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