I’m not going to lie; I was a bit nervous about doing a book signing after taking a break from my writing career. Although, does a writer’s brain ever really take a creative break? After a week of culling through my stock of books and gathering up all my promotional material, my husband loaded up my car and off we went. I had several hours to think about jumping back into the fray after taking a five-year hiatus. Would I stand out in a crowd of sixty authors all taller than my five-foot frame? Hint, age and time do not make you taller. Would readers still like my books? Which would sell better, my Amish or Historical stories? What was I going to talk about when they stopped by my table? Oh yeah, my books! What was I going to wear? And to my husband… “does my hair look ok?”
As I walked into the large room where the book signing was to be held, I’d like to tell you that all those nerves quieted…hmmm. But I spotted a few of my long-time author friends, ones who had been the publishing trenches as long as my now twenty-six years. We hustled to set up our displays. I have to say the new collapsable shelving units are way too cool. We didn’t have those in the beginning. Tables mates introduced themselves, stuffed goodie bags were loaded onto the welcome table and before I knew it the doors were set to open.
The one thing I can tell you is that while some things have changed, the basics are still true, like write a great book that readers will want to pick up. Book sales are handled mostly by using apps on our phones. Yes, back in the old days it was cash or check, and credit cards had to be run through a manual machine! And book covers have changed from actual couples and photograph type covers to mostly cartoon figures. I’m still not sure how I feel about those. But the bottom line is if they are selling books, then I suppose they can stay.
The Brookhollow Winery book signing weekend was fantastic! I caught up with some of my long-time writing friends and made some new reader ones. Shout out to the Liberty States Fiction Writers for hosting this event!
Stay tuned for where I’ll be heading next!
