by Rose Allen McCauley
As I began this piece about the Georgia trip my husband I made Oct. 28-Nov. 6, 2011, I was reminded of how well our trip turned out, in spite of the many changes along the way. I know that was because God had His Hand over our trip guiding us much better than our TomTom did!
Besides doing booksignings for Christmas Belles of Georgia, another reason for our trip was to visit the town where the book is set-Monticello, GA-and meet with the people who helped me online by phone interviews and emails with information for the story. The first change occurred about a month before we left when I received an email from Rod Perry, the man who had helped me the most. We had already made reservations at his Bed and Breakfast where my heroine had stayed, but he informed me that they’d had to sell their home, and would be moving into the B and B soon. He also told me that Big Chics, the restaurant where my characters ate, had been sold.
So, we made arrangements to stay elsewhere, but still went to visit Monticello, and I am so glad we did. We got to meet with Rod in the midst of his moving, and took a picture with him and of the outside of the lovely Band B. And he informed us that the original owner had taken Big Chics back, so we met with the owner and his mom and even sampled some fried okra from their menu. So, we did get to experience the charm of the town and people of Monticello.
Another stop was in Buford, GA at the Lifeway where Nora St.Laurent works and also got to visit with Ane Mulligan, another ACFW member. And since my hubby wore a maroon shirt like the workers there, he received requests for help by several customers! I also did a signing at the Lifeway in Macon. But Chester wore a different shirt that day!
In Warner-Robins, I met April Gardner at church and lunch, then she spent the afternoon with me at the Warner-Robins signing. We had plenty of time to chat and share. She had been a cyber-friend up to that time, but is now a close friend and Christian sister!
My next to last signing was at the Family Christian Store in Savannah, GA where I sold out all of my books they had in stock-all 4 of them!
At the other stores I sold about 2/3 of the 20-30 copies they had and signed a few more, so hopefully there were more books sold in Georgia than would have been if we hadn’t gone. And since the stores only scheduled booksignings on the weekends, we went to visit Savannah and Tybee Island from Monday through Friday! I even got an idea for a book to write set in the beautiful, historical town of Savannah!
I thank God for His changes on this trip and in my life. To Him be the glory!
Rose McCauley is a Christian author and speaker. She has been happily married for almost 43 years to her college sweetheart. They have lived and raised their family of two daughters and a son on a farm of rolling hills in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky where their neighbors tease them that their cows must have legs shorter on one side from walking around the hills. Their family is growing with the addition of a two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren who are definitely GRAND!