There’s been a campaign to encourage readers and spotlight authors in Michigan for a few years now. Maybe you’ve heard of it, or maybe you’ve yet to discover the charm of The Book Fairies. The Book Fairies launched in March 2017 in London and are now sharing books worldwide.

As Cordelia Oxley, our Book Fairy in Chief, writes: “The idea of The Book Fairies is simple. There are people who like to read, and to share the amazing books they’ve read.” And who doesn’t love finding a surprise? “These two things come together with The Book Fairies—giving people a chance to pop a sticker and some ribbon on a book and leave it somewhere to be discovered!”

You’d be surprised how happy this simple act can make people. As the Michigan-representative, I’ve received hundreds of messages from happy readers, ecstatic to find books waiting for them. The opportunity to pass on my own love for books has been something I’ve cherished the last few years I’ve had the honor to be a part of this initiative.

Back in 2019, fairies around the globe participated in a campaign for the movie Little Women. Emma Watson (who helped hide books around London in March of 2017 for Women’s History Month) wrote notes that were included inside books for fairies to leave. The campaign was a success and people went wild for it. We also did a similar campaign for the theatrical release of The Secret Garden last year.

On November 5, 2021, Emma hid over 300 books with our organization for an event we called #COPBookFairies. This event involved sharing books related to climate change, activism, and caring for our planet in partnership with the COP26 conference—the biggest summit the UK has ever hosted.

We’ve even had the honor of doing a campaign with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to celebrate the release of Hold Still, published by the National Portrait Gallery to create a unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown.

We also celebrate monumental days and events such as Indie Author Day, LGBTQ History Month, Black History Month, etc. Over the years, we’ve worked with many authors and publishers to promote their books.

Many authors have used our services simply as a self-promotional tool with either Michigan, national, or international campaigns. With every social media post, we share the plot of the book, author, and publisher accounts and any relevant hashtags.

For more information on who we are and how you can get involved, visit https://ibelieveinbookfairies.com/about-the-book-fairies/, follow the hashtag #ibelieveinbookfairies on social media, or email me directly at bookfairiesmi@gmail.com.

Lindsay Gizicki graduated from Central Michigan University and pursued her passion for journalism. She is currently the editor of an architecture magazine based in Troy, Michigan and writes for publications all across the country. Lindsay is an avid book lover and the Michigan-representative for The Book Fairies Worldwide, leaving hidden books for potential readers all around the state. She’s also a frequent contributor for Detroit Mom. In her spare time she fishes Lake St. Clair with her husband, Cyle, and speaks nonsense with her 3-year-old daughter, Harper, and her 18-month-old son, Henry. Her debut children’s book, To the Moon and Back, launches February 28, 2022.

It Starts with Hello

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

Do you remember the moment when you entered your first Shop Talk or SCBWI-MI workshop with a tinge of nervousness, and then someone in the room smiled and said hello? These friendly gestures led you to feel welcomed and allowed you to feel like you belonged—so you stayed! Fortunately, we’ve been able to adjust through the covid19 protocols and have said hello through our screens and monitors!

As your Outreach Coordinator, I invite you to share these moments with our community to celebrate and reaffirm the importance of how we foster relationships within SCBWI-MI. Our new column, It Starts with Hello, will highlight these positive personal memories that may inspire others. Based on my own experiences, I can attest those welcoming moments made me feel seen and valued. From the Conference Organizers and Shop Talk Coordinators who ask for first-time participants to stand and be recognized, to the empathetic person who invites you to join their table at lunch, together we form a network of creative kidlit professionals. Many of these relationships develop into long-lasting friendships and a support system we often need in our line of creative work.

The stories you submit will be shared on The Mitten blog throughout 2022. Send your It Starts with Hello submission (under 300 words) to Isabel Estrada O’Hagin by December 20, 2021 at: ohaginib@gmail.com

Note: I will post a second call for these submissions in 2022 as a reminder. Start thinking about which welcoming moment you’d love to share with us!