My Great Uncle Tom Lyle Williams, Founder of The Maybelline Company in 1915, never stopped believing in himself.

He taught me to never give up on my dreams no matter what obstacles stood in my path and I faced plenty writing The Maybelline Story, finding a publisher and growing my brand.

The Great Depression  presented Tom Lyle with many opportunities to expand the company. Hard times forced him to reconsider his business plan of marketing through mail order, hiring marketing genius Rags Ragland even though he was not part of the Williams family. With Rags innovative thinking, Maybelline soon appeared in drug stores, grocery stores and discount houses. These outlets targeted a new audience of younger women ready to purchase eye cosmetics at an affordable price from conveniently placed displays, rather than ordering and waiting for them to arrive by mail.

Movies during the 1930's drove the Maybelline Co. towards even more success, as people sought escape from their problems while developing a fascination for their favorite stars. Joan Crawford represented the ordinary girl trying to make it in a man's world. Jean Harlow with her platinum hair and pencil thin eyebrows represented glamour -a little rough around the edges. These actresses were the prototype of the modern woman who wanted to be beautiful and glamorous. This phenomenon brought more women into the stores to purchase Maybelline and Tom Lyle's dream continued into the 1940's.

As I was growing up, Tom Lyle's stories instilled in me the will to keep going even though many doors were slammed in my face. Now after 20 years, I can proudly say that The Maybelline Story, The Maybelline Book Blog and my One Woman Show is at last a  reality and no longer just a pipe-dream. 

I'm proud to announce a friend of mine from the UK, Eddie McGarrity, never gave up on his dream to be a published writer and today his two amazing books are available in paperback on Amazon.

 Please check them out as you may remember the fun post I did about his character Elrood the Christmas Elf.  http://www.maybellinebook.com/2012/10/did-somebody-christmas-in-october.html

Eddie McGarrity

http://www.amazon.com/Eddie-McGarrity/e/B009HX6Y06/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_pop_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Eddie%20McGarrity&search-alias=books-uk

More photos from Eddie McGarrity

Want to be a guest blogger on the Maybelline Book Blog?  just email me at maybellinebook@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you.

Did somebody say Christmas in October!!! No not again!!! But wait there may be a reason to celebrate!!! Meet Elrood the Elf...

Check out my interview on Eddie McGarrity's Blog.  http://eddiemcgarrity.blogspot.co.uk/.

My new Twitter friend Eddie McGarrity has a new book out today October 1 - and it's going to be free for the first two days.

You can download from Amazon here:

amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
or amazon where you are

Don't delay - it's free for two days only!

I don't know about you, but knowing that the Holidays are only 90 day's away is hard to believe.  I'm just not ready for the commercialism of Christmas again!!  But I do love Elrood the Elf and want to introduce him to my followers.  I know he will put me in the Holiday Spirit and I bet he'll do the same for you!!!  Take advantage of this free offer today and tomorrow and get your Holiday hats ready to go!!!

Interview with Elrood the Elf.....

Eddie is so excited about this one. Elrood, his famous Elf  , normally works on the toy production line at the North Pole, but has now been given a huge promotion. He's been sent to Antarctica where the Universal Merit program has
 been outsourced . Elrood visited us last week in
 preparation for book launch on the
 1st of October 2012.

Eddie: Welcome, Elrood. Is this your first time in Scotland?

Elrood: You know very well it's not. I visited when the first volume of my memoirs was released.

Eddie: Ah, yes, Elrood the Elf. How is the book doing? As your biographer-

Elrood: [interrupting] - as my typist..

Eddie:[pausing] ... as your biographer, I wondered how well received it has been.

Elrood: Very well received thank you. All 5* reviews on Amazon. Loads of followers on Twitter, people like the Facebook page, and I try and keep the fans happy

Eddie: And what are fans of Elrood like?

Elrood: Crazy! ...er, don't print that.

Eddie: Moving on, what is your next book about?

Elrood: It's about me and my amazing promotion to head up the Universal Merit programme in the South Pole

Eddie: Why there?

Elrood: Well, it's one of the Polarzone economies, isn't it? They are basically going through some austerity measures so we decided to outsource the work there.

Eddie: And why were you chosen to head up this important project?
Elrood: I have a Production Excellence Award

Eddie: ...and...?

Elrood: I refer you to my earlier answer.

Eddie: [shuffling papers] Er, another question. This time from Hendogal, "Is Astrid in this one?"

Elrood: [long pause]: No comment

Eddie: ...okay. This one in from chickenlicken (where do they get these names): Any funny things happen in this new story?

Elrood: No, it's all completely serious. My life story is not for other people's amusement.

Eddie: A question from Broon: What is Universal Merit?

Elrood: It's a way of helping us decide what you get as a gift under the tree from the guy in the big red suit. It's not enough to know if someone is naughty or nice. You might be nice enough for a soft toy or nice enough for a new bike. It's a sliding scale. Think about it.

Eddie: When is the book out?

Elrood: Monday the 1st of October

Eddie: Where can we buy a copy?

Elrood: [sigh] Just put the links in, will you Eddie? You're the typist.

Eddie: Are you doing any more promotional work?
Elrood: Yes, you will be handing out leaflets and I'll be running a competition on Facebook - so keep an eye out there.

Eddie: Thanks for coming in today, Elrood.
Elrood: My pleasure, now get those spelling mistakes in the manuscript sorted out.

Eddie McGarrity's Blog..http://eddiemcgarrity.blogspot.co.uk/.

You can also write him at: eddiemcgarrity@gmail.com

Thanks Eddie for giving us this adorable book that will no doubt someday be a Holiday Classic.

Speaking of Classics, be sure to try my auntie Frances' Classic Christmas desert. Yes it's even great in October!!  http://www.maybellinebook.com/search/label/Christmas%20dessert

Eddie McGarrity

3:33 AM (edited)  -  Public

My book "The Afterlife Detective" is Free today. Please Download

In the UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eizekiel-Forth-Afterlife-Detective-ebook/dp/B008UCL4DW/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349948919&sr=1-4

And in the US:
http://www.amazon.com/Eizekiel-Forth-Afterlife-Detective-ebook/dp/B008UCL4DW/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349951113&sr=1-4