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# Debbie LaChusa

Writer. Artist. Online Teacher.

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://debbielachusa.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://debbielachusa.com/blog/)
- [Embracing My Wisdom and Writing About it](https://debbielachusa.com/embracing-my-wisdom-and-writing-about-it/) - I've embraced my age and my gray hair, and now I'm embracing my wisdom. Perhaps it's more accurate to say I'm excavating it, one memoir story at a time.
- [Why Memoir? Why Now?](https://debbielachusa.com/why-memoir-why-now/) - I've felt called to write a memoir for more than a year. Coincidentally, I realized I've been reading memoir for the past few years. Always a nonfiction reader, my previous book choices were usually in the personal development or self help genre. I read to learn, to grow, to understand life... mine and other people's.
- [Author vs. Writer](https://debbielachusa.com/author-vs-writer/) - I've written for as long as I can remember. I majored in Journalism in college. But I never considered myself a writer. I was a business person and marketer who wrote, a woman who journaled. I wrote with an agenda: to educate, market, sell, share, and understand and process life. Professionally, I labeled myself an
- [Life through a writer's eyes](https://debbielachusa.com/life-through-a-writers-eyes/) - Studying memoir writing changes the way you view life. There's a small black spiral bound notebook on my desk. The cover is turned back exposing a blank page, the previous pages already filled with ideas and lists. Ever since enrolling in a memoir writing course, the notebook has become a repository for story ideas that
- [Transforming personal stories into art](https://debbielachusa.com/transforming-personal-stories-into-art/) - According to my memoir writing teacher, memoir is about turning our personal stories into art. Art with meaning. Art with a message. Art that heals. Art written in service of others. Art people can relate to and resonate with. Art that provides the reader with a perspective that just might help them in their own
- [Lucky Dog](https://debbielachusa.com/lucky-dog/) - As he handed me off to my future husband, the words escaped quietly from his mouth, “Lucky Dog.” The crowded church was full of wedding guests but those words meant for just two people: my fiancé and me. The softly spoken phrase fell from his lips through a wide smile, his eyes focused directly on
- [From Journalism student to Aspiring Memoirist](https://debbielachusa.com/from-journalism-student-to-aspiring-memoirist/) - My journey as a writer began in college. I studied journalism, advertising, and marketing at San Diego State University. It was an interesting combination of liberal arts and commerce. Writing to communicate and writing to persuade and sell. I wrote everything from marketing copy to magazine articles. I even served as senior editor of the
- [Dad loved to read](https://debbielachusa.com/dad-loved-to-read/) - This is my very first writing exercise from a memoir writing course. The assignment was to write a profile of a person in 200 words. The chair sits empty now, as does the house. The blue recliner positioned just in front of the television. But watching TV wasn’t its primary purpose. Reading was. A retired
- [Writing is Prohibited](https://debbielachusa.com/writing-is-prohibited/) - The email landed in my inbox on Saturday afternoon. That's when they always arrive. Every week, a new chapter released, with video and text lessons, interviews, suggested reading, and of course writing exercises. The subject line read, Writing is Prohibited. I breathed a sigh of relief. After beginning the memoir writing course with an excited
- [Mining for Buried Memories ](https://debbielachusa.com/mining-for-buried-memories/) - Now that dad’s gone and mom is 84 years old and slowly losing her memory, I find myself trying to put together the puzzle pieces of my life. Of their lives. Of how our lives intersected. And, how it all made me into the person I am today. This quest is generating more questions than
- [Writing Memoir: Learning to Show and Tell](https://debbielachusa.com/writing-memoir-learning-to-show-and-tell/) - After completing a writing lesson on the topic of Show and Tell, I realized it's probably the skill I most need to master in my quest to become a memoirist.
- [Pet Therapy Magic: Hospice and Faith](https://debbielachusa.com/pet-therapy-magic-hospice-hope-and-faith/) - It’s Hospice so there’s always the chance of encountering death. Still, I find it intriguing my girls and I have experienced so much in such a short period of time.
- [Memories of Mom: How a 25-year-old letter changed everything](https://debbielachusa.com/memories-of-mom-how-a-25-year-old-letter-changed-everything/) - I sat down to write about my memories of mom and ended up writing 3,000 words that were more about me! It opened my eyes and changed my memories of mom.
- [I Talk to Deer and Sometimes They Talk Back](https://debbielachusa.com/i-talk-to-deer-and-sometimes-they-talk-back/) - The deer stomped her foot as she stared at me from the hill above the road. Her eyes met mine and never waivered. I noticed a flicker of white...
- [Leaving Marketing to Become a Writer](https://debbielachusa.com/leaving-marketing-to-become-a-writer/) - I sat down recently with Gopal Singh, host of the Career Convos & Coffee Podcast to talk about leaving my marketing career to become a writer. Listen in here.
