Well…<\/p>\n
Perhaps in straightforward “book signing” terms, it was a slow day. We (in fact, the store in general) had very few customers. Pandemonium Books has a large gaming area in its basement where we had a long table. We shared the space with several small gaming groups but they were not interested in books. I had taken a plastic skull-and-bones cup to fill with chocolate coins, and the cast resin human skull to have on the table, and a couple of other people brought similar “props.” We put the two posters I printed on the wall behind our table, and had all our books and various related handouts and freebies displayed. But there wasn’t too much traffic, and most of the group tossed it in and left by 4:00 p.m. I stayed until 5:00 p.m. with one other person, because I’m an optimist, and besides, I believe in sticking to one’s posted times.<\/p>\n
However, I would have to call it a most fruitful day, from my perspective. To begin with, the store bought six books from me to stock. I gave them the standard non-returnable retail discount of 45% and came home with a nice plump check in my pocket. You know, it’s just amazing how much warmth<\/u> is generated by a little piece of paper! That check in my pocket made me feel so gosh darn cozy! *wry smile* AND<\/b><\/i>…I am now stocked<\/u> in an actual bookstore, on the shelves! Yay!<\/p>\n
Second, the people taping for the documentary spent quite a bit of time with us and individually interviewed everyone as well as taking footage of us all at the table. They asked to interview me in more depth at a later time, to which I said, absolutely. They’re very interested in independent publishing and what goes into that. So they have my business card and will be getting in touch.<\/p>\n
Third, I had a really enjoyable time chatting with my fellow authors in NEHW, most of whom I hadn’t met before. One of them is going to send me an ARC of his new book to review for Blogcritics, I’m sending another person some information on book marketing and networking, and I got a tip to contact a fairly well-known and traditionally published author, who may have something he might like to have me publish. I was taking notes.<\/p>\n
Fourth, as I was leaving I stopped to thank the store assistant copiously for generously hosting our event. We got to talking about his role with the store, focusing on the gaming side of things. I have been looking for a retail business to volunteer with as research for one of the forthcoming books in my series. I’d been thinking of a comics store, but it can just as easily be a gaming store. It sounds like I’ve found my source. The individual I was talking to even looks<\/u> a bit like the character in my book! So I told him that when I get closer to the deep research phase for that book, I’ll be in touch. It sounds like they’ll be delighted to have the help!<\/p>\n
I was pretty cheerful as I drove home! It definitely felt like an afternoon well-spent, even if I didn’t have fans queuing up three-deep like J.K. Rowling. Hey, someday…! \ud83d\ude42 As I headed up I-95, I was thinking, “more, more, more! I have to do more of this! It’s fun!”<\/i><\/p>\n
I’m sorry that business was so slow in the store today, but several NEHW members mentioned that it was a disadvantageous weekend for our event. Most college students are just finishing classes, papers, final exams, and so on; it’s Mother’s Day weekend; and there is a big street fair tomorrow that will close Harvard Square, so people may have been avoiding the area. Although, there sure was a lot of traffic everywhere today. Parking was not an issue, there was a parking garage about four blocks from the store, only $1 an hour.<\/p>\n
I hope everyone had a nice day today–for sure, no one is on the ‘Net! I uploaded the Yarbro review to Blogcritics, now I need to finish composing the interview questions and send those off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Well… Perhaps in straightforward “book signing” terms, it was a slow day. We (in fact, the store in general) had very few customers. Pandemonium Books has a large gaming area in its basement where we had a long table. We … Continue reading