True Story ...

Okay blog peeps, listen to this ... TRUE STORY ... this is the kind of stuff that freaks me out a bit ... you know like "throw it out to the universe and you'll get it ... positive thinking ... just put it out there..." you know what I'm talking about. Do you believe in this philosophy? I'm thinkin' I do. I'm not going into deep personal "stuff" here ... just the fun flea market "stuff" ... the kind of thing I like to talk about here on my blog ...

My first experience with putting a dream out to the universe was my desire to go to Texas and see all the big antique shows plus meet some of the bloggers I had just recently "met" on line. What do you know .. within weeks I got an invite to go to Texas, plus an invitation to sell my "stuff" there. True story.

I like to read.

A lot.

I'm on a first name basis with all of the librarians at our town library.

I had been asking them to do searches for me ... like ..."...uhmmm do you have anything about flea markets, junking, garage sales ... like in fiction that has a nice story with it ... maybe a love interest ... a mystery tied in ... girl fixes trash to treasure and meets the man of her dreams type of easy reading book?"

Nothing.

Have you ever tried to find a book about flea markets {NOT including a price guide type of thingy}in general to read?

Neither could I .... well I must have really been thinking hard about it and sending some mighty powerful brain waves out  into the universe, because then a week later, I kid you not, honest to God truth, I got an e-mail from someone I didn't know asking me if I would like to read this book and review it:

I know ... that freaks me out!! It was dead on! Kinda.

I dove head first into my new book when it arrived ... I was already a chapter or two into it when I realized I wasn't reading a fiction novel ... this was TRUE stuff here. A true story. The main character, Curt Avery is a real guy ... who sells real stuff at real shows practically in my own backyard. He's a smart guy when it comes to his "stuff" ... and here's what else I learned the author was pretty smart too ... before I even knew it I was learning bunches of stuff! Yeah, she, Maureen Stanton, pulled a tricky one, while sharing her flea market adventures with Curt and learning all he has to share about the tricks of the trade I was being sucked into the flea market and antique subculture...I'm expecting a summer beach read and what? I'm getting an education in antiques {serious antiques} AND liking it?! Yes, I am ... I liked the book and I learned tons.

There's nothing stuffy or stodgy here. If I told you that some chapters of the book go into great length about the value of comic books, six board blanket chest, or pottery ... I know, you'd think "boring" ... well you can think again ... because no matter what the subject matter is, this book is entertaining and filled with things that will make you laugh out loud ... things us girls can seriously relate to. Like Mr. Avery sneaking things into his house and hiding them from his wife!! 

I even learned a trick or two to search and find things on e-bay ... and it has already paid off for me! Sorry, not telling you ... you'll have to read the book!!

I enjoyed spending part of my summer following these two, Maureen and Curt, to various shows and seeing behind the scene peeks of what actually making a living at the flea would be like. Who knows maybe one day I'll run into one or both of them in the future, like at Brimfield ... ya never know ... I'm just throwing it out to the universe. 

Brimfield, Brimfield ....

If you would like to read some more reviews on Killer Stuff and Tons of Money, you can find all of the links here.

And if you would like to read the book ... I'd like to pass along my copy to one of you! Maybe some of you have been wishing for a good flea market read? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and tell me what book you are enjoying this summer. I'll pick a random winner from the comments on Monday evening.

Happy weekend reading everyone,

xo

Jill