September 4, 2025 • 17 mins
Maria chats with elementary school teacher (30 years as an educator!) and children's book author Lori Skala about her books The Road To Rosie and The Hair Tie. Proceeds from Lori's books go to animal rescue and pediatric cancer, her two passions.
Give a listen and learn about Lori and her mission.
Lori can be found on IG at storyloribooks or visit her website storyloribooks.com.
Give a listen and learn about Lori and her mission.
Lori can be found on IG at storyloribooks or visit her website storyloribooks.com.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Maria's MUDs and Stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff and with me today. Well, actually,
she's a very special guest because she's a very devoted
listener to Q and O four point three. And I
actually missed meeting her at our big promotion of Grand
in the Sand. And then I was told by our
promotions people that Laurie Scala is well, she's an educator,
(00:31):
she's a children's book author, and she donates her proceeds
to pediatric cancer and animal rescue. So Laurie, welcome, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Maria, thank you so much for having me. And I'm
so upset that I missed you.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Me too at the advent. I know me too. I
actually I had a family thing that was planned for
many many months in advance, so there was you know,
I had to go to the family function. But because
we have such great people who work with us here
at the QUE and then David told me all about
you and said, oh, Laurie, you know does this and
(01:07):
blah blah blah, and I'm like, great, let's chat. So
let's let's talk about you. How did this all start
for you? You're an educator, So that means you've been teaching,
is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Thirty years?
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Starting my thirty first year and two weeks yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Wow, congratulations. And I'm going to assume because their children's
book you teach elementary school.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Very good. Yeah yeah, okay, kinder Gordon first and second,
and I've been in second for the longest okay.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And then when did you start writing the children's books?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So that's a bit of a story. So I've always
wanted to be two things my whole life. I always
wanted to be a teacher, and I've always wanted to
be an author of a children's book. So I was
diagnosed with bust cancer eleven years ago, okay. And so
right after that, my dog Jasper was diagnosed with cancer,
literally like four days after.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
I was I'm sorry, I'm both yes.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Thank you. And his diagnosis and I'm sure you could
understand was worse than mine, of course, like I you know,
to hear he had it was worse than me having it.
And so he passed about two weeks later, and I
went through what I had to do and treatments and
surgeries and all kinds of things, and the entire time
I had so much help that, I said, I have
to give back, So I wrote, I was watching this
TV show called Lucky Dog, and I'm sure you now dog. Yeah,
(02:32):
so we trained rescue dogs for what they you know,
want to baby for. People don't realize what rescues can be. Correct,
And so I wrote into the show and so I
was filmed on Lucky Dog is where I got my
soul dog. Rosie, and Brandon trained her to be a
therapy dog. And that was my way of giving back.
So we went to you know, hospitals all over New Jersey.
(02:54):
I brought her to school with me. Millions of dogs
got adopted just from meeting Rosie because here's a rescue.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Sure, a rescue, right, I know they do. They get
a bad rap when there's really nothing wrong with them
at all. But that's a whole nother story. But yes, yes, yeah,
could next potcast Yes exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
After a few years, she something you know, was wrong,
like with her back legs. So I took her to
the bed. They weren't sure what it was. They did
a bunch of tests, thought it was her stomach. Long
story long. She ended up jumping off the couch. Back
legs were paralyzed. Oh, sy emergency surgery and she was fine,
you know, she was walking again after months and months,
but unfortunately it was in a diaper. And now I
(03:34):
was told, and I don't speak ill of anyone, but
I was told, no longer would she be reinstated as
a therapy dog with a diaper. Seriously, I couldn't yet, Yeah,
thank you, And I couldn't believe it because she was
you know, she used to walk miles of me. Now
she can only walk on maybe a mile. So I
got her dog stroller. So here she is a dog
(03:55):
stroller a diaper.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
What better exactly exactly? I mean, people wear diapers and
nobody knows about it, like it's okay, Yeah, that's awful.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah. And I called several and no one would do it.
Nobody would even like look at or anything, which I
was so net. We've changed millions of lives. So here,
Now what do I do? Well, guess what your comes?
