Book Launch Event
Rob Kugler, author of
A Dog Named Beautiful
Weds., May 8th, 6:30pm
at Double Mountain Brewery in Hood River
Waucoma Bookstore is hosting local author Rob Kugler for his book launch at Double Mountain Brewery (8 4th St., Hood River) on Weds., May 8th at 6:30pm. Rob will be discussing his new book A Dog Named Beautiful, an uplifting and unforgettable story of a US Marine, his extraordinary dog, and the road trip of a lifetime.
About the Book
When US Marine Rob Kugler returned from war, and learned that his beloved Chocolate Lab Bella had metastasizing osteosarcoma, he hit the road with her for a trip of a lifetime—a story that went viral and inspired thousands on social media. In A DOG NAMED BEAUTIFUL: A Marine, a Dog, and a Long Road Trip Home, his heart-warming and unflinchingly honest memoir, Kugler interweaves stories of his blue-collar childhood in Nebraska and as a US Marine deployed in Iraq, with the life-affirming road trip he took with Bella, offering never-before-shared lessons he learned from her and the strangers they met along the way.
Kugler and his girlfriend decided that a dog could be the perfect companion to keep her company until he returned home from Iraq. After seeing an ad in the local paper, they’d gone to visit with the teenager who was offering up Labrador puppies—Rob thought he was there to choose a dog, but she chose him instead: running up and jumping on a fence to get a closer look, tail-wagging. Rob, meet Bella.
After serving in Iraq, Kugler had not only given up years of his life in service to his country, but he had lost a brother in the fighting as well. Grief-stricken and struggling with personal demons, Kugler found solace and relief in the one thing that never failed to put a smile on his face: Bella. With unconditional love, she was the friend Kugler didn’t know he needed. But when Bella was diagnosed with cancer, his lifeline was literally dying. In a heartbreaking decision, Rob decided to amputate Bella’s afflicted leg to extend her life. With only a few precious months left with his best friend, Rob knew there was only one thing left to do—he packed their bags, chose a route, and hit the road with his best friend.
In the tradition Travels with Charley, Marley and Me and Julie Barton’s Dog Medicine, Kugler takes readers on an incredible journey. His thoughtful and deeply personal reflection on his darkest moments—being deployed in Iraq, mourning the death of brother, getting over a divorce, and wrangling suicidal thoughts—is what makes this dog story so universally human. Called “engaging” and “heartwarming” by Kirkus, and a “tribute to the armed forces” by Booklist, this sometimes dark, but always illuminating story about how a dying dog showed one man how to fully live, will leave readers awe-inspired.
About the Author
Former US Marine Staff Sergeant Rob Kugler is a storyteller, photographer and writer. When he’s not on the road, he splits his time between the Pacific Northwest and Nebraska.
Email or call for price