Thursday, October 31, 2019

What is It About Wellsboro?



What is it about Wellsboro? It's this little gem of a town, snuggled deep in the hills of rural Pennsylvania. Once a person discovers Wellsboro, they can't forget it. Soon, they plan their next trip back. Maybe for one of the many festivals. Maybe to enjoy the outdoors. Maybe for the slower pace of life.



Wellsboro is such a special town that two of its businesses have made the top 25 list for this years's Independent We Stand small business award, an annual contest where thousands of small businesses are nominated.

Thousands of businesses were nominated across the United States of America. Loyal fans and customers voted, and only twenty five of those businesses made it to the second round of the contest.

In Wellsboro, two businesses made it, Dunham's Department Store, and From My Shelf Books & Gifts. Wellsboro, with a population just north of 3,000, is home to not just ONE, but TWO nationally-recognized small businesses.

Why Wellsboro? Sure, Wellsboro still has a beautiful, historic downtown, but it's more than that. Wellsboro is still a place where people say hello as you walk down the street, or ask if you need help if you look lost and out of place.

It's part of our tradition, helping a neighbor carry a package to the car, or giving directions to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. These two businesses exemplify Wellsboro's approach to people, offering tourists and locals alike great customer service and dedication to the community.



Dunham's Department Store is one of the few remaining family-owned department stores in America. Founded at the beginning of the 20th Century, this family-run store has been serving the community for three generations. The owners of a big box store don't live in Wellsboro, but the Dunhams do.


Dunham's Department store carries anything from electronics to perfume to a double espresso in its Cafe 1905. Times might change, but it doesn't mean the focus should shift from service, or the personal touch.

From My Shelf Books & Gifts is rooted in their community. Owned and operated by Kevin and Kasey Cox Coolidge, this husband and wife team has provided free, family-oriented events for over a decade, including Wellsboro's Bookfest. These folks provide "book matchmaking" services that are truly second to none.


Visiting From My Shelf Books isn't shopping, it's an experience. With staff that don't sell books, but breathe and live books. Kevin Coolidge is also an award-winning children's author, and the bookstore is home to Wellsboro's most famous felines, Huck & Finn, who are stars of their own book, Huck & Finn, Bookstore Cats.

You could help the rest of America discover these stores, and boost them to the top ten. Visit www.IndieBizAward.com and click "View Nominees" Both of these businesses are on the front page. Wellsboro might feel like you traveled to the 1950s, but you can find both on Facebook with links to vote and posts to entertain and inform.

You can vote twenty five times a day per IP address between now and Sunday, November 17th until midnight EST. This allows all members of a household to vote. You can vote from home, from work and even from Cafe 1905 every day. The 10 getting the most votes will proceed to the judges who decide the top winner.

In round three, the top 10 selected will be in the running for the Indie Award grand prize. The finalists will be announced November 18th and the overall winner will be announced on November 25th and receive an enhanced prize package valued at $25,000.

Best of luck to these two notable small businesses that show the best business of America is still small business.You get twenty five votes. Use them. You can vote every twenty four hours. I am. What will you do with the extra vote? There are twenty five businesses, but I'm casting my extra vote for the cats.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Kevin Reads "The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot" at Omi's

It's National Cat Day!



It's National Cat Day. It's a great day to pay extra attention to your cat, or us. You could also adopt a cat. Both of us, Huck & Finn, are rescue cats. We work at From My Shelf Books & Gifts which is probably the best bookstore ever. We know this, because we live there.

From My Shelf Books has been nominated for the Independent We Stand contest and has made the top 25. You can help us make it to the top ten with your votes.

You can vote every 24 hours and up to 25 times. We take turns, though Huck usually takes the extra vote. Voting goes to November 17 at midnight, and they say cats are dramatic.

If we make the top ten, we'll know the next day. Then we have to lie around and wait for those humans to decide. Which of course should be us, because we are cats. None of the other businesses even have cats. So, how they even got this far is questionable.

Anyway, vote for us, because we are Huck & Finn, the hardest working cats in the cat business....



CLICK ON OUR PHOTO TO GET TAKEN TO SITE TO VOTE. VOTE EVERY DAY!!!!

Monday, October 28, 2019

Wow! We Made the Top Twenty Five!!!



You may have already read that From My Shelf Books & Gifts has advanced to round two of the Indie Awards sponsored by independentwestand.org. Only twenty five businesses made the cut, and we couldn't have done it without your votes. Thank you so much!

"People can vote twenty five times a day per IP address between now and Sunday, November 17th until midnight EST for the bookstore. That means all household members can vote from home, from work and even the local coffee shop every day. The 10 getting the most votes will proceed to the judges who decide the top winner.

In round three, the top 10 selected will be in the running for the Indie Award grand prize. The finalists will be announced November 18th and the overall winner will be announced on November 25th and receive an enhanced prize package valued at $25,000.

To make voting easier, a link to voting is pinned to the top of From My Shelf's Facebook page, to the top of the Totally Ninja Raccoons’ Facebook page and Huck & Finn Bookstore Cats Facebook page. Those who don't do Facebook or social media, can still vote by visiting www.IndieBizAward.com.

Thanks so much for helping us get this far.

The Staff at From My Shelf Books & Gifts


JUST CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO BE TAKEN TO THE SITE TO VOTE!


Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Totally Ninja Raccoons


After querying two years and getting several really promising responses, but no ultimate contract, I began to self-publish my children's series, The Totally Ninja Raccoons, in December of 2015. Since then, I have sold around 6,500 copies in my series, and about 1,600 so far this year. This is before we're getting into the Christmas season.