Stream Number two. I'm going to write a children's book
and I'm going to give all the proceeds to pediatric
cancer because that's very near and dear to my heart
(04:26):
and animal rescue. I'm going to split. So I wrote
a book about Rosie and I on our journey and
how you know she was on the streets in California
I had cancer, and how your darkest times can lead
you to your brightest ones because had I never had cancer,
never would have met Rosie. And it's written from her perspective,
and it's all about you know, I mean, I end
(04:47):
it with who rescued you?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And sure you would of course, of course, and yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
You know, and it didn't. It's not in any bookstores
or on Amazon because I literally donate every penny and
they take you know, they would take too much money.
So it s sold strictly through me, you know, right right.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
And that's the road to Rosie.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Correct, the road to Rosie from rough to Rescue loved.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
So that was your first book. Now is The Hairtie
that's the second book? Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Correct?
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Then I actually had the idea for The Hairtie prior
to Rosie. But then my friends were like, wait a second,
I think you need to write about Rosie, And I said, well,
who would want to read a book about me and Rosie? Well,
for me in my big Mouth sold like fourteen hundred
copies already, which is great because and I said it too,
if I wrote a book, and I was just you know,
myself with the proceeds. You probably wouldn't even know I
(05:42):
wrote a book, but because I'm so passionate about giving back,
of course everyone I.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Meet, Yeah, of course, because follow me.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, so the hairtie? Did you want to hear about that?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yes? I do, No, no, no, I just wanted to ask you.
So The Road to Rosie is a year towards anyone
to read it? Adults, children, or is there any like
what was your audience anyone?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Okay, my audience is actually because I'm a teacher, you know,
I've told a million copies through my district that have
been in for thirty years. But people who have you know,
for baby showers, they're getting it because they're great pictures,
great illustrations, and people just love the dog. And then
it goes up to really, I mean I've done presentations
(06:23):
of somebody's fifth grader, sixth graders, they love it, okay,
seventh grade. So it really is a wide span.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, anyone could read it, yeah book. Yeah, Okay, now
that's really.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
To anyone, you know, if they can't read it, it's
a great read aloud, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Sure, yeah, yeah, it sounds like okay, and who you
had someone be the illustrator or did you do that?
Because that's a lot.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
That is a lot. My words are strictly that's my
whole partner.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Okay, okay, good, good, good, No, seriously, that's a lot.
The writer is you know, yeah, I can't draw a circle. Good.
I'm sure you can because you're and they can draw anything.
But okay, but it is a lot to write. So okay.
So that was the road to Rosie. And now tell
me about the hairtie.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
So the hairtye came about one of my very good friends.
Her daughter lost her battle to brain cancer at Eat
Them and so it to her thank you. Because every
time we want we run, we run for Kendle. So
I was running in my hometown of Red Bank, and
I was running for Kendle. I always the money for you, Kendall.
