After Googling for possible bookstores in between those aforementioned stops, I came up with Sundog Books. Rather than going through the channels and having my publicist make the call, I picked up the phone to place the dreaded cold call myself. Cold calls can be nerve wracking at best. Never, but never, have I had one turn out to be as much fun as the connection I made that day. To my great surprise the sweet owner graciously interrupted my rambling opener. Linda quickly told me that she recognized my name, had sold tons of my first book, Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On, and would love to have me for an impromptu appearance! And that’s where my love affair with Seaside, Florida begins…
I remember having no idea what to expect when I left Destin, FL in my rear view and drove into Seaside but I found a community unlike any other. This is not your typical beach town. The first thing you notice as you near Seaside is how time seems to slow. Everyone travels by foot, bike, or skateboard in and around pastel houses lined with charming picket fences, all radiating from a pristine central square. As a matter of fact, everything about Seaside seems clean and neat, like the fictional town of perfect from the commercials. At least that’s what I attributed my déjà’ vu feeling to on that first visit. 
This past February I returned to Seaside, (by invitation this time), to present my work at their Escape to Create festival. Not only did the committee graciously offer me my own home away from home, they even invited me to come early and stay late to get some writing done. As you may imagine, it took me zero point zero seconds to take ‘em up on that one! It was during that second trip that I finally pinpointed the reason behind the strong deja’ vu feeling I couldn’t shake. Apparently the secret I stumbled on isn’t a secret at all. Seaside was the setting for that perfect little community depicted in the 1988 movie starring Jim Carey, The Truman Show.
If you ever get the opportunity, don’t pass up a trip to Seaside, FL. Mind you, I feel bad about introducing you to my favorite vacation spot when I have yet to enjoy it with my family, but let the record show that I have serious plans to change that.
Shellie
P.S. Here’s a post on my personal blog that I wrote during my last visit to Seaside. You may enjoy it.