In the village of Davisburg stands a stately old building. Inside the building is an oddly unique machine that creates slender delicate taper candles. Once, the buidling was home to a special cat.
The shop is the premise for a childrens book by author Barbara Johns of Clarkston, who is hosting two book signings in the area this month.
‘The Cat in the Candle Factory,? illistrated by Carolyn Stich, is a 32-page hardcover book for children ages 2-8 years. The story is about an inventive cat named Midnight that lives in the charming candle factory and helps create and run the candle-making machine with the help of her owner Grady.
‘We owned the candle factory for about four years back in the 1982 and the cat came with the business,? said Johns. ‘I just always thought it was a darling idea. It just sat in the back of my mind and I finally wrote it.?
Johns credits Midnight with doing her share of work around the business.
‘She actually chased the mice. There were always mice in the basement, and she would jump up on the counter to greet customers. She was very much in charge. That is really where the inspiration came from. The cat has gone on to better places,’said Johns ‘But the factory remains.
‘It is really an amazing old place. The gentleman who made it, Charlie Going, created it from his own imagination. It was in several locations before it found a home in Davisburg. We bought it with partners and it is what brought us to Clarkston. We bought the little business and we have been here (Clarkston) ever since,’she added.
Johns said she wrote the story five years ago and sent a cold manuscript to a publisher without success. Next Johns hired an agent from New York City, again without any luck.
She said one day she came across an article in Parade Magazine on self publishing and at the same time she received a letter from a friend with a copy of the same article. The Clarkston resident knew the time was right to start her own company.
‘And I love it. I wish I had done it ten years ago,? said Johns.
Currently, Johns is not publishing for other authors, but is willing to teach others do-it-yourself publishing and gives pointers at her book signings.
Johns says there is a lot more to publishing than just writing.
‘Anyone can put a book on the internet, but if nobody knows it is there it is not going to sell,? she explained.
Two book signings are scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Springfield Township Library. Johns will also be at The Davisburg Candle Factory during Davisburg days on Sept. 10 and 11.
Johns official publication date for ‘The Cat in the Candle Factory? is August 15, but advanced copies may be purchased for $15 at the Country Store & Antiques, on-line at amazon.com, steepleridgepublications.com and at The Davisburg Candle Factory.
Johns second book, ‘Christmas at the Candle Factory,? is scheduled for sale December 2006.