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We are proud to issue our Gold Seal of Excellence to Sally Huss and to all books by Sally Huss. It was impossible to pick a favorite, as Sally has written and illustrated over 100 children's books. Please visit SallyHuss.com for more information.
Best Ever You Founder and CEO, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino recently had the opportunity to collaborate with Sally on two new books: A Lesson For Every Child: Learning About Food Allergies and Self-Confident Sandy.
Learning was everything to Mrs. Emerson. So when a new student was brought into her classroom, Mrs. Emerson was delighted because she discovered that this young man knew something that everyone needed to know. She told her class that Jack was just like everyone else, except for one thing – he had food allergies. “Would you like to explain that to us, Jack?” Jack proceeds to educate us all. This book is endorsed by Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), MedicAlert® Foundation, Elijah Alavi Foundation, The Love for Giovanni Foundation, No Nut Traveler, and Food Allergy Zone.
Order: Self Confident Sandy
Sandy was full of self-confidence. Where did it come from? She could do anything, but why? Ah, she had a special mantra that she used to explain herself. “”You may ask me why I can do anything I try… and the only answer can be: all these things are inside me!’ Yes, I can do most anything. Once I set my mind and heart to it, I find that there is nothing to it. Still, I keep my mantra handy,” explained Self-Confident Sandy!
Our Interview with Sally Huss
Tell us about yourself.
I’m a healthy, happy person who enjoys each day and the surprises it brings. I love my work, which is writing and illustrating children’s books, plus a few other books. I’m nearly 80 and have enjoyed an extraordinary life filled with outstanding and unusual people, one of whom I married. He, in turn, made it possible for me to have a terrific son.
I’m a graduate of USC in Fine Art; have been a Wimbledon semi-finalist and a U.S. Junior Champion in tennis. I have taught zen tennis to interesting folks – Barbra Streisand, Helen Reddy, Larry Hagman, Joel Grey, etc. I worked in television, then in film for Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., and also ran Paul Simon’s music publishing company.
After marrying the man from Hallmark (my husband was head of Hallmark’s advertising and promotion) we moved back to California from Colorado and began opening Sally Huss Galleries (26 in all.) These galleries carried my art, my inspirational gift art with verse and the many licensed products (clothing, purses, ceramics, children’s wallpaper, baby bibs, etc.)
When 9/11 hit, retail plummeted and the galleries closed. At that point I turned my attention to children’s books. I had a dream that indicated children were in trouble and they needed help. I found that I could easily uplift children through my books. At the moment I have over 82 titles with another 45 variations (multicultural or Spanish versions.)
In the past, I also created a King Feature daily inspirational panel for newspapers, called Happy Musings, that ran for 17 years.
Whew!
How did you get to be where you are today?
I got where I am today by following my heart.
Have you ever been fired?
Never been fired. Why would I? I did whatever I was asked to do and then some.
What are your real passions?
My writing work and DANCING! I love to dance.
If you won the lottery, what would you do?
I would pay of any outstanding bills and buy a bunch of my books on Amazon and give them to children in need and those in the Head Start/early education programs.
What do you do to help others be their best?
Encourage others to be positive in every situation, no matter the circumstances.
How do you help yourself be the best you can be?
I was raised to be a champion, so being the best you can be is inherent. I also make sure that I am operating from my higher nature.
What do you like to do in your personal life?
I still play tennis and I create daily, whether it’s writing or painting.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Do more of the same as far as creating new books. But, I would also like to find the right avenue (marketing partner or sponsor/funder) that will spread these books far and wide.
What is a book or two that you recommend?
LIGHT IS A LIVING SPIRIT by Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov.
Please give us one or two shameless plugs.
My book No Smoking, No Drinking, No Drugs has found great reception. It is for very young children, addressing these issues. I believe it is easier to plant the seeds of a healthy, happy life style when children are young. It’s a terrific book about making good choices.
Watching Watches is another excellent book. It describes 10 requirements for greatness and demonstrates these qualities in the story. It’s just adorable.
Most of my books touch on social/emotional issues, although I do not start them that way, but you can find these values or issues within each.
Why do you do what you do?
I love it and it’s helpful. Perhaps it is my divine assignment.
What are a few of your goals?
My main goal is to find the perfect avenue for these books. Having them up on Amazon is not enough. I am a one-woman self-published operation and I do not have the marketing skills to expand the awareness of these books.
What do the words "Best Ever You" mean to you?
Again, to me it means operating from my higher nature, not from my lower or selfish nature. It requires effort.
About Sally Huss
Sally Huss has been an artist and writer all of her life. She attended Occidental College for three years before graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Fine Art. At the same time Sally was developing her artistic skills, she was developing her tennis skills, becoming a Wimbledon and US National Junior Champion, and eventually a Wimbledon semi-finalist in the Women's Division in both singles and doubles.
Sally played prior to the open era in tennis. There was no prize money at that time. Through her tennis connections, she ended up working in television in Los Angeles and then in film for Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. Eventually, she ran Paul Simon’s music publishing company in Beverly Hills.
After studying movement therapy and Zen, Sally returned to the tennis courts teaching her special brand of tennis. Her clients included Barbra Streisand, Joe Gray, Larry Hagman, Valerie Perrine, Helen Reddy, etc.
It was on a tennis court in Beverly Hills that Sally met her match – Marv Huss. The two were married in Aspen, Colorado in 1976. Marv, a fine tennis player himself, had been the Director of National Advertising and Promotion for Hallmark Cards, and had created the original Hallmark card shops. The two combined their talents in business, tennis and art by first developing The Aspen Club, a luxury health spa and tennis club with eleven outdoor courts, two indoor courts, sixteen racquetball courts, two squash courts, a restaurant, bar, twelve spectacular condominiums, and 1,500 members. Sally became the first woman head tennis professional there and played a "Battle of the Sexes" against the infamous Bobby Riggs to promote the club’s opening.
After their son Michael was born, the Husses returned to California and used their other expertise – that of art and art promotion. The first Sally Huss Gallery was opened in Laguna Beach in the early 1980's. Within the next twelve years the number of Sally Huss Galleries grew to twenty-six across the country with others in Tokyo and Switzerland. Each gallery was filled with Sally's art and licensed products as well as her happy sayings.
Sweet and whimsical images danced across all of her creations. Whether in the form of original paintings, clothing, purses, wallpaper, greeting cards, ceramics, baby bibs or children's books, and her syndicated newspaper panel Happy Musings. All of her work was, and still is, happy in nature and free-spirited in style. She is well known for her beach scenes, florals and more recently her contemporary landscapes. Sally's art has found its way into millions of homes across the country, including those of Clint Eastwood, Kirk Douglas, Larry Hagman, Joel Gray, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Mitt Romney.
With the closing of the galleries after 9/11, Sally began focusing exclusively on her children’s books. Now the number has reached over 82 books with another 45 variations (multicultural and Spanish versions.) All may be found through her website and on Amazon. All of the books focus on social/emotional issues and are designed to uplift the lives of children everywhere.
Presently Sally and Marv live in Colorado Springs where Sally continues to paint, write, and illustrate her books, as well as play a little social tennis.
To learn more about Sally Huss visit: SallyHuss.com