And I'm running and something happened during my run, and
(07:28):
I don't want to give it away because it's one
of the characters in the book, but I needed something
and I found a hairtie and I used it for
when I needed it to. And I finished the run,
and I wrote the entire book in my head. And
I came home and wrote the book and that's where
that came from. And then to help me with the
illustrator fees. There's actually you know, small businesses that are
(07:51):
you know on privately in the town that I live,
that are illustrated throughout the book. So they were like
so sweet and nice to kind of collaborate. And it's
all about you know, random acts of kindness, sure that
people don't even know. And it's about like a little
girl who's going to donate her hair for another child
who had cancer and lost her hair, okay, and she
(08:12):
drops her hair tie. And then all throughout, you know,
different characters use it for different things, and it's just
we're all tied together. You never know you know why
or how. Sure, you know just how everybody needs to
be kind to each other.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
And that's true, especially strangers, and especially in this day
and age, I think kindness is a forgotten It's just
forgotten from people because they're means sometimes many times, you know,
especially on social media, I feel like they are what
is it called keyboard warriors, and they I mean I've
said it on the air. People will say something, people
will write something to me, and I'm like, you would
(08:46):
never have the guts to say that to my face,
but the fact that you put it on social media,
it's like, are you kidding? Like just be nice. Yeah,
you know, even as.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Far as like everywhere I've gone from my whole life,
I've always like said, you know, the people to workers,
like I've always just acknowledged them by names, like oh hi, somebody,
how are you? You know, and just to look back
that they're so shocked that you're actually calling them by
name that it's just I know and I you know,
somebody at trup R it was like, wait, did you
(09:16):
just say hi to her by her name? And I said, yeah,
I always do that, and he said, I'm going to
do that from now on.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I'm like, thank you, yes, you look at you. You
paid it forward. I love it, Laurie, That's great, that's sweet. No,
that's great. Oh I love this is you have such
a good story and I love I actually have to
be honest, I have to read your books. I have
to get your books and read them because you know,
it doesn't matter if they're geared towards fifth or sixth graders,
(09:42):
because I could I could still read that, you know
what I mean, Because I mean I've spoken to other
authors who are same as you that they write them,
you know, for a younger audience, but any audience can
enjoy it because of the story. So and also because
of what you do with it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yes, yeah, and even like you know my dog walkers,
She said, wait a second, what a great idea for
my clients for Christmas present?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yes, exactly, I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Getting Rosie books for all of them, because a dog
lover is a dog lover. Correct, So any story you know,
and I've done, I do school assemblies. And at the
end when I do you know, when I first wrote
the Rosy book, I said, I will never be able
to read this aloud because the ending, and she was
she had she passed about a year and a half
go from cancer in one day. We just she was there.
And I still can barely. I mean, I'm sure you
(10:28):
understand that pain.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Oh no, yes, because that happened to me last year
and mine lasted eleven weeks with OSTEO sarcoma, which yeah,
he had cancer in his shoulder. So I completely understand.
And I still haven't been able to get another dog
because yes, it feels like it just happened. So I
one hundred percent know where you're coming from.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
I get it, and I do, and it's funny. I
hate to say it because I have friends I have
lost children, and they'll say to me, but Laurie, she
was your child, like I've had dogs, Marie, and I'm
sure you know she was my soul. I did recently
adopt another one in October, little Pretzel giving my money,
thank you. But you know it feels it a little bit,
(11:12):
but there's never it's never replacement. It's never a substitute.
Correct and very different, very different dogs. Like even now,
I'm like, wait, Rosie wasn't chewing everything.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Right, I know, but that means I have a feeling
that Pretzel is going to be U the what can
I say the basis for the next book.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Maybe we're not going to go there.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
I keep saying to and done, but no, no, no,
you can't do too and done. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
You know what's funny, Yeah, okay, we'll get back to that.
But what's funny is I was very adamant that I
wasn't getting another dog because I really didn't think that
I could put my heart and soul after being so heartbroken.
I know, but Rosie's favorite treats not that she had
him ever, but were Pretzels, and this doll's name was
Pretzel and every white little patch Rosie was black with
(12:00):
so random white patches. Russell has the exact same patches.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
On her body exactly. And I went to see her
and I wasn't going to do it until I heard
that she had spent ten months of her life in
a crate, never to be let out. Oh my y
has sores all over her legs.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Were awful. So I had no choice, right, right, of course.
But yeah, but you know what, it was just time,
and I know it will be time for me as
well for anyone, because there was something I read so
many years ago, a long, long, long, long time ago,
and it said, if you never have another dog after
you lose a dog, and it's probably the same thing
(12:38):
for cats, it means that the dog you had didn't
do its job, and that would be terrible, right, I know,
I know it's really awful, But that's always been in
the back of my head. And at any time I
lost a dog, I waited some time and I got
another one for some reason. This time it's just a
little bit longer, and I think it's just because it
was the cancer, and it was so sudden and and
I was so helpless, And I think those are all
(13:01):
to psychoanalyze it. I think that's what's preventing me. But
I do know I really miss the love of a
dog and having a dog in my home, so, you know,
And and I don't want it to be that my
last dog didn't do you know, Fredo didn't do a
good job, because of course he did. So I think
ultimately I will get one again. But isn't that weird
your reaction to what I just said. Isn't that crazy
(13:22):
that I read that one time a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
I'm still having trouble breathing because somebody said to me, like,
you were such a good jog parent, you have to
do it again because we don't have kids, right, so
my pets are my.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Kids, right, me too, Me too, Yeah, I don't have kids.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
And the only thing stopping is Maria was the fact
that I didn't want to go through the pain again
when me too, Me too, you know. So now Pretzel
has a cloth and I'm like, oh my gosh, right.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I know, you know, of course, Oh, but I'm happy
for you. I'm so happy for you. Thank god, Fretzel.