- [I've Joined Medium as a Writer](https://debbielachusa.com/ive-joined-medium-as-a-writer/) - Medium is a website where writers share stories, ideas, or their perspective with the world. According to the CEO, the goal is to help writers find an audience.
- [Battling the Dry Drunk Demons](https://debbielachusa.com/battling-the-dry-drunk-demons/) - The challenge of loving someone who got sober but never went through recovery. He’s a good guy, with a big heart that’s been hijacked by those dry drunk demons.
- [I Asked Dad To Send Me A Sign Before He Died. He Sent Me a Hummingbird.](https://debbielachusa.com/i-asked-dad-to-send-me-a-sign-before-he-died-he-sent-me-a-hummingbird/) - Hummingbirds are considered a sign, that the spirit of a loved one who has passed, may be near. My dad sent me one at the very moment he departed this earth
- [My Sister Is Clearing Out Mom and Dad’s House](https://debbielachusa.com/my-sister-is-clearing-out-mom-and-dads-house/) - It's dredging up a profound sense of loss I thought I'd already worked through. I'm not ready to say goodbye to the memories of mom, dad, and our family home.
- [I Just Completed a Memoir Writing Course, Now What?](https://debbielachusa.com/i-just-completed-a-memoir-writing-course-now-what/) - It's time to practice the skills I learned in my memoir writing course and dive into the scary task of writing the "oh shit, I have to write about that?" memoir!
- [Sometimes You Need a Respite From Recovery](https://debbielachusa.com/sometimes-you-need-a-respite-from-recovery/) - When we relocated to the North Carolina, I had no idea the role the mountains would play in my husband’s recovery. In fact, recovery wasn’t even on our radar.
- [My Therapy Dog Faith Brings Light to Death’s Door](https://debbielachusa.com/my-therapy-dog-faith-brings-light-to-deaths-door/) - I take my therapy dog to visit Hospice patients. In all of my years doing pet therapy, I never visited Hospice patients. That is until my father died last year.
- [I Found Hope on the Internet. She’s been my refuge ever since.](https://debbielachusa.com/i-found-hope-on-the-internet-shes-been-my-refuge-ever-since/) - For a decade, my golden retriever Hope has embodied her moniker, infusing me, my family, and total strangers with a deep knowing that everything will be okay.
- [The Madness of Ambitious Overachievement](https://debbielachusa.com/the-madness-of-ambitious-overachievement/) - It’s as if I have a silent partner in everything I do. A partner who is constantly compelled to be, do, and have more. I call him the ambitious overachiever.
- [Women Who Inspire: She Was Only Five Foot Two but She Was a Force](https://debbielachusa.com/women-who-inspire-she-was-only-five-foot-two-but-she-was-a-force/) - The small but mighty pioneer who inspired me to start my own business. She was a pioneer and owned her own business before women-owned businesses were in vogue.
- [Getting Lost on My Memoir Writing Journey](https://debbielachusa.com/getting-lost-on-my-memoir-writing-journey/) - I've gone through three distinct stages in my memoir writing journey and I've yet to find my groove. Instead I've been distracted and pulled away from my goals.
- [What a Little Rescue Pup Taught Me About Pet Parenting, Life, and Love](https://debbielachusa.com/what-a-little-rescue-pup-taught-me-about-pet-parenting-life-and-love/) - That little rescue pup taught me living life isn’t about doing things in a specific order, it’s about being responsible for the choices you make and those who rely on you
- [I Decided Against Surgery for My Dog's Torn CCL](https://debbielachusa.com/i-decided-against-surgery-for-my-dogs-torn-ccl/) - Why I didn’t follow the gold standard of treatment--TPLO surgery--for my dog's torn CCL, and how my dog's doing despite going against the vet’s recommendations.
- [Why I Planted a Garden for Dad After He Died](https://debbielachusa.com/why-i-planted-a-garden-for-dad-after-he-died/) - I planted the garden last fall, after returning home from Dad’s funeral. But the garden that was so full of life last fall was now a daily reminder he was gone.
- [Hiking with Sugar Face](https://debbielachusa.com/waterfalls/) - Across the river, I catch a glimpse of High Falls peeking through the trees, all one-hundred-and-fifty magnificent feet of her. White water cascades down
- [Hello Beautiful](https://debbielachusa.com/hello-beautiful-remembering-mom-from-afar/) - 2023 WOW Women on Writing CNF Essay Competition Finalist. As I peer inside the doors of Mom’s vanity, I see two shelves lined with plastic storage baskets, each filled with lotions, face creams, and makeup. Mom’s extras. A supply of personal care products that have outlasted her time in this house and will likely outlive
- [Tiny Visitor](https://debbielachusa.com/tiny-visitor/) - Originally published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles, Angels & Messages From Heaven. Four months before Dad passed away, I went to San Diego to visit him. He was eighty-nine, his health was declining, and I wanted to spend time with him before it was too late. One afternoon, when Dad and I were
- [The Memory That Haunts Me](https://debbielachusa.com/the-memory-that-haunts-me/) - “Come with me young lady,” Dad said as he grabbed my arm and steered me down the hall. He entered the guest bathroom, pulled me in, and closed the door.
- [Honoring My Sweet Ray of Hope](https://debbielachusa.com/honoring-my-sweet-ray-of-hope/) - The story behind my story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from My Dog, about my Golden Retriever, Hope, and the ways she's lived up to her name.

