Paying it Forward

L-R Jessie Winsor, owner of Seasonality in Fairview Mall, stands with local author, Laura Smith.

Jessie Winsor always said if she ever opened her own business giving back to her community would be a top priority. And now she is doing just that.

Winsor, the owner of Seasonality, a kiosk in the Fairview Mall, has arranged a book signing and reading with Niagara Falls author, Laura Smith. All of the profits from the sale of the book will be donated to Wellsprings Niagara.

Wellspring Niagara provides help and support to cancer patients and their families.

Smith wrote the children’s book “Clarence and Carley - A Friendship so Knarley” shortly before she was diagnosed with brain cancer about two years ago.

Smith says her recovery has been “fantastic” and in fact she feels better now than she ever did.
"I feel better now than I did before I was diagnosed. Totally. I’ve got so much energy. And my hair is growing back, but I’m kind of attached to the wigs,” she laughs. “There’s some pretty cool stuff out there.”

Winsor approached Smith with the idea of selling her book at Seasonality a few weeks ago and response from the public has been positive.

“A customer had come and asked if I was going to do a reading,” says Smith. “I thought that would be awesome. What a great idea. It’s going to be exciting …I’ll do a signing and a reading.”

Winsor opened her gift shop kiosk about 8 weeks ago and she wanted to help Smith promote her book right away.

“She has been an inspiration,” she says. “I couldn’t believe that this could happen to somebody so young and with two small kids. I do my best to talk up the book when people are coming around and they don’t know the story. It’s my way of giving back. And it’s my way to help a friend.”

Smith wanted to donate the proceeds to Wellspring Niagara because she has spent a lot of time using their resources since her own cancer diagnosis.

“I will be donating all the proceeds to Wellspring Niagara because it’s so important,” Smith says. “Cancer can be such a frightening thing for people and it is a great place to go and just relax. I went and did yoga every Saturday; it really helped me to find myself again throughout all the craziness of cancer.”

Smith’s book is “about not being afraid to have the courage to introduce yourself and show people who you are. Be yourself and not worry one bit about anything else.”

She says “it is a simple little story that everyone can relate to.”

Smith is looking forward to seeing the reaction from children when she reads her book.

“My number one goal is watching their faces and seeing their smiles.”

Smith will be signing copies of “Clarence and Carley- A Friendship so Knarley” between 9:30 and 2:30 on April 30^th at Seasonality (located in the Fairview Mall on Geneva Street in St. Catharines).

Hard-cover copies will be $25, while soft-covers will be $15. All proceeds will be donated to Wellspring Niagara. Copies of the book are also available at Amazon and through Smith’s website www.clarenceandcarley.com.

Published in Niagara This Week (May 2011)