See that's good. That's really good.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
It is it is. I saved one again. You did,
Like I said, I know, it's total. You know, she's
still like not you know, she's potty trained until she's not.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
She'll get there. How old is she? She young? She'll
get there, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
They said. They think she's probably just a little over
a year.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Oh she's a baby, that's why. Oh she'll get that.
She's still like a puppy. I mean, yeah, you got
time exactly. Yeah, she'll be No, she will, you will.
She's young. She's young, she's a baby. Said yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Oh, and I not for anything else, was professionally trained.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Yeah, very different. It's almost like they say, with kids,
you can't compare them. It's the same thing with animals.
You can't compare them exactly. Yep. Yeah. But I do
have an assignment for you because I want you to
and I know you pay attention to all this because
your teacher and teachers are always good with remembering stuff.
I want you your next book to be somehow connected
(14:50):
with Pretzel. Is that okay? Can I give you that assignment?
Am I supposed to do that? Or you're not giving this.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I'm really excited. I was so perked up for this.
I'm not wait, what is she gonna make me do?
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I want you to do. I want you to do
another book. It doesn't have to be tomorrow. It could
be like in five years, but I want you to
do a book but about Pretzel this time or something
with Pretzel. And you know what, you're a writer and
you're gonna get the idea and you're gonna be like,
oh my goodness, Maria said this, that's my assignment for you, Laurie.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
What all right? Okay, and you're gonna be nice. I'll
give you my first copy.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I would love that, and then we'll talk again because
I will talk about that book. So okay, I love this. Okay,
So right now for the two books that you have
with all the proceeds going to animal rescue and pediatric
cancer for anyone who's listening right now and they're intrigued.
And by the way, you have a really adorable website,
like there's so much stuff on it and I was like,
(15:42):
oh my god, I have to read this way wait,
I have to look up here. I have to like
It's very yeah, it's very full, but I like it
so is.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
It too busy, Maria? Is it too busy?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
No, I don't think it's too busy. No, it's not
too busy. It is busy, but it's not too busy.
Is that fair? A meaning? I looked at it and
went oh wow, and then I went to each section
and I learned different things. So it's good. It's not
like it's so busy that you go, oh, I can't
I my eyes can't focus. My eyes focused, and then
I read different parts and that's how I learned about you.
(16:12):
So it's a it's a good website and it's pretty.
