In a delightful twist of fate, writer J.L. Franklin stumbled upon Coffee Inclusive, a quaint shop in Pittston, just before learning about a short story contest aimed at supporting the establishment. Her first experience at the cafe left such a lasting impression that it inspired her to incorporate the shop’s delectable lemon bars into her submission.
Franklin’s narrative, “Pay it Forward,” is among the featured works in “The Perfect Blend: A Coffee-Shop Inspired Sweet Romance Anthology,” curated by Nicole Frail Books from Avoca. The anthology’s proceeds are dedicated to benefiting Coffee Inclusive.
On Sunday, March 8, Franklin and other authors will be at Coffee Inclusive for a book launch and signing event. “This is actually my first story ever published, so I’m excited to finally be a published author,” Franklin shared. “I’m excited that my first time is to help support such a wonderful cause like this.”
Coffee Inclusive opened nearly three years ago, focusing on providing training and employment opportunities to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The anthology’s concept was born during publisher Nicole Frail’s visit to Coffee Inclusive, where she discussed potential fundraising collaborations with other vendors. “Everybody was…talking about fundraising efforts and how certain funds were being cut,” she recalled.
Frail teamed up with Brendan Karolchyk, marketing coordinator for PA Inclusive and Coffee Inclusive, to develop the contest’s theme, promote it on social media, and engage local writers.
Book Launch to Spark a Series of Events at Coffee Inclusive
This Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., eight of the anthology’s 12 authors will be present at Coffee Inclusive to interact with readers. Frail expressed her enthusiasm: “When the majority of authors actually happened to be from Northeast Pennsylvania, we knew that we were definitely going to be able to do it.”
During the event, attendees can enjoy a specially crafted strawberry and rose latte, a tribute to the participating authors. “A rose latte just kind of fit that description, especially with the love theme,” Karolchyk noted.
Looking ahead, Coffee Inclusive will host its first open mic night on March 19, inviting the community to share their stories, music, and talents. “It’s all about doing it in one invaluable space right here in Pittston,” Karolchyk emphasized.
The funds raised from book sales will support Coffee Inclusive’s mission to expand and hire more employees. “Every little dollar that comes in helps us fulfill our dreams of…supporting every single person that comes through these doors looking for employment and training opportunities,” Karolchyk stated.
Local Authors Shine in New Anthology
Nicole Frail intended to highlight local talent in “The Perfect Blend,” with 11 of the 12 authors hailing from Pennsylvania, particularly the Northeast region. “Because Coffee Inclusive is all about creating a safe community and inclusive community,” she said. “My platform really focuses on creating a writing community.”
Jenn Johnson-Hamer of Swoyersville contributed “Perfect” to the anthology, her first romance story. Inspired by the contest’s coffee shop theme, she found the writing process surprisingly smooth. “It was kind of an experiment, and it just came together so fast and so easily,” she remarked.
Franklin’s story, influenced by her experiences at Coffee Inclusive, marks her debut as a published author. “I’m really excited to go to the signing on Sunday,” she expressed, eager to connect with fellow authors and readers.
