Beech Tree News Network

A “love letter to Butler County” is how local author Karen Harper Lain referred to her children’s book titled Lullabelle’s Story: The Trailer with Lots and Lots of Love. On Saturday, May 20th, several gathered at Morgantown Community Church for a meet and greet book signing to launch her first book.  Originally from Owensboro, Ms. Lain bought a piece of property in Rochester and began the process of moving a mobile home she purchased from Scottville to that area.  She has resided in Rochester now for two years. 

The year she bought her home the weather was horrid, creating several obstacles to get her mobile home placed, once it was finally in Rochester she was in love.  Two instances she remembered really hit her emotionally, causing her to begin the brainstorming process of this book.  Tearing up she recalled when she was going through the trailer looking it over and in one of the bedroom windows, she found a sticker on the window in what was a child’s room saying “mommy loves you,” making her remember all the times she had told her own daughter that same phrase.  Another instance she was standing in front of the mirror, and felt something under her foot and found a bobby pin, and realized that another woman had stood in front of the same mirror as her facing life’s challenges.  Thus, began the journey of writing Lullabelle. 

Lullabelle is the name of the mobile home in her book, that is full of love.  The story is told from the perspective of the home itself as she sees the daily goings on of her inhabitants. In certain areas, there is a stigma about those who live in mobile homes or trailers as some call them.  Ms. Lain stated that if she could make one child feel better about their circumstances in life then that is all that would matter to her.

Ms. Lain’s dream of publishing Lullabelle would not have been accomplished without the help of Heart to Heart Publishing owned by Mrs. Linda Hawkins.  Unbeknownst to each other, the women lived less than three miles apart.  It was under Ms. Hawkins guidance that this new baby (her reference to an author’s book) could be born.  Not only was the book written and published by Kentucky residents, it was illustrated by Mona Larkins of Madisonville who was unable to attend the signing.  Heart to Heart Publishing gained their license from the Library of Congress in 2003 publishing several genres of books, that all have the same message, “to touch as many hearts as possible.”  In every children’s book published by Heart to Heart, there can be several hearts found in the pages that are a hide and seek game for children.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Lulabelle, you can buy directly from the site www.karenhaperlain.com  or contact Ms. Karen Harper Lain at 270-993-8542.