Author Event with Brad Ryan
About this Event
Indy Reads is excited to welcome author Brad Ryan to celebrate the release of his newest memoir, Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time.
Join us for an inspring afternoon as Brad shares excerpts from his heartfelt and adventurous memoir, which chronicles his transformative travels across America’s national parks with his Grandma Joy! Through stories of connection, healing, and discovery, Brad invites readers to reflect on the power of relationships and the beauty of the natural world.
The event will begin with a reading from the memoir, followed by a conversation and Q&A with attendees. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Brad and have their books signed after the program.
We hope you’ll join us for this special celebration of storytelling, family, and adventure!
Brad Ryan is a veterinarian, wildlife conservationist, and writer from southeastern Ohio. He earned his BA from Miami University, an MSc in mammalian biology from the University of Pretoria, and both a DVM and MPH from The Ohio State University, specializing in wildlife medicine and veterinary public health.
For Brad, storytelling is a vehicle for healing—rooted in empathy, inspired by nature, and driven by a desire to help others feel seen and connected. As a keynote speaker, he champions LGBTQ+ inclusion in the outdoors, eliminating stigma around mental health, and the protection of wildlife and public lands.
Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time" is a deeply moving memoir that chronicles a 7.5-year journey between a grandson and his grandmother who set out to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks together, beginning when she was 85 years old.
What started as a spontaneous trip to the Great Smoky Mountains became a life-changing expedition across deserts, glaciers, and coastlines, ultimately culminating in Grandma Joy becoming the oldest person to complete the entire U.S. National Parks circuit at age 93. Along the way, the journey helped heal a decade of estrangement between them, revealing the transformative power of time, forgiveness, and shared adventure.
Set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of America’s public lands, this memoir explores themes of intergenerational connection, resilience, LGBTQ+ identity, and the courage it takes to begin again, no matter your age. With humor, vulnerability, and sweeping natural beauty, "Grandma Joy and Me" invites readers to reconnect with one another and rediscover the healing power of the outdoors.
FREE Ticket– This ticket is for attendees that would like to attend this event and are unable to purchase a ticket. Indy Reads values our community and facilitators. We are proud to provide programming to all. Thank you for being a part of our community!
$10 – This donation covers the cost of one attendee to this event. Indy Reads strives to bring the very best programming to Fountain Square and all Hoosiers. Thank you for helping us to keep our quality programs accessible for all!
$20 – This donation covers the cost of two attendees to this event. If you are attending as an individual, your ticket at this level makes it possible for another who cannot afford a ticket to attend. It is only through the generosity of our community that we are able to support programs that enrich the lives of all Hoosiers. Thank you for your support!
Other – “Pay-What-You-Can” really does mean pay what you can. Indy Reads appreciates that every one of our community members is able to support our vision of 100% literacy for all in different ways. Whether you can pay $5 or $50, we are so excited to see you – and thank you for your support!
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