Introducing myself

Hi Readers!

I got ahead of myself and posted two short blogs before introducing myself and the purpose of my blog. Of course, every one needs a title for his/her blog and choosing one was not the easiest of decisions so I decided to go with my three top interests in life: The Bible, Books, and Basset Hounds.

Since I am a born-again Christian, I must always remember to put God first in my life so that's why my page starts with the Bible. I try my best to consult God before making any decision in life and His Word (The Bible) is where I go to for those answers.

God gave me a passion for books which was birthed into me by my parents' strong interest for reading. I like to joke that I could have been born in a bookstore or a library because those were two places where Mom spent most of her pregnancy with me. In one of my childhood homes, my dad built 4 floor to ceiling bookshelves in our living room and the dining room area. I used to work in the book department of an entertainment store and I have worked at my local public library for almost 4 years now. I have an AA degree in library science and am currently working toward a certificate in children's literature. So I never get tired of books.

Just recently, I have become a consultant for Usborne Books & More which is a children's publishing company. We sell books from infancy age all the way up to the teen years. I could talk everyone's ears off about books so I will go on to my next passion in life: basset hounds.

I have been a basset hound owner since November 2000 when I got my first basset hound from a pet store. I now have my second basset hound, whom I adopted almost three years ago. I found Max at my local humane society one month after Claire passed away unexpectedly from cancer. Max is about five years old now and I consider him my baby.

So in every blog I post you will hear about one or all of these three topics. I must go now and attend to my passions in life.

Happy reading everyone!

In the newspaper

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_21462662/carlsbad-library-worker-turning-page-home-based-book?source=most_viewed

Carlsbad library worker turning the page with home-based book business

By Valerie Cranston
For the Current-Arguscurrentargus.com

Posted: 09/03/2012 10:58:08 PM MDT

CARLSBAD - A home-based business offers a local woman a chance to make extra money at selling something she loves - books.

Laura Hughes, 36, recently became an independent consultant for Usborne Books and More, a company that applies a tried-and-true marketing method - think Avon, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Tupperware - to sell its literary products.

She offers a number of books for sale through home party bookings or from her Web site.

Books have always been a large part of Hughes' life. She works part time as a library page at the Carlsbad Public Library, where her duties include checking in returned books, organizing them on a cart, returning them to the shelves and straightening up messes around the library.

"I pretty much do all the fun stuff," Hughes said.

"I've been around books pretty much all the time and my love of books has always been there," she said, noting that she was surrounded by bookcases full of books while growing up. She also worked in the book department at Hastings for four years.

Hughes and her family moved to Carlsbad in 1990 from Mesa, Ariz. She graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1995. She earned an associate's degree in library science online and is currently working toward obtaining her children's literature certificate. She is also involved in Children's ministry at Oasis Christian Fellowship.

Selling books is something that crossed her mind before. However, it was a classmate,

 

Paula Ferguson, who has been an Usborne consultant for two years, that encouraged her to join the Usborne team.

"I loved the idea of earning extra money while doing something I loved," she said.

Hughes hopes to become an education consultant with Usborne, a position that would give her an opportunity to work closely with schools and libraries. "My hope for the future is to be an education consultant with the company," she said, explaining that position would give her the opportunity to sell books to area schools and other libraries.

The Usborne company originated in Great Britain and later partnered with another company in Australia. Today the company's home office is in Oklahoma. Books can be purchased through a home party, or online through Hughes' website, or from a catalog provided by a host. If a host sells more than $250 worth of books, she'll get $40 in free books and another $50 of books at half price.

The catalog, which is updated every six months, offers something for babies to teenagers to young adults. There are even learning books and palettes for extra study for home school parents. Many of the books also have Internet links to search for additional information online.

"Starter collections would make great Christmas presents," Hughes.

Throughout the catalog are holiday books, activity books, a few board games, puzzle books, flashcards, AR (Accelerated Reader) point books, audio books to read along and adventure kid kits including books and activity supplies.

"Books are my thing and I do want the business to grow," she said. "It's fun and it's not really work," she said.

For more information, view Laura Hughes' Web site at www.booksrforever.com.

Anyone interested in booking a party or looking at a catalog can call her at 575-640-5334. To learn more about Usborne Books & More log onto: www.usbornebooksandmore.com