No, that's not impressive compared to Jeff Kinney, or Dav Pilkey, but the majority of those books were sold out of my small store in rural Pennsylvania, and 90% within a 50-mile radius. I do a lot of local/regional festivals.

What type of sales would I have if exposed to a population of 1 million people? Five million? Children love my books. I share a lot of the same readers as Dav Pilkey, and I think the children in your life would love the Totally Ninja Raccoons.

Please, let me know if you, or anyone in your network would be interested in the next big hit for children's books. I would love to sell you a signed, personalized copy.



Click on the Three Brothers to order today!!!

Monday, October 14, 2019

Wellsboro Bookfest 2019



The 11th Annual BookFest, being held this Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lobby at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, will be 20 local and regional authors. BookFest is free and open to the public.

The authors will talk with people about books they have written their genre choices and the writing and publishing process and have their books available for purchase that buyers might not be able to find elsewhere.

This will be the first time at BookFest for 10 of the authors. Among them are Teresa and Bill Peschel of Hershey who founded Peschel Press in 2010. This husband and wife are Iong-time classic detective story fans. They are known for publishing "the history behind the mystery" including annotated versions of several Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle), and Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayers) mysteries. "Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, we tell the whole story and provide a deeper, richer reading experience," said Bill who has also published several anthologies of "parodies and pastiches" in the mysteries genre. Peschel Press also publishes Teresa's work, under several pen names, including the fantasy-romance books written by "Odessa Moon". This year, through Peschel Press, they plan to finish the Sherlock Holmes 223B Casebook series and publish novels they have each written.

Jim Meade of Wellsboro will be at the Deane Center with his business/memoir titled "No Cooked Breakfast" about starting a bed and breakfast that also includes information about his life growing up After a career in fisheries research, Meade turned his home into a B&B. He now owns three non-traditional B&Bs, Mountain Lodge, Bear Meadows Lodge and 131 Main Street. His B&Bs are private and guests' stays do not involve a cooked breakfast or planned social interactions.

Other newcomers to BookFest are: Basil Bacorn of Athens, "Dark's Descent" (fantasy); Ron Bonett of Williamsport, "Myst of Windowed Closet (mystery); Allison Hanson of Hershey, "Witness in the Dark" (romantic suspense); P.J. Piccirillo of Brockport "The Indigo Scarf" (historical fiction); John Simcoe of Mount Wolf, "Tommy One" and "Apocalypse Gun" (comics); Betsy Stone of Harrisburg, "ABCs for Family Connections" (education, psychology); and Libby Trostle of Littlestown, "Adv's of Sharing Hope"" (children's).

Authors returning to BookFest are: Kevin Coolidge of Wellsboro "Totally Ninja Racoons Meet Big Foot" (children's), Nick Fidler of Williamsport, "Brass Aria" (fantasy); Lilace Guignard of Wellsboro. "When Everything Beyond" (poetry; memoir), Baiba Kreger of Liberty, "My Heritage, My Destiny" (memoir); Samantha Lienhard of Blossburg "The Zombie Mishap" (horror; video game scripts); Dawn Lubertowicz of Tunkhannock, "Blood Moon" (paranormal romance); Christy Nicholas of Cornng, N.Y., "Druid's Brooch Series" (historical fantasy); Judith Sornberger of Wellsboro, "I Call to You From Time to Time" (poetry, memoir); Paul Zelinka of State College, "Decide, Act, Believe, Succeed" (motivational); and Lanie Zimmer of Troy, "A Hot Dog Christmas" (children's; cookbook).

For more information about the library fundraiser on Oct. 12 and BookFest on Oct. 19, contact Kasey Coolidge at 570-724-5793.

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Book Fair at the Bookstore Fundraiser for WASD Libraries!




Come shop with us on Saturday October 12th, between 9am and 6pm!

Give us the code "WASD19" if you want 20% of your total spent to go towards buying more books for the Wellsboro School District Libraries. This is a great opportunity to start your Christmas shopping, buy books for your classroom (or your child's classroom), stock up on some upcoming birthday presents, renew your membership, or buy that collectible book you've been eyeing.... and have a percentage of your spending go to such an important cause!!!

Support community literacy and our schools with this easy-to-do fundraiser.

No overpriced donuts, tshirts, frozen pizza kits, tins of popcorn, or fair food. Buy things you would already buy, at normal prices -- but, if you buy them on this special day, part of your money goes to adding new inventory to our school libraries.

Spread the word! Online purchases made here on Saturday, Oct. 12, and marked in the notes with WASD19 will also count. So, families and friends who live away but want to contribute, you can, too!

Event Date:
Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 9:00am to 6:00pm
Address:
7 East Avenue
Suite 101
Wellsboro, PA 16901

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Book Fair at the Bookstore Fundraiser for WASD Libraries!



Come shop with us on Saturday October 12th, between 9am and 6pm!

Give us the code "WASD19" if you want 20% of your total spent to go towards buying more books for the Wellsboro School District Libraries. This is a great opportunity to start your Christmas shopping, buy books for your classroom (or your child's classroom), stock up on some upcoming birthday presents, renew your membership, or buy that collectible book you've been eyeing.... and have a percentage of your spending go to such an important cause!!!

Support community literacy and our schools with this easy-to-do fundraiser.

No overpriced donuts, tshirts, frozen pizza kits, tins of popcorn, or fair food. Buy things you would already buy, at normal prices -- but, if you buy them on this special day, part of your money goes to adding new inventory to our school libraries.

Spread the word! Online purchases made here on Saturday, Oct. 12, and marked in the notes with WASD19 will also count. So, families and friends who live away but want to contribute, you can, too!

Event Date:
Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 9:00am to 6:00pm
Address:
7 East Avenue
Suite 101
Wellsboro, PA 16901