Christmas on Main Street’s Miracle Book Signing

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of being back in Stanford, Kentucky. I signed my book Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky as part of the town’s Christmas on Main Street celebration. Miracle, as I explain in my story, is the rural area outside of Stanford, but it’s still considered part of the community.

On Main Street there was a Jiggle Jog in the morning to raise money for charity and that evening at 6pm there was a parade. The rest of the day dedicated to shopping!

The store that hosted my book signing was called Kentucky Soaps and Such.

It’s the most charming store that sells handmade soap and candles in a variety of tantalizing scents and fragrances and they’re all made from goat’s milk which is delivered to the shop by a local farm.

Above is a collection of the store’s handmade soap. Among a few of the bars I purchased are Geranium and Kentucky Mint Julip.

Kentucky Soaps and Such sells other products too, like Sally Arias’ Hot Pepper Jelly which is a favorite among the locals. Sally lives in the area and grows her own hot peppers. But the curious thing is the green jelly isn’t hot at all and tastes actually quite sweet with only a hint of spice. It’s delicious poured over a block of cream cheese and spread on crackers.

Kentucky Soaps and Such is also known for its amazing gift baskets. To find out more about this quaint country store, log onto: www.kentuckysoapsandsuch.com The owner, Gail Perrin, said she’ll ship anywhere!

But I digress…back to my book signing. I set up my table and books in a corner of the shop near the front door.

It wasn’t long before I had a stream of customers.

I really enjoyed meeting everyone. Like Nancy, who is the real owner of the house that appears in my book’s video trailer, and Sandy, who works in Mayor Miracle’s office and answered questions for me during the writing process.

The above picture is of me and my new friends: Sandy (on the left) and Mayor Bill Miracle.

Overall, the book signing was a success and I had a blast. It encouraged me to see how many people in the area are so excited about my novel – and the entire Love Finds You line of books!

That night as my husband Daniel and I walked along historic Main Street, waiting for the parade to start, we admired the light decorations in the store fronts and all around the stately, brick Lincoln County Courthouse. We watched the residents standing on the walks, sipping hot chocolate, talking and laughing together. We almost felt like it was our hometown.

It was a special day to be sure.

And for now, Daniel and I wish all the Summerside editors, authors, and readers a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

Small Town Girl

As my book, Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado, gets ready for release in December, I’ve been reminded of why this series so appealed to me in the first place. I grew up in Ozark, Arkansas, a town of about 3500 people. After college, some extensive travelling, and living in three other places, I moved back here with my husband in 1999. My family lives here, and this is where we wanted to raise our family.

My best friend is the director of the Chamber of Commerce. I write for the town newspaper. Many of my old teachers still teach in the schools, and many of my old friends go to church here and own businesses here. When the word got out about Love Finds You in Romeo, I was asked to speak at the local school as well as the Chamber of Commerce. Four businesses scheduled book signings, and two more are scheduled in the county’s libraries. I’m told that even the town grocery store plans to carry copies for sale. Apparently they’re setting up a little stand beside the produce.

I wrote an essay once about how “it takes a village” to write a book, referring to the wonderful support system I have in my family. Now that it’s written and printed, however, I’m finding out how helpful one’s village—or the extended family that is a small town—can be in promoting a book. Perhaps what helps most of all, however, is how they’ve touched the heart of this small-town author.

Like Coming Home

In doing the research for my novel, Love Finds You in Humble, Texas, I uncovered all sorts of gems in the wonderful village of Humble. Among the treasures that sparkled the brightest was a woman named Carolyn McCarty. She works for the Chamber of Commerce there, and when I told her I was writing a novel set in Humble, she was so excited she wanted to escort me all over the town. Which she did. We had a marvelous time together touring the city as she answered all my questions, shared many of the wonderful stories surrounding this Mayberry-like town, and generally befriended me. Her patience and humor and generosity of spirit was remarkable and memorable. Carolyn McCarty is the essence of all things gracious and all things Southern. My life is richer to have met her.

It’s been a wonderful experience getting to know small town America again—it’s like coming home. And I hope my novel, Love Finds You in Humble, Texas, encourages you to visit some of these quaint towns across our great land—towns that have warmth and color and heart—just like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting. And if you do drop by for a visit or a vacation stay, I’m sure you too will be embraced by the folks who live there, and perhaps you’ll even make a new friend as fine as Carolyn McCarty.

Blessings and happy Thanksgiving!

Anita Higman

www.anitahigman.com