I like the coloring. It's all good. Yeah, it's all good.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
It's like to match me and my personality.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Absolutely, absolutely positive.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
It is. So for the listeners, I would like them
to go to storyloribooks dot com and it's Lori l
o r I so s t o r y l
o r I books dot com. And you can also
follow Lauri on Instagram if you want to write, because
you sell your books through Instagram, is that correct? Or
(16:45):
the website?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
You a link to my website there as well.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
So okay, so on Instagram, it's the same story Lori
Books so you can follow her on Instagram and you
can learn about the books and you can get the books,
or you can go to storeloribooks dot com. So, Laurie,
this has been so wonderful. I'm so I'm sorry I
didn't meet you, but I feel like I know you
now and we will talk again and you'll keep me
(17:10):
posted yes, on on on what you're doing and pretzel
and stuff. Do you promise, Oh?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
I promise? And I also want if when we're finished,
here a place where I can send you both copies
because you have.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
To read them now, Okay, okay, we will definitely do that. So,
Laurie Scala, thank you so much. Storyluribooks dot com and
you can order books, or you can also just follow
her on Instagram and see all she does story Loriibooks
on Instagram. Thank you so much for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Thanks Maria,
It's Maria's MUDs and Stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
What a great idea on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to Maria's Mutts and Stuff and with me today. Well, actually,
she's a very special guest because she's a very devoted
listener to Q and O four point three. And I
actually missed meeting her at our big promotion of Grand
in the Sand. And then I was told by our
promotions people that Laurie Scala is well, she's an educator,
(00:31):
she's a children's book author, and she donates her proceeds
to pediatric cancer and animal rescue. So Laurie, welcome, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Maria, thank you so much for having me. And I'm
so upset that I missed you.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Me too at the advent. I know me too. I
actually I had a family thing that was planned for
many many months in advance, so there was you know,
I had to go to the family function. But because
we have such great people who work with us here
at the QUE and then David told me all about
you and said, oh, Laurie, you know does this and
(01:07):
blah blah blah, and I'm like, great, let's chat. So
let's let's talk about you. How did this all start
for you? You're an educator, So that means you've been teaching,
is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Thirty years?
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Starting my thirty first year and two weeks yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Wow, congratulations. And I'm going to assume because their children's
book you teach elementary school.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Very good. Yeah yeah, okay, kinder Gordon first and second,
and I've been in second for the longest okay.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And then when did you start writing the children's books?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So that's a bit of a story. So I've always
wanted to be two things my whole life. I always
wanted to be a teacher, and I've always wanted to
be an author of a children's book. So I was
diagnosed with bust cancer eleven years ago, okay. And so
right after that, my dog Jasper was diagnosed with cancer,
literally like four days after.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
I was I'm sorry, I'm both yes.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Thank you. And his diagnosis and I'm sure you could
understand was worse than mine, of course, like I you know,
to hear he had it was worse than me having it.
And so he passed about two weeks later, and I
went through what I had to do and treatments and
surgeries and all kinds of things, and the entire time
I had so much help that, I said, I have
to give back, So I wrote, I was watching this
TV show called Lucky Dog, and I'm sure you now dog. Yeah,
(02:32):
so we trained rescue dogs for what they you know,
want to baby for. People don't realize what rescues can be. Correct,
And so I wrote into the show and so I
was filmed on Lucky Dog is where I got my
soul dog. Rosie, and Brandon trained her to be a
therapy dog. And that was my way of giving back.
So we went to you know, hospitals all over New Jersey.
(02:54):
I brought her to school with me. Millions of dogs
got adopted just from meeting Rosie because here's a rescue.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Sure, a rescue, right, I know they do. They get
a bad rap when there's really nothing wrong with them
at all. But that's a whole nother story. But yes, yes, yeah,
could next potcast Yes exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
After a few years, she something you know, was wrong,
like with her back legs. So I took her to
the bed. They weren't sure what it was. They did
a bunch of tests, thought it was her stomach. Long
story long. She ended up jumping off the couch. Back
legs were paralyzed. Oh, sy emergency surgery and she was fine,
you know, she was walking again after months and months,
but unfortunately it was in a diaper. And now I
(03:34):
was told, and I don't speak ill of anyone, but
I was told, no longer would she be reinstated as
a therapy dog with a diaper. Seriously, I couldn't yet, Yeah,
thank you, And I couldn't believe it because she was
you know, she used to walk miles of me. Now
she can only walk on maybe a mile. So I
got her dog stroller. So here she is a dog
(03:55):
stroller a diaper.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
What better exactly exactly? I mean, people wear diapers and
nobody knows about it, like it's okay, Yeah, that's awful.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah. And I called several and no one would do it.
Nobody would even like look at or anything, which I
was so net. We've changed millions of lives. So here,
Now what do I do? Well, guess what your comes?
