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from Lake Norman Currents Magazine

by Lake Norman Currents

On the Circuit

GAME ON Getting LuckyBuddy Wilson fulfills childhood dream with new sports card business

by Allie Spencer photography courtesy of Facebook

Customers browse the wide range of cards available at the store.

Buddy Wilson credits a reignited childhood hobby as the catalyst behind Lucky Box Sports Cards in Cornelius, one of only a handful of card shops in the Charlotte area. In 2017, owner and Huntersville resident Wilson decided he needed a hobby and remembered how much he enjoyed collecting sports cards growing up as a kid in Des Moines, Iowa. He started collecting again, and eventually got involved in online box breaking—where a box of cards is opened via livestream. Wilson’s Facebook page dedicated to box breaking, Lucky Box Breaks, has grown to 1K+ members, but something was missing.

“Online you don’t get the face-to-face interaction,” he says as he describes what pushed him to open his own card shop this past August. “I really enjoy the social aspect of it. I like being able to educate kids and new collectors about the hobby. When I was in Iowa, I would go to the card shop and sit there for an hour, two hours at a time, talk with other collectors…it’s like going to a bar if you are a regular and hanging out with your friends.” GettinG the Green liGht

He decided to open Lucky Box Sports Cards in May, and with the support of his wife he took a step back from his tech role at an online benefits administration company. “She knew how much I got back into the hobby over the last few years and saw that it was a profitable business, so she gave me the green light,” he says.

Inside Lucky Box Sports Cards, the walls are lined with sports memorabilia, display cases full of boxes of cards, and the “Hornets bar” where Wilson displays his large collection of Hornets cards. He describes his regulars as kids between the ages of 8 and 10, and “middle-aged guys” who used to collect and are getting back into it.

“A lot of people are starting to see the potential and the earnings income and that’s bringing their love back for sports cards. [There have been] a lot of high dollar cards being sold in the last three

Buddy and Megan Wilson with their two children.

or four years for $2-3 million dollars and people are beginning to realize there’s a lot of money in sports cards now,” he says.

carDs for all buDGets

With a varied customer age, he carries products appealing to all budgets from $20 packs to $5,000 boxes. Collectors will find basketball, football, and baseball as well as some NASCAR, Pokémon, StarWars, WWE and soccer cards. Wilson also hosts a monthly Trade Night, the second Thursday of the month, where customers can bring in their cards to sell or trade or participate in a live box break.

Wilson says the name Lucky Box comes from his luck pulling great cards out of boxes when he got back into collecting. He also got lucky when it came to the store’s location at 19905 W. Catawba next to Bakery 28 & Café.

“I was on a few different sites and came across a place near Birkdale Village and called the realtor, but it was just leased that day. He asked me what kind of business I was opening and when I told him he said he had the perfect spot that used to be an old coin shop. I came the next day, saw the space and signed that day.” As with any new business he has faced some hurdles, particularly due to COVID-19. “Covid puts a hold on just about everything. It took me two months of being opened before I received my glass showcases from the manufacturer.” But as a result, he has learned to be more proactive, and he encourages others to try entrepreneurship.

“…If you’re on the fence about starting your own business, just go for it. It’s never going to be the right time to take a leap. I have met so many new people and created so many new friendships since I opened Lucky Box that I am grateful for. Nothing beats seeing a smiling kid’s face after opening a pack of cards and pulling one of their favorite players,” he says.

Lucky Box Sports Cards

19905 W. Catawba Ave., Suite 106, Cornelius www.facebook.com/LuckyBoxSportsCards

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L. Leigh Love was inspired to share her love of nature.

Young at Heart

Two Lake Norman authors share the inspiration behind their children’s books

by Allison Futterman

Ashley Belote was inspired to write her book while teaching at a summer art camp.

The Lake Norman area has no shortage of creative talent—including filmmakers, artists, and writers. Two local residents have authored children’s books, which are available now.

L. Leigh Love has worked for years in the area of animal communication and pet grief. Her book, “Roly-Poly and the Light” explores themes of friendship and self-worth. There are also important messages about acknowledging our differences and similarities and valuing our connections with one another. Ashley Belote is a talented illustrator who has done illustrations for previous children’s books. This is her first time writing and illustrating a children’s book.

“The Me Tree” centers around a bear who thinks he wants to live alone, but winds up experiencing the ups and downs of living with others. It’s about the importance of community.

Below, both share their experiences about writing and publishing their books.

What inspired your book?

LLL: The story was inspired by a real encounter I had with a roly-poly, or as some people call them—pill bugs. One day we had a nice visit, and that sparked the creativity of this story. It’s about the friendship a child has with a roly-poly and how it’s important recognize and accept our differences, while celebrating our similarities. I was also inspired by wanting to share a message of absolute love for nature.

AB: I was teaching summer art camp, working with a group of kids. And I always noticed that one or two kids who wanted to go off on their own, to have some alone time. It made me think how I’d like to do that too. We were working on a project, and I looked at my example and it reminded me of a tree. So I drew a bear sticking out of the tree. And then the line “Who’s in my tree” just came to me. And I got the visual of a bear who wanted to be alone in his tree.

What was the creative process like?

LLL: First I had the inspiration in the yard, then I went in and wrote about my encounter with the roly-poly. I let my imagination take off and some beautiful messages started coming through in that creative process. I wrote the initial draft very quickly, about an hour. But then it took time to polish it up, eight months all together. But it actually sat in my computer for 10 years. I picked it back up when a publishing company asked about a dif-

ferent book I was working on, one about pet loss. I realized this story had a lovely message that is in line with the times and one we all need to hear.

AB: I wrote several lines right there and I also started doing sketches. I created a book dummy, which is where I have the sketches paired with the manuscript. That took several months. The book dummy helps editors (who might be interested in buying the project) to see the big picture. I’m definitely an illustrator first, so I need to see what my characters are going to look like before I write about them. I did some character sketches with the bear in situations that would be funny—because I think humor is very important. Humor gives kids a chance to escape. After many revisions, it all came together.

What made you decide to go with your publisher?

LLL: I published with a hybrid publisher. I wanted to maintain control over the creativity and the illustrations. I was able to do that, working closely with an illustrator. I worked as the art director on the book. I wanted to be very involved with how the layout looked and you don’t always have that option with a traditional publisher. Using a hybrid approach allowed me to have a lot of input, but also have the professionalism of working with an editor and publisher. Working with Barringer Publishing was fantastic option. AB: I’ve worked very hard to get to this point, and I’m lucky to have such an amazing agent. She’s like my partner in helping me pick projects to submit to certain editors. She gives me valuable feedback on my dummy books. We were thrilled that Penguin Workshop was interested in The Me Tree. It was a two-book deal, so there will a sequel.

Why write a children’s book?

LLL: Because I think I was really speaking to the child within me when I wrote this—because I was picked on for my differences. And I think it’s beautiful when people have differences with others but find that global connection through their similarities. It’s taken me a long time to see that my interaction with the roly-poly was an important message. It helps me even as an adult to feel comfortable with who I am.

AB: I’ve always been drawn that genre because my illustrating style is for a young audience. Illustrators can do many things, like graphic novels or cover illustrations. But picture books are where I feel most comfortable—in that six to eight-year-old mindset. I know I was meant to be a picture book maker. And even as an adult, I love reading picture books.

Visit www.lleighlove.com and www.ashleybelote.com to learn more about these authors and where to find their books.