Sunday Snippet: The Nan and Min’s Big Day Edition

Yup, yesterday was a big day. I participated in the Indy Author Event for the first time. It was  quite a day of meeting new authors and new readers, and catching up with long-time friends who are authors and readers. As a participating author, I had two tickets to give away, so way back last fall, I’d gifted them to a couple of readers at a book club. I was delighted when Marcia and Sue appeared at my table to say hello, grab a quick hug, and buy books.

I had my booth babe, Min, with me and she kept me organized and on track, restocking book stacks, taking payments, and just generally allowing me time to chat with readers and sign  books. All in all, I can’t imagine doing an event of this size without her. I didn’t envy the authors who were there on the own.

This was a ticketed event, so the readers who were there were hard-core, arriving with canvas totes to fill or empty backpacks slung over their shoulders. Some even came with wheeled crates. One woman, who bought books, told us she’d already made a trip out to her car to empty her tote. Wow! So, yeah, definitely book lovers in their element, ready to add to their (most likely) already overflowing libraries. At least half of them were wearing something bookish–a hat, a fun T-shirt, even pants covered in books–to let us know how much they loved reading.

There were all kinds of authors–romance, sci-fi, literary fiction, some non-fiction, paranormal, westerns … just everything you could imagine, plus some tchotchke booths with hats and T-shirts and bookish stuff. I didn’t wander much because I needed to be at my own table ready to greet readers and sign books, but it was fun to see what readers had bought as they passed.

Best part of the day? Besides spending time with Min, which is always a treat, and meeting readers? Well, there were a couple of cool things that happened. One is that I met a fellow Tule author there–Jillian David, who writes wonderful medical romances that remind me of the old TV show Northern Exposure. Remember that one? Anyway Jillian was there with a great-looking author table, and we got a chance to chat for a few minutes. It’s so much fun meeting Tule authors in person because I’m the copy editor for so many of them, and the whole “we’re all family” atmosphere at Tule Publishing is one reason I love being a part of the team. (Fellow Tule editor Julie Sturgeon popped by as well, so Tule joy all around!)

The other cool thing that happened was when a reader came up to tell me that she’d read the first book in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series–A Small Time Christmas (ninja promo!) and now wanted to buy the other three in the series. Then when I gave her rack cards for the other books that happen in River’s Edge, it was like I’d given her a fabulous gift. Man, it warmed my author heart to have someone so excited about my little town on the Ohio River. Even cooler, she seemed interested in the new cowboy series as well.

All in all, we had a great day and Min and I will be back next year if I’m invited.

Gratitude for This Week: Great signing yesterday, quiet evenings with Husband, my flowers are still overflowing the gardens, red cowboy boots, a fun overnight with the lake ladies at Shipshewanna, celebrating Mo’s birthday.

Stay well, stay strong and keep speaking out when you are able, always choose kindness, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!