Hi, everyone! I’m new Indie author, Olivia Ostergaard. I’ve just published my first book, a memoir, titled “Looking at the Unseen: My Guide Dog Journey,” from Xulon Press. As you see from the reference to a guide dog, I’m legally blind, but for clarification, we’ll just say blind, okay? Anyway, I felt I had a story to share, and knew the day I graduated with Fenway, that I would write the back story of how I acquired this fabulous pooch. It took almost ten years, and I went through a lot. I cried a lot, and you can blame it on Menopause! Ha, ha

Check out my LinkedIn page, along with Twitter, and you’ll find out more about me.

Back Cover Text

“Looking at the Unseen: My Guide Dog Journey” is the story of Olivia’s ten-year struggle to get a guide dog. Not just any dog—but the one God has for her. As a legally blind wife/mother, Olivia goes from a novice to a competent guide dog handler. After three difficult attempts, the wait was worth it.

What types of obstacles does she encounter? Can she conquer her doubts, fears, and criticism from others? Come along with her on this incredible journey of faith in everyday life, for both blind and sighted alike. it is one that will definitely inspire, challenge, and inform.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olivia has a BA in Psychology from Cal Baptist University, ’77, and a second BA from Cal State Bakersfield, in Fine Arts, with a concentration in Vocal Music/ English. She taught Choir to K-6 Graders for Fresno Unified, from 1990-92.

She has been married to her husband Jim, for 25 years. They live in Fresno, with their son, James, who is 17. She enjoys Oldies from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, old-Time Radio, baking, biking, bowling, hiking, and reading. She is active in Bible Study Fellowship, and her Women’s Ministry at church, and sings in the Choir. She has been an advocate for the blind and disabled locally, statewide, and nationally.

Video Trailer

An Interview with Megan Cyrulewski

Extract from Press Release

New Xulon Title is a Refreshing Perspective on Letting God Lead

Ostergaard shares her wisdom in obtaining a guide dog, and the greater metaphor

In her new book, Looking at the Unseen: My Guide Dog Journey Olivia Ostergaard draws a clever analogy on her guide dog experience, and the believer’s faith walk. She emphasizes that everything in life is temporal, however, it takes “eyes of faith to navigate” whatever situations arise. According to the author, by trusting God’s Word, and by obeying His precepts and principles, the Lord will lead and guide believers in unfathomable ways.

“We need to rely on God’s guidance, through prayer and seeking His will, which seems difficult at times,” states the author. “God sees what’s in front of us, even though we can’t, and that’s looking at life through the eternal, or unseen perspective.”

Being that author, Olivia Ostergaard, is in fact a blind person, she holds the authority to speak on the topics of obtaining a guide dog, as well as orientation and mobility—the tools for success in independence as a blind person. She has been a guide dog user for the past eight years, retiring her first in 2008, and obtaining her current dog, Fenway, in 2009. The author is a wife and mother, married for twenty-five years, to her husband, Jim. They have one son, James. She holds two B.A. degrees, in three majors—B.A. in psychology from Cal Baptist University, and a second B.A. from Cal State Bakersfield in fine arts, emphasizing in vocal music/English. Olivia has been an advocate for the blind in several organizations: locally, statewide, and nationally.

Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world’s largest Christian publisher, with more than 12,000 titles published to date. Salem Communications is the country’s leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet and magazine publishing. Retailers may order Looking at the Unseen: My Guide Dog Journey through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through:

Xulonpress – Barnes & Noble

Amazon

UK – USA – Canada – Australia