Our First Book Signing: Cookies, Cassette Tapes, and a Bakery Full of Second Chances
The morning As Sure as the Stars met readers for the very first time
There are moments when you realize a dream has quietly stepped out of your imagination and into real life.
That moment happened on a bright early morning in Bryant, Arkansas inside the charming Blue House Bakery & Café. Coffee was brewing, heart-shaped sugar cookies were being passed around, and stacks of our book — As Sure as the Stars — sat waiting to be signed.
And there I was.
Sharpie in hand.
A little nervous.
A lot excited.
Because this was my very first book signing.
Now, I didn’t exactly know what to expect. Would a few people wander in? Would we quietly sign a handful of books while sipping coffee and chatting?
Let’s just say… the universe had other plans.
By the time we settled in, the bakery was buzzing, the line stretched longer than I imagined, circling around and out the door… suddenly this whole thing felt very real.
“The story that began as our very personal second-chance love story was finally sitting in readers’ hands. It only took thirty-plus years, a missed phone call, and a whole lot of divine timing… which, when you think about it, is a pretty slow publishing timeline.”
And honestly? It was one of the most joyful mornings I’ve ever experienced.
When a Bakery Turns into a Book Celebration
The Sweetest Setting
If you’ve never been to Blue House Bakery, imagine the coziest place possible.
Sunlight streaming through the windows.
And if happiness had a smell, I’m pretty sure it would be fresh coffee, warm sugar cookies, and a bakery full of people who still believe in love stories.
It felt like the perfect backdrop for a story that began decades ago with two teenagers in Alaska.
Bryan and I had traveled to Arkansas, to meet up with our dear friend and co-author Tricia Goyer, who helped turn our real-life love story into the novel As Sure as the Stars.
And as the morning began, it happened. The bakery started filling up.
Then it got fuller.
And fuller.
The tables quickly filled with people enjoying their breakfast and coffee, while their curiosity about our book grew. Among them was a lively book club, gathered to discuss their current read, who decided to purchase our novel for their next book club selection.
I remember scanning the room and thinking,
Wait… are all these people really here for this?
The bakery was packed. People were chatting, laughing, grabbing coffee, and eating. Somehow Bryan and I ended up talking with just about everyone in the room. And everyone talked to us.
Turns out they came for the comfort food, the cozy atmosphere, and to gather with their favorite people… but along the way we had the best conversations. People were so kind, curious about the story, and many loved the whole 80’s vibe. We even met several couples who had their own second-chance love stories.
Apparently… it was exactly the kind of morning we all needed.
What Happens at a Book Signing (That No One Tells You)
Sharpies, Smiles, and a Little Bit of Chaos
There’s something funny about signing your very first book.
You suddenly realize people are going to keep this forever.
So, you start overthinking things like:
Should I write something meaningful?
Should I keep it simple?
What if I spell something wrong?!
“To Second Chances” was the chosen signature-
Thankfully, the nerves melted away pretty quickly once the morning got going. And honestly, I just followed Tricia’s lead — she’s basically a seasoned professional at these events. I figured if I stayed close enough, some of her book-signing expertise might rub off on me. People lingered.
They talked.
They shared stories.
And before long, we weren’t just signing books — we were having conversations with readers who felt connected to the story and made new friends.
Some had already read the book and came specifically to meet us.
Others were hearing about it for the very first time.
And several were part of what I lovingly call “Tricia’s tribe.”
If you know Tricia, you know she has the most wonderful community of readers who show up with excitement and support wherever she goes. Many of them had already devoured the book and came ready for signatures, photos, hugs, and to meet the real Jake and Kelly… which I have to say felt pretty flattering (and a little bit like stepping into our own rom-com moment).
Seeing that kind of enthusiasm was both humbling and incredibly special.
Bryan’s New Job Title: Cookie Distributor
Heart-Shaped Cookies and Long Lines
Now here’s where the story gets even better.
At one point during the event, we realized the line had grown… and grown… and grown.
So naturally, we decided Bryan needed an official role. Since he’s the one who first told our story to Tricia and got this whole thing started, it seemed only fair that he helped run the show and guide patrons to our table!
And just like that, he became the designated cookie distributor.
