This is one of our favorite stores! Another gallery FILLED with inspirational, beautiful, GIFTY things! My mom and aunt had actually stopped in when I Love You More first came out, but hadn’t secured an order. Several months later Don Earle and I were starting off on our 1st cross country ILYM Tour and hit Sarasota. We found what we thought was the cutest shop “Little Bo-Tique” –what a great name, though it was empty inside. To be fair it was the end of 2002 and some businesses were definitely feeling the effects of 9/11 –tourist travel was down. They told us they’d really been effected and wouldn’t be able to take on new merchandise. Lucky for us we walked around the corner and stumbled upon Garden Argosy–no one told them business had slowed–the store was packed, bustling with workers and shoppers! We asked to speak to an owner and was told she wasn’t in, as we explained a bit about our book, Kathie, one of the owners, who was just too busy to deal with “soliciters” spoke up because she remembered hearing about our book. She took a case of 40 books and we were on our way. They’ve sold 1000′s of copies since and they are ALWAYS busy!! It’s a fabulous store–be sure to stop in the next time you’re in Sarasota and let them know “The Bald Chick” sent you!

The week before Valentine’s Day my mom and I traveled over to Florida’s West Coast for my nieces State Champ Soccer Game. Unfortunately they lost after a double OT in penalty kicks, but it did give me the opportunity to stop by Garden Argosy and sign books! It’s always great to stop in here because as I shared they are ALWAYS busy! I signed books for a few people and then had the absolute pleasure of meeting James, Tyler and their parents. Tyler was a little shy but not James, he’s an avid reader and quite the shining star himself! We talked for a bit, I signed a book for him and his brother, he agreed to share my book with his class making him an official *Ambassador of Love* and then…he asked his mom if I could sign his jacket. At first she said “No” but quickly realized if he wanted his jacket signed who was she to stop him. It was a true *Rock Star Author* moment for the both of us I’d say! I did his mom a favor and signed on the inside James and I connected that night–he was born with a cleft lip–though it wasn’t his cleft lip that connected us, but his attitude about it. “I was born this way” was what he told me–bright, beaming and brilliant!! After his mom took the pictures of the two of us he turned to her and said, “Facebook It!” My kind of kid! Keep Shining James! Your attitude makes this world a brighter place!!

*Rock Star Author* Moment

James…A Shining STAR!

We learned early on that it’s a challenge for self-published books to do well at major and even indie bookstores. Having a presence in these stores has definitely been one of the many gifts of being with a publisher. Our publisher, Sourcebooks, not only has relationships with these stores, they’ve also been able to afford opportunities to have our books displayed, according to some “children’s leads” at Barnes and Nobles “more often that not!” I like that!!

I LOVE my gift shops and galleries, though one of the reasons we teamed up with a publisher is that we believe our message will make a difference for everyone that reads it, and we want our message in as many hearts, homes and classrooms as possible–millions of them! That’s why it’s important to make it available through many markets. There’s a different audience that shops at bookstores than at galleries, and we’ve recently been picked up by Scholastic book fairs, which will make it available to even more young people and teachers! My favorite thing about Barnes and Noble is that I can stop in to stores all across the country and find my books. While I was on tour in the spring it was awesome–the I Love You More board books were at the front of the store on the Family Stories table by the register, and the hard cover I Love You More was on display on the picture book wall. You Are a Gift to the World was on the Father’s Day display–and that was consistent in their 700+ stores…WOW!!

This Valentine’s Day I Love You More is once again up on the Children’s Picture Book wall, and starting next week–on the 21st I believe, it will be on a ladder display towards the front of the store! It will be sharing the ladder with none other than Love You Forever…a book that’s sold well over 11,000,000 copies–we have some catching up to do!

So here’s the contest…the first 3 people to go in to Barnes and Noble next week, purchase a copy of I Love You More and take a picture beside the display of I Love You More and Love You Forever, post it to Facebook with the location mentioned and me tagged…I will send you a signed copy of the ILYM board book! Mailed anywhere in the US.

I’ve had the absolute pleasure of meeting and connecting with the “children’s leads” all over the country (that’s what B&N calls the head of their children’s departments) from Boca Raton to Coral Gables, FL, from Pasadena and Glendale, CA, from Copley Square Boston to Hingham, MA, from the Salt Lake City to stores all over the Phoenix area to this past weekend all around Tampa and MORE!! This month’s display was very dear to my heart as it included SO many very special books to the I Love You More story! In the picture below you’ll see these titles on the wall with us… What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best is the reason why my sister said “You should make I Love You More a flip book, with the mom and son’s stories meeting in the middle.” The Kissing Hand was one of my Mom’s favorite books as she taught kindergarten for over 38 years, she also read, prior to ILYM, Love You Forever during Mother’s Day teas. Gloria and Officer Buckle was the book of my mom’s that I took and ‘glue sticked’ our draft pages in to, to see what our book would look like! I still bring this around to show the students at school visits! The Giving Tree is one of Karen’s favorite books. And, On the Night You Were Born is one of my agent’s other books! Quite a wall!! I’ve taken dozens of pictures of it–people must think I’m crazy–and they’re probably right

Have a Wonderful Valentine’s Week! Remember to look for the love that surrounds you; know that you are love and are loved!!

