Janae (Opatz) Bower, a 1991 graduate of Rush City High School, and now award-winning author, will be at the 4th annual Rush City Community Education Holiday Craft Spree Saturday, Nov. 13.

She is being sponsored by the P.E.O. Sisterhood and will be at their booth from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Bower is the author of ìThe Little Girl Who Found IT: A Story of Heart and Hope.î

The book is about a little girlís life-long journey to find IT - the thing in life that will bring true happiness.

The book won the 2003 Book Achievement Award for the self-help/psychology category from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA).

As a little girl, Bower dreamed about growing up and writing a book that would inspire others. IT has.
In fact, her award-winning book has inspired a movement.

Not only has the book encouraged girls of all ages (5 to 95) to find more meaning, joy and purpose, it has inspired them to take action - creating a doll, jewelry, an annual retreat, a CD, artwork and fund raisers all around the book.

A variety of women, inspired by the book, have teamed up with Bower to create keepsake products to accompany the book.
Each of the products is personalized and uniquely designed to help girls of all ages in their journey to find IT.

ìI had hoped that my heartwarming story would inspire those who read it to listen to their heart,î said Bower. ìI never dreamed it would inspire some women to start their own businesses and develop special companion products for the book.î

The book debuted in fall 2003 at an event in the Twin Cities called the Inspired Womenís Retreat. This girlsí day of pampering and purpose was such an inspirational day that it not only sold out, but those who attended it encouraged retreat founder Bower to make it an annual event. The second retreat was held Saturday, Oct. 16 in St. Paul. The theme was ìFinding ITî based on Bowerís book.

It was soon after the first retreat that the IT movement started. One woman contacted Bower hoping to start her own business by sewing a matching, handmade doll of the bookís little girl character.

Another women started her craft business by designing jewelry around the book, featuring one-of-a-kind beaded pins of the little girl.
Singer-songwriter Barbara McAfee compiled a special CD of her heartfelt music about our search for IT, which premieres a special song called ìTI.î
Young girls worked with a childrenís art institute and created artwork around how they are finding IT.

Non-profit organizations are now partnering with Bower to use the book and its keepsakes for fund raisers.

The organizations sell the book with its matching keepsakes and receive a significant portion of the proceed.

One group that is partnering with Bower in a fund-raising event is the Rush City Chapter FL of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. P.E.O. is devoted to providing educational opportunities for women.

Joy OíShea, past chapter president said, ìWorking with Janae has been a positive experience for all of us. The message of her book fits in well with the philosophy of our organization.î

P.E.O. is sponsoring a booth at the craft fair to raise funds for the organization.

At the booth, you can meet Bower, see and hear how to publish a book, have her sign copies of her book, listen to the bookís companion CD, play with the matching keepsake doll, try on one of the hand-beaded pins, get some unique gifts for the special people in your life and support the P.E.O. organization.

If you cannot make the craft fair, you can find out more about Bowerís book and keepsakes by going to www.findingIT.com.
The Holiday Craft Spree will be held at the Rush City High School.

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