Stream Number two. I'm going to write a children's book
and I'm going to give all the proceeds to pediatric
cancer because that's very near and dear to my heart
(04:26):
and animal rescue. I'm going to split. So I wrote
a book about Rosie and I on our journey and
how you know she was on the streets in California
I had cancer, and how your darkest times can lead
you to your brightest ones because had I never had cancer,
never would have met Rosie. And it's written from her perspective,
and it's all about you know, I mean, I end
(04:47):
it with who rescued you?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And sure you would of course, of course, and yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
You know, and it didn't. It's not in any bookstores
or on Amazon because I literally donate every penny and
they take you know, they would take too much money.
So it s sold strictly through me, you know, right right.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
And that's the road to Rosie.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Correct, the road to Rosie from rough to Rescue loved.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
So that was your first book. Now is The Hairtie
that's the second book? Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Correct?
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Then I actually had the idea for The Hairtie prior
to Rosie. But then my friends were like, wait a second,
I think you need to write about Rosie, And I said, well,
who would want to read a book about me and Rosie? Well,
for me in my big Mouth sold like fourteen hundred
copies already, which is great because and I said it too,
if I wrote a book, and I was just you know,
myself with the proceeds. You probably wouldn't even know I
(05:42):
wrote a book, but because I'm so passionate about giving back,
of course everyone I.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Meet, Yeah, of course, because follow me.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, so the hairtie? Did you want to hear about that?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yes? I do, No, no, no, I just wanted to ask you.
So The Road to Rosie is a year towards anyone
to read it? Adults, children, or is there any like
what was your audience anyone?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Okay, my audience is actually because I'm a teacher, you know,
I've told a million copies through my district that have
been in for thirty years. But people who have you know,
for baby showers, they're getting it because they're great pictures,
great illustrations, and people just love the dog. And then
it goes up to really, I mean I've done presentations
(06:23):
of somebody's fifth grader, sixth graders, they love it, okay,
seventh grade. So it really is a wide span.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, anyone could read it, yeah book. Yeah, Okay, now
that's really.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
To anyone, you know, if they can't read it, it's
a great read aloud, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Sure, yeah, yeah, it sounds like okay, and who you
had someone be the illustrator or did you do that?
Because that's a lot.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
That is a lot. My words are strictly that's my
whole partner.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Okay, okay, good, good, good, No, seriously, that's a lot.
The writer is you know, yeah, I can't draw a circle. Good.
I'm sure you can because you're and they can draw anything.
But okay, but it is a lot to write. So okay.
So that was the road to Rosie. And now tell
me about the hairtie.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
So the hairtye came about one of my very good friends.
Her daughter lost her battle to brain cancer at Eat
Them and so it to her thank you. Because every
time we want we run, we run for Kendle. So
I was running in my hometown of Red Bank, and
I was running for Kendle. I always the money for you, Kendall.
And I'm running and something happened during my run, and
(07:28):
I don't want to give it away because it's one
of the characters in the book, but I needed something
and I found a hairtie and I used it for
when I needed it to. And I finished the run,
and I wrote the entire book in my head. And
I came home and wrote the book and that's where
that came from. And then to help me with the
illustrator fees. There's actually you know, small businesses that are
(07:51):
you know on privately in the town that I live,
that are illustrated throughout the book. So they were like
so sweet and nice to kind of collaborate. And it's
all about you know, random acts of kindness, sure that
people don't even know. And it's about like a little
girl who's going to donate her hair for another child
who had cancer and lost her hair, okay, and she
(08:12):
drops her hair tie. And then all throughout, you know,
different characters use it for different things, and it's just
we're all tied together. You never know you know why
or how. Sure, you know just how everybody needs to
be kind to each other.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
And that's true, especially strangers, and especially in this day
and age, I think kindness is a forgotten It's just
forgotten from people because they're means sometimes many times, you know,
especially on social media, I feel like they are what
is it called keyboard warriors, and they I mean I've
said it on the air. People will say something, people
will write something to me, and I'm like, you would
(08:46):
never have the guts to say that to my face,
but the fact that you put it on social media,
it's like, are you kidding? Like just be nice. Yeah,
you know, even as.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Far as like everywhere I've gone from my whole life,
I've always like said, you know, the people to workers,