Keep Shining!!!
Laura

Picture Book Wall at Barnes and Noble

Christy at the Brandon, FL Barnes and Noble

* Art for the Soul *

As soon as I began researching galleries to carry I Love You More I came across Art for the Soul, with stores in Laguna Beach and Balboa Island. What a name and great locations! The PERFECT spot for my book, I thought?! I made a call, sent out a review copy and followed up several times with no response. Then Don Earle came on board and he wasn’t going to be stopped, he called, and called and called again. Finally, Valinda the owner got on the phone and explained that she had received a review copy, and that the invoice said that the book was “slightly damaged” but that 1/2 the book was printed upside down and she would never carry something of such poor quality! HA! Don explained to her that the book was meant to be upside down, and the “slightly damaged” more than likely referred to a bent corner! She looked the book over, laughed, apologized and ordered a case. The next order she placed was for 4 cases 160 books, and to this day, almost ten years later, that is still about how many she orders every time! We’ve had many laughs over the years about her initial resistance! I’ve also had the honor of her sharing her very inspiring personal story with me and what prompted her to open her two beautiful stores–you can read her story on her website.

I’ve had the chance to visit both stores Laguna Beach at 272 Forest Ave and Balboa Island at 210 Marine Ave. This is THE kind of store I could get lost in for hours—they have little gifts, big gifts, all sorts of inspirational, wonderful, magical goodies for you and the people you love! They carry my favorite artist Brian Andreas and his amazing Story People that you see hanging on the wall in the picture below. If you’re in the southern California area be sure to stop in and tell them I sent you! They’ve since become one of our best selling galleries with thousands of copies sold! Thanks Valinda and the Art for the Soul Team–You Are a Gift to ME and the World!! Be sure to visit  www.art4thesoul.com and their Facebook page www.Facebook.com/art-for-the-soul

Here’s what Valinda had to say recently…

“We sell several books at Art for the Soul, but none evoke the emotional reaction that I Love You More does. We all enjoy watching as our customers discover I Love You More, they smile, often wipe a tear and then will carry the book around the store wrapped in their arms, hugging it. This book is a gift and we are grateful to have the opportunity to share and sell it in our stores!”

Keep Shining!

Signing I Love You More at Art for the Soul

A table full of Love and Inspiration at Art for the Soul

David the owner at Madison and Friends

In October 2002 I walked into Madison and Friends Children’s Boutique on Rush Street in Chicago. I didn’t have much time as Don Earle was double parked with his Ford F150 truck, we were on our 2nd cross-country tour with I Love You More. One thousand books packed tightly into the truck. We had traveled from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the Red Wood Forests in California (sound familiar) on our first trip and now we had headed north to saturate “Oprah-land” with love. Don Earle was a good friend who joined “Team Love” to help get our book and it’s message out into the world. He was BRILLIANT at getting stores to carry I Love You More as he truly believed that everyone who read ILYM would benefit from it.

Back to Madison and Friends…I popped my head in to see the owner David who I’d dropped a book off for the day before. He barely looked up from his desk and said, “It looks good why don’t you leave me six copies.” To which I answered, “Six copies, are you crazy? You’ll need more in a week!” David replied, “Why, how many do you want to leave me?” When I told him a case, which is 40 copies he ‘nicely’ said…”You can leave as many as you want, but I won’t sell 40 books in 6 months!” “Bet On!” I said, “Not only will you sell them, but you’ll need more before Christmas!” I think that was my all time favorite sales pitch!

He let me set them up on the counter and wouldn’t you know that he ordered 2 more cases…yes, 80 more books before the end of the year! They now have two stores one at 43 East Oak Street and 2039 West Roscoe Street in Chicago. By far the COOLEST clothes for your children ever and the BEST selection of jeans in The Denim Lounge! Be sure to check out their website–you can order on line and their cool video starring David himself. Our book is featured right beside the “Wall of Fame” where all their celebrity and sports star clientele sign their names! Video: Madison and Friends Video featuring I Love You More

This year as I Love You More was turning 10 David gave us this fabulous quote…

“How could you say no to the “Bald Chick”?  It is not everyday when a super, hot looking bald chick comes into your store trying to sell you an amazing kid’s book. Almost 10 years later and 1000′s of copies sold at Madison and Friends, we could not be happier that she walked into our store!”

David Shelist, owner, Madison and Friends, Celebrating our 15th Year! 43 East Oak St.-2039 W. Roscoe St. Chicago, IL www.madisonandfriends.com

Thanks David!! I Love You More fans be sure to stop by Madison and Friends when you’re in Chicago and tell them “The Bald Chick” sent you! Also find them on Facebook. They also have my new book You Are a Gift to the World. If you stop in to the store take a picture and post it here or on Facebook and tag me in it. There will be random prize winners of signed board books or personal video readings for people who post pics!!

Keep Shining!!!

Laura