One woman's journey through progressive blindness and the extraordinary guide dog who kept her safe along the way.

When ethics scholar Deni Elliott, born with limited vision, realized she could no longer navigate the world safely alone, she turned to a guide dog—a decision that reshaped her understanding of disability and independence. Tombolo Books is thrilled to be the launch site for Elliott's beautiful book Catching Sight!

Elliott and local journalist and author Lane DeGregory will talk about this book that offers a fresh and unforgettable perspective on disability, identity, and the power of partnership. Co-authored with master trainer Graham Buck, Catching Sight is for readers interested in the transformative power of human relationships with animals. As Deni confronts her changing reality, she shares the hidden world of guide dog training and introduces Alberta, a yellow Lab whose quiet brilliance changed her interaction with the world and herself.

Deni Elliott held the Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics and Press Policy at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg from 2003-2023 and is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Journalism and Digital Communication there. Lane DeGregory has been a writer for the Tampa Bay Times for 25 years, and written more than 3,000 stories -- many about hope and humanity. She teaches at journalism conferences around the world, hosts the podcast: WriteLane, wrote an annotated anthology: "The Girl in the Window and other True Tales." She also has won dozens of national awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Lane met Deni Elliott more than a decade ago when she was about to get a new guide dog, and penned a long-form profile about her: Guide dog leads vision-challenged professor to new insight.