"Twelve years ago, I worked with the Elvis fan clubs, helping them collaborate on a Presley family and friends cookbook. Then one day, Ronnie and Joe and I were talking about making something new for the fans, and I said, well, I'll check into it. We found a lot of real stories that hadn't been told. Louise Smith hadn't shared her stories with anyone else."
Louise Smith was married to Elvis's other cousin, Gene Smith. While it may seem like Hand's just another relative milking her genetic connection till the bitter end, she actually donates a lot of her profits to various organizations like St. Jude's, Camp Smile-A-Mile, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. She'll be signing books from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Borders, located at 2240 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
Sat., Nov. 21, 2 p.m., 2009