Meyers is the author of Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, from Summerside Press, an imprint of Guideposts Books.
For years I’d known about the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) and its aisles of booths. I also knew about the countless books given away by publishers and the attendees who line up for authors’ autographs.
Hearing all this, I felt like I did as a child when I heard about Disneyland and dreamed about seeing it for myself—not something my parents could afford to do. I realized that as an author, unless I landed that elusive book contract, ICRS would never be a possibility for me.
During the summer of 2011, God blessed me with several book contracts, including one for my novel Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, from Summerside Press.
About the time my book released, I learned this year’s ICRS was in St. Louis, Missouri; unlike the elusive Disneyland dreams of my childhood, St. Louis was only a 5 1/2 hour drive from my home.
Was it possible that I could experience ICRS for myself? I put plans in motion and snagged a media pass, found a roommate to share hotel costs and, of course, let my Summerside editor know I was coming to ICRS. Before long, I was scheduled to sign my book at the Guideposts/Summerside booth.
When I stepped onto the exhibit floor the first day, I gazed at the miles of exhibit booths and thought, This is like seeing Disneyland for the first time! Of course, I had to walk every aisle and take in all that I could. Except for my aching feet, I loved it. But the best part for me came when I sat at a small table in the Guideposts booth and saw a line of people waiting for me to sign copies of my book.
I did eventually visit Disneyland as an adult and, as with many dreams, the reality didn’t meet my childhood expectations. But through God’s grace and my own hard work—and the kind of blessing those things can bring about—here I was living another dream. Sharing a story that meant so much to me about my beloved hometown, I was able to connect with readers who shared snippets of their own inspiring stories as I signed their books.
It was a dream come true, visiting ICRS. God truly had blessed me.
