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Benefits
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Benefits
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My very first book signing is behind me. All of us fear the unknown, and I was very nervous walking into the doors of the Barnes & Noble store at Happy Valley & I-17. I stood for a minute at the door of the store and took a deep breath, saying to myself stiffen up girl, be confident! This is going to go well for you, just put your game face on. I opened the door with my big smile and dragged my little box of goodies into the store, walking down that long aisle to the customer service stand. As I was approaching the stand, I saw the man that I was to meet, leaving?oh my?do I run after him, with waving arms or just walk confidently along the aisle like I know exactly what I'm doing? I chose to walk confidently, approaching the younger version of the man that left the customer service island and stated quietly, "I'm here to see Virgel," knowing full well that he just left.
The young man at the post looked at me and said, "Well, you just missed him."
"I know." I replied as sweetly as I could, "Just wondering if you want me to wait here for his return or should I make my way over to the children's book area, as I am the author here for the story time/book signing?"
He sighed and got on his little walkie-talkie and said, "Virgel, your author is here."
Oh boy?not too thrilled about having me, I see?ok this isn't going to be an easy day for me.
After hearing Virgel's response, he turned back to me and said, "He'll be right out."
Virgel came running out from the back, looking a little hassled. He apologized for not being ready for me, then proceeded to run around the store looking for a chair and table for the book signing. Oh no! I thought to myself, this is going to be a disaster! Before I left the house, I had asked my husband to wait at home until after I had finished reading the story (he always makes me nervous when I do anything in public), but I quickly got on the phone almost in tears and begged him to please come for support. We only lived a few blocks away and he could be here quickly. I had come to the store at 10:30 am, which would have given me plenty of time to set everything up before the story time was to start at 11:00 am but now, I feared that with the delay, I would be rushing to get everything together. I could start to feel my heart beating faster and faster and I was in such a panic as the clock started ticking closer and closer to that 11:00 hour. Virgel was sweating profusely by now and finally brought a table that was oh, so very small. I never saw one quite so small. How was I going to fit all of the things, in my box, on that little table? And sign all of those books, I was going to sell? By now all of the children and their parents were gathering around the story time area, it was a weekly event at this Barnes & Noble store and they knew the drill. Virgel?where did you go? Ok?put that confident smile on your face, Dana?quit panicking.
Finally, a little voice sang out, "Aunt Dana!" and four little arms squeezed my legs. Both of my grandnieces, Haili & Brenna came running up from behind me and just held on. They don't even know how much I needed that hug, right at that moment, on that first day of meeting my public. But there they were the two of them with their sweet little smiles and happy-to-see me hugs! It was the best moment of the day for me, especially since right behind them came my husband who wrapped his arms around me knowing exactly what I needed him to do when he saw me! Then we got down to business.
By then, Virgel, had found me a chair to sit in for story time. While I sat down in the story time chair and comfortably slid back into the roll of schoolteacher, I started to share the story of "Jeremiah, the Dragon Persuader". My husband got to work on the tiny table that Virgel had set up draped with a blue tablecloth, making it look nice with a dish of candy. He had lovingly made a "Meet the Author Poster" for me the day before and sat that beside the table on a stand that was suppose to hold books about other dragons, he put those other dragon books aside and instead added all of my books to the stand that sat next to the tiny table, took all of the extra things out to the car to get them out of the way and got the camera ready to take pictures to record the day. Once again, he came to my rescue and helped make it a very special day.
My audience was a little younger than the book was written for, but they were excited about the story and were quite exuberant while I turned each page. As I read the story and acted silly, the kids and parents alike laughed with me (or at me) and when the story was finished everyone clapped. There was a cute little girl, sitting in the front, Abigail. I will never forget Abigail, because she wanted to see the pictures first, even before I had finished reading each of the pages. I joked, "Abigail, I think your mommy needs to buy you the book!"
The audience was full of friendly faces, I had taken the advice of one of the other authors off of Jerry's website and invited friends and family. I had my mother and father-in-law, sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews, friends, colleagues. They in turn invited their friends, etc. As I was reading the story, I caught the eyes of loved ones and it helped to boost my courage. Especially when during the most crucial part of the story, a little girl blurted out "but fire comes out of a dragon's mouth, not his nose!" Everyone held their breath as I continued to read the story? I just smiled at the little girl and agreed with her? knowing Smokey, my dragon, sneezed and fire came out of his nose accidentally? is what made my story unique, knowing the audience understood, was what made the experience worthwhile. Even the store clerk was cheering me on as I read the story.
After we were through with story time, I made my way over to the table and was so surprised at what my husband had lovingly done with the area reserved for signing, I once again remembered why I had married him! I sat down, started signing books (did anyone ever mention how hard it is to concentrate on spelling other people's names? And what is with all the different forms of spelling the same name?!), gave away lots of candy, bookmarks and packets of seeds (in Smokey, the dragon's honor). My goal was to sell more than eight books. Why eight, you ask? Well, once again after reading one of the author's first book signings, she had sold eight books. I had set my goal at selling more than eight, I'm very competitive, you see. That day, I sold 18 books. I made it! Yippee!!
While things became quiet, Virgel, came over and sat to talk with me. He turned out to be a very nice man. I'm always interested in learning about other people. He told me a lot about his background. While he has always worked in managerial positions, he loves working with children. He volunteers at the Crisis Nursery in Phoenix. He has adopted children from the Crisis Nursery. That surprised me. He also serves on the Board of Education for the Cave Creek School District. He likes to arrange story time for the school district and have characters act out the stories while he reads to the children. Last year he chose to read Clifford, the Big Red Dog. So, we talked about his exploits with Clifford the big Red Dog. He was quite funny, when he wasn't running around trying to find a chair and a table. I really enjoyed my talk with him and he even invited me back to the store for the Educator Appreciation Night in October. I felt good about the experience. As I was leaving the store, the store clerk who had been cheering me on as I read the story, gave a big wave and said, "You did great for a first time author!" Hearing her say those words meant the world to me, I needed to hear that from a bookseller. The little baby steps are what it takes in this business, at least that is what I'm learning. Now that it was over I felt much more confident. Having my husband by my side carrying my poster and candy dish out the door, I thought this turned out to be a great day!
Congrats once again.
Post your pics in your album, they are to small to see.
All the best,
Yana
Congrats to you! You have accomplished your goal and I hope all of your next signings go as well. Keep us posted.
Mara
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Thanks! Appreciate the feedback! I’ve deleted the pics and will repost in a photo album. I’ve just come from my second book signing at Border’s. We didn’t have as many people today, but it was still exciting! I’ll try to get the pictures out tomorrow on my dashboard. Thanks again.
I want to congratulate you for your honest post and the brave way you challenged yourself to stay calm while facing a brand-new situation. I admire your ability to create a book and make it all the way to the stage that you‘re at...you go, girl!!
Thank you for all of your encouraging comments!! This is the beginning of a new challenge for me and I’m very nervous! I have a great family who is very supportive (even though I tend to complain about them...) they have all wrapped their arms of love around me - as you can see from my pictures!
Your encouraging words mean more than you will ever know. Thanks!
I am so very proud of you , you go Girl and keep going , i love to see you prosper and move ahead and writing books and all the wondeful things you do. Encouragement to you in all areas of life. I so want to also write a book, dont know how in this world to start, ive been writing for 5 years and have quiet a pile going..of writings..so pray for me wisdom on HOW? to do it, I know your book will bring in great success and many many more books are coming, i cant wait till you tell us all of the new ones coming..YOU go Girl...LIVE lIFE TO THE FULL.
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