By John O’Laughlin
We know what this week feels like. If you’re like me, your desk is currently a sea of receipts, spreadsheets, and tax forms. April 15th is rarely anyone’s favorite day, but at the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Foundation, we’ve decided to change the narrative.
While the IRS gets your attention on Wednesday, we have something much more meaningful planned for the day after. On Thursday, April 16th, we are officially launching our newest project: Joy the Purple Butterfly.
The Story Behind the Wings
This book has been a labor of love for everyone involved. To celebrate what would have been Kelli’s 29th birthday this month, we wanted to create something that carries her spirit into the hands of the next generation.
The purple butterfly has long been a symbol of Kelli—a reminder of her lightness, her beauty, and the way she continues to take flight in our hearts. This book isn’t just a story for children; it’s a vessel for the values of kindness and joy that Kelli championed every day.
The Strategy: Why a “Buying Blitz”?
You might be wondering, “John, why do I have to buy the book on Thursday? Can’t I just get it this weekend?”
Here’s the “inside baseball” on how we’re going to make this book a success: The Amazon Algorithm.
Amazon’s system is built on momentum. If 500 people buy a book over the course of a month, the system barely blinks. But if 500 people buy that same book within the same few hours, Amazon’s computers take notice. They see the “spike,” identify the book as a “Hot New Release,” and begin showing it to thousands of other families across the globe who have never heard of our Foundation.
By participating in the Buying Blitz on Thursday, April 16th, you aren’t just buying a book—you are acting as a megaphone for Kelli’s legacy.
Meet the Author
Mark LaFevour Writes “April is such a special month to introduce “Joy the Purple Butterfly” to the world. Kelli and I shared April Birthdays. One of my lasting memories of Kelli is her birthday at Soldier Field with my daughter. That memory and others led me to write Joy the Purple Butterfly. Kelli’s middle name is Joy, after her paternal grandmother; it represents the joy she shared with everyone lucky enough to have known her.”
“The original version of the book was meant to be a reflection to John and Brenda on what I believed Kelli’s life was about and was meant to be, even though she was no longer with us. It was also meant to be a constant reminder and memory as to the Joy that Kelli spread throughout her life and now through the foundation and hopefully the joy that Joy the Purple Butterfly will bring to many people for years to come. It is my hope that the children’s version of Joy the Purple Butterfly, will be a book that you and your child or grandchild can read together and have happy memories, not only those that you make, but of Kelli and the joy that she brought to the world in her life. I hope you and your family enjoy the book.”
How to Participate
- Buy Now on Amazon!
- Spread the Word: Tell your friends, your family, and your fellow “tax survivors.” Every single purchase on Thursday helps us climb the charts.
I too share an April birthday, I also share the same special day as Kelli, April 2. My daughter is the one that made the purple and white heart shaped wreath. I still have purple ribbons out in honor of Kelli.
She is forever in our hearts.
April 2nd is such a sacred day for us, and it’s so lovely to know you share that birthday with her. That wreath has a permanent place in her room, and seeing the purple ribbons still out in the community is a constant reminder of the love surrounding her. Thank you for being such a special part of her story.
“Spread The Joy”
Such a beautiful way to honor your beautiful Kelli Joy’s life and legacy.
A framed picture of Kelli sitting on the front bumper of a Pleasantview Fire District Engine, remains displayed in my Living Room. Kelli will forever be in my home and in my heart.
What a beautiful way to honor your Daughter!