there anything you wanted more of, questions left unanswered anything more you'd want to know about my life or the dogs? I want to know what you thought, so I know how to improve on my next book. 
  8.  Network with me. You may have some talent, connection, specialized knowledge, etc. that might be just the thing I need.
  9. Social network with me. Post that you liked my book on Facebook or Tweet about it. Retweet and Share my posts. 
 

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2nd Annual Authors Fair at Gail Borden

4/23/2017

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 On this,  the one-year anniversary of my book being published, Portland and I spent a few hours hanging out with fellow author Wayne Turmel and 39 others at Gail Borden library’s second annual authors fair. It was fun and as always, I learned a lot. I am learning that marketing a book is even harder than writing one. I really feel that for now writing and sharing my story is what God wants me to do, but in order for me to do it well, I need to have “groupies!” In order for me to have a decent following, I need help getting my name out there.  If you read my book, you can help:
  • Please review it, and share it on Facebook, twitter and other social media outlets that you may use.
  • If you haven't read my book yet, better late than never. It is available on Amazon (in both paperback and Kindle), Barnes & Noble online and signed copies are always available through the shop on my website. It is also available in some libraries.
  • Finally, you may or may not know that I am also a motivational speaker. I can speak to the topics disability awareness (i.e. the importance of using person-first language), diversity, acceptance, and bullying. If you have heard me speak and you know of schools, community organizations, or service organizations (i.e. scouts) that could benefit from my message, please share my name and my contact information. I am always open to and looking for new places where I can share my message. For now, I need to stay within the western suburbs of Chicago or the city itself. For more information, click here.
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Downers Grove Book Fest

1/29/2017

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Portland & I at our third book fair.
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I'm discovering that attending book events can be fun! They're a good way to meet new people and find out what they like to read and also write. Today I met fellow first-time author Alexandra Georgas, author of Mom & Me: My Journey with Mom's Schizophrenia  She and I both have a strong desire to make a difference in people's lives through the sharing of our stories. I also met Lou Holly, author of Southside Hustle.
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A Note To My Readers

10/12/2016

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Thank you for all the support, it means so much. Thanks to you, over 100 copies have sold in almost six months.​  But I need reviews to attract more readers and help get the word out. Because lets be honest, having the person who wrote the book promote it, doesn't carry as much weight as other readers who promote it. So do me a favor, once you read my book, review it, then pay it forward to new readers. Thanks!
If you haven't read my book yet, what are you waiting for? you're missing out on a really heartwarming and uplifting story!
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 6-20-16 To all those who have bought or read my book THANK YOU!  If you haven't, what are you waiting for? In the two months since its release, it's been well received and is ranked #547 (ranking changes daily) in books  pets & animal care > essays on Amazon, which is great! However, there are only two customer reviews and based on sales, it should have way more! Please help me out and once you read it Review it. Thanks!
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My Name In Lights

10/8/2016

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I never thought I'd see my name in lights, but there's a first time for everything, and today was it! I had my first author talk, and this video a is a recreation of what I shared. I also talked about why I decided to write and shared a little about Portland too, but not too much, since I'll write his story soon. He was in heaven, because after we finished, I put him on release and he got some love!  
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5th Annual Oswego Literary Festival

10/1/2016

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Felt blessed to share our story, Making Independence Happen, with local patrons on National Black Dog Day! Despite the rain, I still managed to sell half my inventory, making my second author fair a success!
I also got to see Adrienne Giordano again, a nice surprise! She's a fellow author and a friend to Kelsey Browning, who has Pharoah, my current service dog's (Portland) brother.
Your next opportunity to hear me share our story, will be on October 8th at 11 am, when I give an author talk at the Sugar Grove Public Library, Youth Lounge. ​
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Extra, Extra, Read All About Making Independence Happen!

