Welp, in the Age of Coronavirus, it does not appear that I will be having any in-real-life book events (at least anytime soon), and while that is a giant bummer…it’s a pretty trivial problem, all things considered. But because I have put the last two years of my life into writing said book, it seems a little anticlimactic not to celebrate it in some form. Therefore: VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH PARTY (more on this below). And we are partnering with Hera the Dog Vodka and their Animal Spirits Foundation to try and raise a little money for a great cause while we’re at it.

Before we launch into the details about the party, a little more about Hera…this brand new vodka is as beautiful inside as she is out. Organic, Non-Gmo, and distilled seven times, she is a tasty little sip, but beyond that, every bottle sold gives back to animals in need through The Animal Spirits Foundation. It’s what happened when two career animal rescuers decided to find a more sustainable way to support the struggling rescues that are near and dear to their hearts. As it turns out, vodka is the way.

During normal times, a dollar from every bottle of Hera goes directly to support of local animal rescue groups (dogs, cats, wildlife—all the critters in need), but during these unprecedented times, Hera and The Animal Spirits Foundation have created the Pet Food Assistance Fund to help support those in the service and hospitality industry who have lost their jobs but have pets at home to care for. Currently, a whopping three dollars from every bottle sold will go to support this fund.

On a personal level, I truly believe in what The Animal Spirits Foundation is setting out to do. Before the pandemic, they were readying to launch mobile spay and neuter clinics throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Which is both incredible and incredibly daunting. All of that has come to a pause as the pandemic waters are being navigated. Both the vodka and the foundation are fledgling businesses that are also being hit hard by the current world health crisis, and yet, they are funneling even more of their bottom line towards helping others. It’s humbling, and I would really like to see them come out the other end of this crisis so that they can make the difference that they’ve worked so hard to manifest in this world.

How can you help? You can currently donate directly to the Pet Food Assistance Fund (to help both out of work hospitality industry folks and their pets), or you can buy a bottle (or two) of Hera the Dog Vodka.

Now: THE BOOK LAUNCH PARTY…

• WHEN

  • Saturday, May 2nd, 2020, at 5-6pm Pacific Time

• WHERE

  • My Instagram Stories LIVE

• WHY

  • Because I wrote a book and since I don’t get to do a normal book tour and have lots of real life parties, I’m going to celebrate virtually. Also, I want to try to raise some money for the Animal Spirits Foundation Pet Food Assistance Fund.

• WHAT

  • We’re going to make some drinks. And also drink them. There will be chickens. And special guests. And giveaways.

• WHO

  • We’ll be joined off and on throughout the broadcast by a few special guests, including:

    • Julia Pennington of Hera the Dog Vodka and The Animal Spirits Foundation will be filling us in on their mission.

    • An original song performed by Jess Meuse (Singer/Songwriter and American Idol Alum)

    • Some super secret special guests that may or may not be of the four-legged variety.

    • A semi-quasi-original song performed by the ball of delight that is Joy Hernandez.

    • My husband. Because he is stuck in quarantine and also life with me.

    • AND YOU!!!!! I want you all to come to the party prepared with a cocktail, a chicken (or chicken-adjacent friend—Dog? Llama? Guinea pig? SURPRISE ME—safely surprise me, please don’t pop in with an angry Cassowary or something), and my book, if you’ve got it! I’ll be randomly accepting requests from you guys to join in on the live, and we’ll have interactive games with prizes to be won.

• ALSO WHAT

  • In the days leading up to the party, we are going to run some awesome giveaways (open to US residents 21+ only) on our Instagram in partnership with a few of my favorite peoples! Winners will be selected at random, contacted, and announced on Instagram, Monday May 4th.

    • Thursday, April 30th—our giveaways start with a 12x12” original Drinking with Chickens-inspired chicken painting from Emily Reid Art plus a signed (by me and the chicken of your choice) copy of my book. Look for a post on our Instagram feed and follow the instructions to enter there. Contest will run until 11:59 pm, Sunday, May 3rd. One winner will be chosen at random from the entries on Instagram.

    • Friday, May 1st—next up: a Chicken Neon Sign from the ever-amazing Brite Lite Tribe. Because: DUH. Winner will also receive a signed (by me + 1 chicken) copy of my book. Look for a post on our Instagram feed with instructions on how to enter. Contest will run until 11:59 pm, Sunday, May 3rd. One lucky winner will be chosen at random from the entries on Instagram, and contacted/announced there on Monday, May 4th.

    • And finally on Saturday, May 2nd, yet another lucky winner will win a Shop Drinking with Chickens gift certificate worth $350 to go on a wee spendy spree, plus a signed (by me + 1 chicken) copy of my book. Look for a post on our Instagram feed and follow the instructions to enter there. Contest will run until 11:59 pm, Sunday, May 3rd. One winner will be chose at random from the entries on Instagram and announced/contacted Monday, May 4th.

And don’t forget to donate if you can to the Pet Food Assistance Fund (to help both out of work hospitality industry folks and their pets), or you can buy a bottle (or two) of Hera the Dog Vodka to help support animals in need.

Hope to see you all Saturday, May 2nd, for some virtual tomfoolery! And cocktails. And chickens. Probably also some dogs…and cats. Possibly guinea pigs. Let’s just say that there’s going to be lots of creatures dropping in. And vodka. Lots of vodka.