## Pages

- [Home](https://debbielachusa.com/) - Debbie LaChusa is a writer, a two-time Chicken Soup for the Soul published author, fabric artist, and a best-selling online teacher.
- [Art](https://debbielachusa.com/art/) - Debbie LaChusa is a fabric artist who creates AppliQuilt Art: original art wall hangings made with batik fabric, a mix of appliqué, collage, quilting techniques
- [Books](https://debbielachusa.com/books/) - Debbie LaChusa is a two-time Chicken Soup for the Soul author, she's written and published three books, as well as many memoir essays and personal essays
- [Contact](https://debbielachusa.com/contact/) - Contact Debbie LaChusa about her books, online courses, and AppliQuilt Art
- [Online Courses](https://debbielachusa.com/online-courses/) - Online Courses After a 30- year career in marketing, including successfully building and running her own coaching and consulting business for 20 years, Debbie retired in 2017 to focus on online teaching and writing.Debbie teaches online courses for independent coaches and consultants on a variety of topics, including Business Design, Marketing, Branding, Sales, and Mindset.
- [Privacy Policy](https://debbielachusa.com/privacy-policy/) - Who we are Our website address is: https://debbielachusa.com. Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided

## Elementor Header & Footer Builder

- [Footer](https://debbielachusa.com/elementor-hf/elementor-1632/) - Menu Home Books Art Online Courses Blog Contact Copyright © 2026 Debbie LaChusa | Privacy Policy
- [Header](https://debbielachusa.com/elementor-hf/header/) - Menu Home Books Art Online Courses Blog Contact

## Categories

- [Memoir Journey](https://debbielachusa.com/category/memoir-journey/) - Posts chronicling my memoir writing journey, lessons learned, observations, revelations, and thoughts on the art of writing memoir.
- [Memoir Essays](https://debbielachusa.com/category/memoir-essays/) - Essays of varying lengths, written by Debbie LaChusa, an aspiring memoirist, as she learns and practices the art of writing memoir.
- [Dogs](https://debbielachusa.com/category/dogs/) - Stories about my dogs, the pet therapy work they do, and anything else dog-related that inspires me to write
- [Personal Essays](https://debbielachusa.com/category/personal-essays/) - Personal essays and narratives inspired by my life that don’t necessarily qualify as memoir.
- [Interviews](https://debbielachusa.com/category/interviews/)

