Oh, For Cryin' Out Loud

If you've followed my posts, you remember that in February I had a signing at a small bookstore in a small town, and it was a very cold Saturday. We've had a relatively balmy winter this year. I think not many people wanted to venture from the warmth and comfort of their nests. I only sold seven books, and three of those were to the store.

Yesterday was my second signing. The first full day of spring, and we here in southwest Ohio got the third or fourth measurable snow storm of the season. Only two people showed, and they were members of my writer's group. It was super nice of them to come out in the storm to support me, but I likely would have sold to them eventually.

On a more positive note, the bookstore manager at the U. of Cincinnati called me interested in setting up some kind of presentation at the medical college there. I gave her the name of someone in the medical school whom I'd already talked to about that. We'll see what happens. Other signings are in the works. I hope they turn out better--or rather, I hope the turnout's better.

People who need my book are getting it.

Yesterday a woman whose daughter was drug 500 feet by a horse last June called me. She said her daughter’s teacher gave a copy of my book to her and her husband, and they could identify with emotions my parents felt. She does not know where the teacher got the book, and I guess it doesn’t matter; somehow it’s getting to the people who need it most. The woman said she wanted to hear me; I think she just wanted reassurance that there is a possibility that her daughter could make a full recovery, like I have. I think she wanted to hear that I don’t slur my words and can speak with a semblance of intelligence. She wanted to know that there is hope for her daughter. Her daughter’s only six years old, and she’s doing so well already, not even a full year after her accident.

Yesterday after work I stopped by College Hill Coffee Company & Casual Gourmet and put price tags on copies of my book for sale there. My Lost Summer is the March Book of the Month. I asked if the previous Book of the Month had sold much. The manager told me that only a few copies sold, but that was a book of comic strips by a non-local author. I’m hoping mine will do better since I will be signing there on the 21st.

Drake Rehabilitation Center has sold out. I need to get more copies over there.

As a follow-up to my previous post, we’re back from Puerto Rico. All the license plates there read “Isla del Encanto,” Land of Enchantment. Well, if the traffic ran a little thinner, that saying would ring true. But with the thick traffic and the loco drivers, I remained to be enchanted though the beaches and the rainforest were gorgeous.

On our first flight, Cinci to Philly, I did ask the stewardess to read the “We are lucky enough to have on flight with us today author…” She wasn’t keen on doing this, so I didn’t ask stewards on other flights. I do think I made one sale though. The woman didn’t have cash on her so I gave her a card where she could order online.