like I've always just acknowledged them by names, like oh hi, somebody,
how are you? You know, and just to look back
that they're so shocked that you're actually calling them by
name that it's just I know and I you know,
somebody at trup R it was like, wait, did you
(09:16):
just say hi to her by her name? And I said, yeah,
I always do that, and he said, I'm going to
do that from now on.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I'm like, thank you, yes, you look at you. You
paid it forward. I love it, Laurie, That's great, that's sweet. No,
that's great. Oh I love this is you have such
a good story and I love I actually have to
be honest, I have to read your books. I have
to get your books and read them because you know,
it doesn't matter if they're geared towards fifth or sixth graders,
(09:42):
because I could I could still read that, you know
what I mean, Because I mean I've spoken to other
authors who are same as you that they write them,
you know, for a younger audience, but any audience can
enjoy it because of the story. So and also because
of what you do with it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yes, yeah, and even like you know my dog walkers,
She said, wait a second, what a great idea for
my clients for Christmas present?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yes, exactly, I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Getting Rosie books for all of them, because a dog
lover is a dog lover. Correct, So any story you know,
and I've done, I do school assemblies. And at the
end when I do you know, when I first wrote
the Rosy book, I said, I will never be able
to read this aloud because the ending, and she was
she had she passed about a year and a half
go from cancer in one day. We just she was there.
And I still can barely. I mean, I'm sure you
(10:28):
understand that pain.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Oh no, yes, because that happened to me last year
and mine lasted eleven weeks with OSTEO sarcoma, which yeah,
he had cancer in his shoulder. So I completely understand.
And I still haven't been able to get another dog
because yes, it feels like it just happened. So I
one hundred percent know where you're coming from.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
I get it, and I do, and it's funny. I
hate to say it because I have friends I have
lost children, and they'll say to me, but Laurie, she
was your child, like I've had dogs, Marie, and I'm
sure you know she was my soul. I did recently
adopt another one in October, little Pretzel giving my money,
thank you. But you know it feels it a little bit,
(11:12):
but there's never it's never replacement. It's never a substitute.
Correct and very different, very different dogs. Like even now,
I'm like, wait, Rosie wasn't chewing everything.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Right, I know, but that means I have a feeling
that Pretzel is going to be U the what can
I say the basis for the next book.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Maybe we're not going to go there.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
I keep saying to and done, but no, no, no,
you can't do too and done. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
You know what's funny, Yeah, okay, we'll get back to that.
But what's funny is I was very adamant that I
wasn't getting another dog because I really didn't think that
I could put my heart and soul after being so heartbroken.
I know, but Rosie's favorite treats not that she had
him ever, but were Pretzels, and this doll's name was
Pretzel and every white little patch Rosie was black with
(12:00):
so random white patches. Russell has the exact same patches.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
On her body exactly. And I went to see her
and I wasn't going to do it until I heard
that she had spent ten months of her life in
a crate, never to be let out. Oh my y
has sores all over her legs.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Were awful. So I had no choice, right, right, of course.
But yeah, but you know what, it was just time,
and I know it will be time for me as
well for anyone, because there was something I read so
many years ago, a long, long, long, long time ago,
and it said, if you never have another dog after
you lose a dog, and it's probably the same thing
(12:38):
for cats, it means that the dog you had didn't
do its job, and that would be terrible, right, I know,
I know it's really awful, But that's always been in
the back of my head. And at any time I
lost a dog, I waited some time and I got
another one for some reason. This time it's just a
little bit longer, and I think it's just because it
was the cancer, and it was so sudden and and
I was so helpless, And I think those are all
(13:01):
to psychoanalyze it. I think that's what's preventing me. But
I do know I really miss the love of a
dog and having a dog in my home, so, you know,
And and I don't want it to be that my
last dog didn't do you know, Fredo didn't do a
good job, because of course he did. So I think
ultimately I will get one again. But isn't that weird
your reaction to what I just said. Isn't that crazy
(13:22):
that I read that one time a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
I'm still having trouble breathing because somebody said to me, like,
you were such a good jog parent, you have to
do it again because we don't have kids, right, so
my pets are my.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Kids, right, me too, Me too, Yeah, I don't have kids.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
And the only thing stopping is Maria was the fact
that I didn't want to go through the pain again
when me too, Me too, you know. So now Pretzel
has a cloth and I'm like, oh my gosh, right.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I know, you know, of course, Oh, but I'm happy
for you. I'm so happy for you. Thank god, Fretzel.