## Tags

- [writing memoir](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/writing-memoir/)
- [writer](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/writer/)
- [life of a writer](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/life-of-a-writer/)
- [author](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/author/)
- [memoir](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoir/)
- [learning to write memoir](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/learning-to-write-memoir/)
- [memoir teachers](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoir-teachers/)
- [blogger](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/blogger/)
- [memoirist](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoirist/)
- [personal stories](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/personal-stories/)
- [art](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/art/)
- [writing](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/writing/)
- [wedding](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/wedding/)
- [forbidden love](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/forbidden-love/)
- [teen wedding](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/teen-wedding/)
- [father of the bride](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/father-of-the-bride/)
- [young love](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/young-love/)
- [books](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/books/)
- [reading](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/reading/)
- [dad](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/dad/)
- [empty bookshelves](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/empty-bookshelves/)
- [cognitive decline](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/cognitive-decline/)
- [fading eyesight](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/fading-eyesight/)
- [favorite pastine](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/favorite-pastine/)
- [aging](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/aging/)
- [old age](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/old-age/)
- [memoir writing](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoir-writing/)
- [writing exercises](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/writing-exercises/)
- [vomit draft](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/vomit-draft/)
- [shitty first draft](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/shitty-first-draft/)
- [anne lamott](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/anne-lamott/)
- [Alison wearing](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/alison-wearing/)
- [memoir writing course](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoir-writing-course/)
- [memories](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memories/)
- [lost memories](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/lost-memories/)
- [mining for memories](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/mining-for-memories/)
- [show and tell](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/show-and-tell/)
- [scene](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/scene/)
- [emotion](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/emotion/)
- [painting a picture](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/painting-a-picture/)
- [helping readers visualize](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/helping-readers-visualize/)
- [moving cross country](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/moving-cross-country/)
- [San Diego](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/san-diego/)
- [leaving San Diego](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/leaving-san-diego/)
- [driving cross country](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/driving-cross-country/)
- [leaving home](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/leaving-home/)
- [leaving elderly parents](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/leaving-elderly-parents/)
- [hospice](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/hospice/)
- [faith](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/faith/)
- [pet therapy](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/pet-therapy/)
- [golden retriever](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/golden-retriever/)
- [memoir writing exercise](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoir-writing-exercise/)
- [mom](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/mom/)
- [relationships](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/relationships/)
- [complicated](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/complicated/)
- [memory](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memory/)
- [self judgement](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/self-judgement/)
- [guilt](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/guilt/)
- [deer](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/deer/)
- [dogs](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/dogs/)
- [golden retrievers](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/golden-retrievers/)
- [North Carolina](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/north-carolina/)
- [Echo Mountain](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/echo-mountain/)
- [Laurel Park](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/laurel-park/)
- [leaving marketing](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/leaving-marketing/)
- [career change](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/career-change/)
- [become a writer](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/become-a-writer/)
- [writing career](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/writing-career/)
- [career convos & coffee podcast](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/career-convos-coffee-podcast/)
- [addiction](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/addiction/)
- [recovery](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/recovery/)
- [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/alcoholics-anonymous/)
- [dry drunk](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/dry-drunk/)
- [alcohol addiction](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/alcohol-addiction/)
- [addiction recovery](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/addiction-recovery/)
- [death](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/death/)
- [death and dying](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/death-and-dying/)
- [death of a parent](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/death-of-a-parent/)
- [loss](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/loss/)
- [loss of a parent](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/loss-of-a-parent/)
- [grief](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/grief/)
- [stages of grief](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/stages-of-grief/)
- [anger](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/anger/)
- [acceptance](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/acceptance/)
- [death of parent](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/death-of-parent/)
- [hospice volunteer](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/hospice-volunteer/)
- [creative nonfiction](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/creative-nonfiction/)
- [autobiography](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/autobiography/)
- [storytelling](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/storytelling/)
- [memoir writing class](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoir-writing-class/)
- [hiking](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/hiking/)
- [Blue Ridge Mountains](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/blue-ridge-mountains/)
- [let go](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/let-go/)
- [mother nature](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/mother-nature/)
- [therapy dogs](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/therapy-dogs/)
- [volunteer pet therapy](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/volunteer-pet-therapy/)
- [hope](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/hope/)
- [healing](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/healing/)
- [love](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/love/)
- [ambitious](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/ambitious/)
- [overachievement](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/overachievement/)
- [overachiever](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/overachiever/)
- [madness](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/madness/)
- [achieve](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/achieve/)
- [success](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/success/)
- [financial freedom](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/financial-freedom/)
- [COVID](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/covid/)
- [retirement](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/retirement/)
- [grandma](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/grandma/)
- [women who inspire](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/women-who-inspire/)
- [mentor](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/mentor/)
- [business](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/business/)
- [memoir writing skills](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/memoir-writing-skills/)
- [marketing](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/marketing/)
- [Medium](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/medium/)
- [followers](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/followers/)
- [blogging](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/blogging/)
- [losing focus](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/losing-focus/)
- [Medium Partner Program](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/medium-partner-program/)
- [results](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/results/)
- [writing stories](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/writing-stories/)
- [writing a book](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/writing-a-book/)
- [Scrivener](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/scrivener/)
- [rescue pup](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/rescue-pup/)
- [dog. mom](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/dog-mom/)
- [life lessons](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/life-lessons/)
- [first dog](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/first-dog/)
- [rescue dog](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/rescue-dog/)
- [pet parent](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/pet-parent/)
- [torn CCL](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/torn-ccl/)
- [TPLO surgery](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/tplo-surgery/)
- [Posh Dog Knee Brace](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/posh-dog-knee-brace/)
- [CCL injury](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/ccl-injury/)
- [ACL injury](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/acl-injury/)
- [father](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/father/)
- [father's day](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/fathers-day/)
- [garden](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/garden/)
- [hummingbird](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/hummingbird/)
- [waterfalls](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/waterfalls/)
- [Asheville](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/asheville/)
- [dog](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/dog/)
- [nature](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/nature/)
- [hello beautiful](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/hello-beautiful/)
- [remembering mom](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/remembering-mom/)
- [bath & body works](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/bath-body-works/)
- [homecoming queen](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/homecoming-queen/)
- [dementia](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/dementia/)
- [aging parents](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/aging-parents/)
- [chicken soup for the soul](https://debbielachusa.com/tag/chicken-soup-for-the-soul/)