If your family is anything like mine, Thanksgiving dinner usually involves sharing things for which we're grateful, like new babies, good health, etc. And when one of us has survived a potentially devastating illness, our expressions of gratitude run deep.
Two of our clients, Karen Wiswell and Kristine Rauenhorst, have expressed that deep kind of gratitude by writing their first children's storybook, "When Grammy Comes to Play." And we at Lilja Communications were honored to help them publish it this fall. "When Grammy Comes to Play" is the second children's book we've published this year under the Lilja Press imprint – and we love this new niche for our LifeStories work!
"When Grammy Comes to Play" is a story that illustrates the special relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren, but it is much more than that. Karen and Kristine were inspired to pen the book after Karen’s diagnosis and successful battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). Grateful for Karen's return to health, the authors also understood that Karen might not see Kristine's twin boys grow up. So the book's comforting message that if Grammy "cannot play today she meets me in my dreams" shares Karen's legacy with George and Henry and thoughtfully handles a difficult topic. "When Grammy Comes to Play" is also Karen and Kristine's effort to pay it forward, as they will be donating all proceeds from the sale of the book to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Minnesota Chapter.
In addition to helping Karen and Kristine find the perfect illustrator in Shelley Dieterichs, we edited, designed, produced and located a distributor for their inspiring book. And while many of our LifeStories clients share their books only with friends and family, Karen and Kristine sought our help to promote "When Grammy Comes to Play" to the media, retail outlets and families with young children. We launched a similar PR campaign this past summer for our client, Mary Nelson Keithahn, so we had a ready formula for success, developing an online author media kit and sell sheet, pitching the story to local media and arranging for book signing events.
Karen and Kristine's story is so compelling that it is no surprise local media, like Eden Prairie News and The Fam blog from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, are lining up to interview them and Barnes & Noble Edina has scheduled a book signing for Saturday, December 10, at 3 p.m.!
For more information on Karen, Kristine and their book, visit www.WhenGrammyComesToPlay.com.
And we'd love to hear from you if you have a story of your own to share – even if it's just for family and friends!