4/25/2016

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Book Description
Most of us take for granted the ability to pull open a door, get up from our couch, or pick up a dropped pen. But for Amy Chally, these daily tasks were a challenge, until a very special friend came into her life.
Come along as Yazzen recounts an adventurous tale of his journey from a tiny pup to Amy’s invaluable partner in crime. Then, continue on the journey as Amy shares how with courage, faith, the love of her family and the assistance of her furry friend, she overcomes obstacles she faces in life.
Sample Chapter
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Hi! I’m Amy, a thirty-four-year-old licensed social worker with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, a condition caused by trauma to the brain, usually during or shortly after birth. All four of my limbs are affected by this condition, and because of high muscle tone (muscles that are constantly tight and contracted), I struggle to move and control the muscles in my arms and legs. As a result, my limbs are often stiff, and they don’t always do what I want them to do. I can walk with a walker, but I utilize a power chair and a service dog for independence and mobility in my daily life.
Hi! I’m Yazzen, a black Labrador–golden retriever crossbreed, trained by Canine Companions for Independence and the first member of Team Chally. As her service dog, I was trained to help Amy increase her independence while reducing her reliance on others. Amy and I worked and played together from July 31, 2005 until July 7, 2014. This is our story, divided into two parts. Part one is my story, from the time I was born to my life with Amy. Part two is Amy’s story about her choice to get an assistance dog and how she chooses to delight in diversity and defy her disability. I hope you learn a few things from reading both stories. First, I hope you learn how dogs like me help individuals with physical challenges and enrich their lives. Second, I hope you learn that people who are dealing with differences are not much different from you.
MY QUEST FOR A LIFE WITH A PURPOSE
My life was planned for me before it even began. My parents, Elodie and Hanford II, were breeders for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). CCI is an organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs, free of charge, to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities, including but not limited to cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome. CCI does not receive any government funding to cover the cost of training us, and it costs $45,000 to train and place just one dog. The organization breeds Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and crosses of the two breeds. They train their puppies as facility dogs, hearing dogs, skilled companion dogs, or service dogs, depending on the needs of the applicant.1
As breeders, my parents’ job was to bring puppies into the world, with the hope that those puppies would help others live more independent lives. My siblings—Yassy, Yvette, Yeena, Yoki II, Yakime, Yuma, Yolie, Yogi II—and I were born on November 23, 2003, in Silicon Valley, California.
Every CCI litter is assigned a letter of the alphabet and given names that are short and easy to say, but are very different from the commands we may learn. For instance, a CCI dog could never be named “Doug,” because “Doug” is too similar to “tug.” Even though my name is relatively short, people always misunderstand Amy when she says it, so she often has to spell it. The names can be chosen by the breeder caretakers, the general public, or by CCI, but the organization has the final say on all the litter names. You may be wondering how I got my name. I can tell you that CCI most likely named me after someone with the last name of Yazzen who donated to the cause (Larin and Cortez 2013).
We were the Y litter, my mom’s fifth and final litter before she stopped working for CCI. We were born at her home and lived there with her and her (breeder caretaker) family until we were eight weeks old. Then her family had the difficult job of taking us back to CCI’s national headquarters in Santa Rosa, California, and saying good-bye.
1 Author’s note: Facility dogs are dogs partnered with handlers that work in various settings, such as courts, schools, or hospitals. Hearing dogs are partnered with deaf or hard-of-hearing persons who need to be alerted to specific sounds. Skilled companion and service dogs are discussed in Amy’s Story.

Excerpted from "Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time" by Amy Chally. Copyright © 2016 by Amy Chally. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Author Profile: Amy Chally
Making Independence Happen, is written for 5th grade on up. It's my first book and I started writing it in 2012. Why? Well, like any author, I have a story to tell and I want to encourage anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in this world.
Reviews
Lifted up by a combination of stubborn determination and her religious faith Amy Chally and her service dog present an inspiring and educational look at capable canines and the work they can do to lighten the burden of those of us who tackle unusual challenges. Gerald A. Metz, M.D

What a great job on your book!! I learned so much from it! It helped me realize what not to do out in public when service dogs are working!! An eye opener! Ron

I just read your book & absolutely loved it!!! You did a remarkable job on it. It reminds me of the phrase "To dream of the person you'd like to be, is to waste the person you are."  (You can use that in your sequel.). I love how positive of a person you are. I'm sure anyone with a disability would feel good after reading your book & giving them hope that they can achieve things too. Many great days going forward!!!  Sandie

Amy's book is wonderful. She spoke at a therapy dog club meeting I belong to and is so inspiring. I really recommend her book to all ages. And if you ever get a chance to hear her speak you to will find that she is an incredible person. Sue

What a wonderfully engaging book. With truth and heartfelt emotions. Amy is such an inspiring young woman and I have the deepest respect and admiration for her. If I was in her shoes, I'm not sure I would be as strong and optimistic as she is. The love she and Yazzen shared can never be equaled. Claudette 

Where to Buy
Available for purchase on CreateSpace, Barnes & Noble online and Amazon. Available in paperback and Kindle Check it out!
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My Story's Coming To Fruition...

3/4/2016

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Tonight, I submitted my FINAL manuscript and cover to my self-publisher!  Now they're reviewing said manuscript, and will create a new master version that we will use for the interior of the book. Once the interior's complete, they'll review it and make sure it's ready for manufacturing and cataloging. When the review process is complete, I’ll select the final distributors for my book, provide them with a description (most of which, I’ve already done) and then they'll set the price. From there it'll be all about sales and Marketing!  

A release date for the paperback and Kindle versions of Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time© may still be a few months away, but it's coming, promise. Stay tuned! 

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