Picture Bryan walking around the bakery with a tray of heart-shaped sugar cookies, handing them out to people waiting in line. And yes… he did it cheerfully. Not exactly the role he expected when we wrote a book… but honestly, he handled it like a champ.
The cookies were yummy, adorable and perfectly on theme — because if you’re celebrating a love story, heart-shaped treats feel pretty appropriate.
Between the cookies, the latte’s, love and the laughter, the entire morning felt more like a gathering of friends than a formal event.
The 80s Nostalgia Table
A Time Capsule of Retro Fun
If you know me, you know I have a serious soft spot for the 1980s.
It’s the decade where our story began.
Cassette and Mix tapes.
Lip Smacker.
Aquanet.
Loves baby Soft.
High school dances.
All of it lives in the DNA of our story.
So, we decided to lean into the nostalgia.
On the table alongside the books were little gifts for readers:
Strawberry Lip Smacker
Cassette-style notebooks
Fun stickers
Retro goodies
And even Aquanet tumblers
Watching people pick up those items was hilarious and heartwarming at the same time.
Someone would grab the Lip Smacker and immediately say:
“Wait… I haven’t smelled this since high school!”
Another person held up the cassette notebook and laughed:
“I used to make mixtapes for my boyfriend!”
It felt like we had created a tiny time capsule from the 80s sitting right there on the table.
And honestly, it made the whole event feel even more personal.
Why Tricia Was Meant to Write This Story
An 80s Girl Who Gets It
One of the things I kept thinking throughout the event was how grateful I am that Tricia Goyer wrote our book with me.
There’s something about someone who understands the era your story comes from.
Tricia grew up in the 80s, just like me.
She understands the culture.
The music.
The teenage emotions.
The nostalgia.
When she helped me write As Sure as the Stars, she captured not only the facts of our story but also the feeling of that time.
And during the signing, it was beautiful watching readers connect with her storytelling.
Some of them had already read the book and were eager to talk about their favorite parts.
Others shared how much they related to the themes of lost love and second chances.
And then something completely unexpected happened.
Meeting a Character from the Story
When Fiction Meets Real Life
At one point during the event, we met someone who had inspired a character in the book Trust the Stars.
Let me tell you – that was a surreal moment to meet Miss Jan! She was just as her character in the book—Miss Jans deep eyes, deep pools of warm coffee, holding wisdom of years- just as the book described!
When you write a story inspired by real people, those characters take on a life of their own on the page.
But meeting the person behind the inspiration?
That’s a whole different level of special.
It was one of those full-circle moments that made the entire morning feel even more meaningful.
Trust the Stars: get it here
The Joy of Talking with Readers
The Part I Didn’t Expect
Before the signing, I thought the event would mostly be about signing books.
But the best part turned out to be something else entirely.
The conversations.
Readers shared their own stories.
Stories about:
High school sweethearts reconnecting decades later
Couples who found love again after heartbreak
Moments where life brought people back together in unexpected ways
Every time someone said,
“I have a story like that too…”
my heart lit up.
Because that’s the whole reason we started Second Chance on Love in the first place.
Not just to tell our story.
But to remind people that love doesn’t always follow a straight path.
Sometimes the detours lead you exactly where you were meant to go.
The First of Many
As the morning wrapped up and the last book was signed, I felt something settle in my heart.
This was the beginning.
The first signing.
The first crowd.
The first-time seeing readers hold the book in their hands.
And while there will hopefully be many more events, there will only ever be one first book signing and it was epic!
I’m so thankful it happened in a place filled with warmth, laughter, cookies, coffee, and people who believe in the magic of second chances.
Because Love Stories Don’t Always End the First Time
Our story began in the 1980s with two teenagers in Alaska.
Life pulled us apart.
Decades passed.
And somehow, through friendship, faith, and a little divine timing, we found our way back to each other.
As Sure as the Stars tells that story in a way that reminds us of all of something important:
Sometimes love needs time to grow.
Sometimes life has a few chapters before the real ending begins.
And sometimes the best love stories are the ones that take the scenic route.
✨ Have you ever experienced a second chance in love?
I would love to hear your story.
You can share it with us here
Because the world could always use a few more reminders that love — when it’s meant to be — has a way of finding its way home.
xo