See that's good. That's really good.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
It is it is. I saved one again. You did,
Like I said, I know, it's total. You know, she's
still like not you know, she's potty trained until she's not.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
She'll get there. How old is she? She young? She'll
get there, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
They said. They think she's probably just a little over
a year.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Oh she's a baby, that's why. Oh she'll get that.
She's still like a puppy. I mean, yeah, you got
time exactly. Yeah, she'll be No, she will, you will.
She's young. She's young, she's a baby. Said yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Oh, and I not for anything else, was professionally trained.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Yeah, very different. It's almost like they say, with kids,
you can't compare them. It's the same thing with animals.
You can't compare them exactly. Yep. Yeah. But I do
have an assignment for you because I want you to
and I know you pay attention to all this because
your teacher and teachers are always good with remembering stuff.
I want you your next book to be somehow connected
(14:50):
with Pretzel. Is that okay? Can I give you that assignment?
Am I supposed to do that? Or you're not giving this.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I'm really excited. I was so perked up for this.
I'm not wait, what is she gonna make me do?
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I want you to do. I want you to do
another book. It doesn't have to be tomorrow. It could
be like in five years, but I want you to
do a book but about Pretzel this time or something
with Pretzel. And you know what, you're a writer and
you're gonna get the idea and you're gonna be like,
oh my goodness, Maria said this, that's my assignment for you, Laurie.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
What all right? Okay, and you're gonna be nice. I'll
give you my first copy.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I would love that, and then we'll talk again because
I will talk about that book. So okay, I love this. Okay,
So right now for the two books that you have
with all the proceeds going to animal rescue and pediatric
cancer for anyone who's listening right now and they're intrigued.
And by the way, you have a really adorable website,
like there's so much stuff on it and I was like,
(15:42):
oh my god, I have to read this way wait,
I have to look up here. I have to like
It's very yeah, it's very full, but I like it
so is.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
It too busy, Maria? Is it too busy?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
No, I don't think it's too busy. No, it's not
too busy. It is busy, but it's not too busy.
Is that fair? A meaning? I looked at it and
went oh wow, and then I went to each section
and I learned different things. So it's good. It's not
like it's so busy that you go, oh, I can't
I my eyes can't focus. My eyes focused, and then
I read different parts and that's how I learned about you.
(16:12):
So it's a it's a good website and it's pretty.
I like the coloring. It's all good. Yeah, it's all good.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
It's like to match me and my personality.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Absolutely, absolutely positive.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
It is. So for the listeners, I would like them
to go to storyloribooks dot com and it's Lori l
o r I so s t o r y l
o r I books dot com. And you can also
follow Lauri on Instagram if you want to write, because
you sell your books through Instagram, is that correct? Or
(16:45):
the website?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
You a link to my website there as well.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
So okay, so on Instagram, it's the same story Lori
Books so you can follow her on Instagram and you
can learn about the books and you can get the books,
or you can go to storeloribooks dot com. So, Laurie,
this has been so wonderful. I'm so I'm sorry I
didn't meet you, but I feel like I know you
now and we will talk again and you'll keep me
(17:10):
posted yes, on on on what you're doing and pretzel
and stuff. Do you promise, Oh?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
I promise? And I also want if when we're finished,
here a place where I can send you both copies
because you have.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
To read them now, Okay, okay, we will definitely do that. So,
Laurie Scala, thank you so much. Storyluribooks dot com and
you can order books, or you can also just follow
her on Instagram and see all she does story Loriibooks
on Instagram. Thank you so much for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Thanks Maria,
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