BOOK ME! continues to grow by the day

Last week, we had a very BIG day at East Side Story that I already told you about HERE.  I dared to even call it a HUGE day at East Side Story.  Well, the very next day after I posted about the BIG HUGE day, I had yet another BIG BIG day happen at the store.

A young woman by the name of Melanie, wife of The One and Only Bill Davis, walked in the bookstore with a letter in tow for one of our authors named Ridley Wills II.  She had messaged me after reading about the young man named Evan who was the first participant in our BOOK ME! program, and she wondered if she could also write a letter to the author of a book she had purchased at East Side Story.  I told her a resounding YES!

I guess here I should remind you that this picturesque tale below can also happen to YOU within our BOOK ME! program.  You may or may not remember that it is similar to the ol’ Pizza Hut BOOK IT program, but with a very Nashville twist for one and all.  In fact, I’ll tell you how the BOOK ME! program works via Melanie’s example.

First, Melanie came to East Side Story, picked up a book that she instantly wanted to read and take home with her, and bought it on the spot to read and show other guests from out of town about all of the Nashville Streets and Their Stories that Ridley wrote about.  You too, regardless of your age, can do the same thing as Evan and Melanie.

Second, Melanie went home and read said purchased book (you can read it wherever you want to do so.  It won’t bother me wherever as long as you pay for it before you leave the store).

At this point, as you can see, Melanie finished reading the book and decided to write a handwritten letter to the author of the book.  One of the major points of this program is to have personal feedback from the readers to the local authors by having the readers then write to the local authors telling them what they enjoyed most about the book and what it meant to the reader to experience their book and story.  (Again, this program is limitless for the age of the person buying and reading the book to write to the writer).

Then, Melanie took time out of her busy day away from one of her plethora of jobs or making her artwork and/or music to drop by East Side Story, before and after spending a few dollars and moments at a sale at Goodbuy Girls down the sidewalk on The Row, in order to hand-deliver the letter for Ridley Wells II.

With one book under her belt, Melanie wasted no time in scoping out her next book and author to write.  You see, within this BOOK ME! program for kids of any age participating, I record the reader’s name and book information on our files once the letters are turned in to me in person.  After 5 books are purchased and author letters are turned in my way, Evan, Melanie, and YOU will receive a very special certificate that is printed by JIVE!  With said certificate, you can use it ONE TIME ONLY at one of four all-local restaurants that have agreed to be a part of this.  Covering all directions of town, you can use the certificate at one of the following places:  Lockeland Table, Burger Up, Germantown Cafe, and The Tin Angel.  If you are 13 and under, the certificate will get you a FREE entree of choice.  If you are 14 and up, the certificate will get you a FREE appetizer of choice.  Everyone wins!!

Everyone wins!!  Especially the local authors!  And speaking of another local author to receive a letter from a local East Side Story reader, see Ridley Wills II below.  He came by the store as soon as I told him about the letter to pick up, grabbed the letter from my hand in excitement, and walked directly over to the corner to sit and read it like it was my sister opening up a present on Christmas morning before dawn or anyone else was awake.  I don’t care who you are, you have to love this!

Now, do you think this program will continue to bring lots of happiness to our city one smile at a time?

Will YOU be the next participant?