May 2003 Memo
Part Two
Let’s pick up where we left off. After completing my
autobiography I didn’t want to stop writing. Years before I had answered an
ad to take a writing aptitude test to write for children. I wondered what I
would write about, then it hit me! I could write about the time my brother,
David and I had rescued an old rocking that was headed for the dump.
They wanted the story in five hundred words or less.
I thought that I could re-write it and tell the whole story and that’s just
what I did. When it was done I gave to my Mom to read, she liked it. Then as
we talked I thought about how many more stories I could write about my brother
and I. One thing lead to another and I decided that I would write a series of
books geared to the younger reader. I wrote about my life, my pain and what
it was like to grow up with a disease that was known as “an old people’s disease.”
By the time I had the second story done
Randy, my friend from Alberta, wanted to read them. I sent him the second story, Lost and
Found first. Why? I
have no idea. But he loved it! He said that it could become a huge hit because
everyone, at one time or another, has had the feeling of being lost. As you
might have guessed the second story is about getting lost, actually it’s about
when I got lost.
I was starting to see a pattern in the stories; each
would have a lesson in them.
As the months went by, I wrote more stories. Then,
without warning my Mom and I were more or less forced out of our homes. This
was to be a blessing in disguise. The story of our move will be in Too Much For One Lifetime: Book Two.
In January, an illustrator fell into my lap. But now,
by mid March “The Rocking Chair Rescue” was ready to be published. I had found
a printer who had already agreed to print my Bio. But first we would print the
kid’s story.
By February, Ed was nearing the end of the editing
of Too Much For One Lifetime. Everything was coming together, we would have
both books out by April 2003!
Now I had to start promoting them.
A couple of years before I called a writer’s group
in the area but they were far from encouraging. Was this because I had never
written a book before? Well, everybody has to start somewhere. I was told that
it would be next to impossible to get any of the large stores in town to even
consider carrying my book. (At that time I only had my Bio) I was not deterred.
Now that I was ready, I called one of the larger stores
in Kelowna. The lady kindly told me of their policy and said that when the book
was done to bring it in and they’d have a look at it. Okay, good. They weren’t
jumping up and down with excitement but at least they didn’t say no.
A few days later I decided to call Chapters in Kelowna.
Well, let me tell you, I sure got a different response from them.
“Yes we are always interested in local authors,” the
girl started out. “Would you also be interested in doing a presentation here
in the store?”
I wasn’t sure what was involved in that but I was certainly
willing to find out. After a few more minutes I hung up the phone. I now had
more excitement running through me than I had had in years. A few more phone
calls and a couple of emails to the gal in charge of promotion and everything
was set for April the 13th, my very first book signing.
Now we had to get the word out. I called a local TV
station and asked if they would be interested in doing a story on a new author
in the area. One thing lead another and I soon had an interview scheduled for
April 1st with Kelly Abbott for her “Okanagan Now” show on CHBC.
I also called the local cable station as they do spotlight
segments on what is happening around town. I never heard back from them but
was told a few days before the Chapters signing that they had called and said
they would be down during the signing to tape an interview.
But I didn’t stop there. On the way home from Kelowna
one afternoon, I stopped in at Cole’s Bookstore in Vernon, about twenty minutes
from Lumby. They agreed to have me do a signing there two days before my Chapters
signing. Things were really coming together now.
I immediately got on the phone to Sue, my printer,
and asked if we could have some books ready by then. We had planned on having
the first Bios roll off the presses the same day as the Cole’s signing, which
would give us lots of time for the Chapter’s signing. Now, I would need them
a day early. Sue said it would be close, but that she could do it. It may not
sound like a lot to have a few books a day early but when you are as busy as
Sue is and things are ordered for certain days, well, it helps to keep to the
schedule.
Posters were made and displayed around both towns.
With that done, I was now ready for both my signings. The Vernon Morning Star
newspaper did a wonderful article as did the Lumby Valley Times.
The Okanagan
Now show aired the Sunday before my first signing. I was amazed at how much
they packed into a four-minute segment, considering they were here for two hours
of taping.
In doing research on promoting I have learned that
book signing aren’t always the best way to sell books. I found this out at the
Cole’s signing. Maybe being as it was a beautiful spring day, many people had
better things to do than be inside a mall.
The Chapter’s signing went much better, although the
majority of books sold were to friends and family. I didn’t need a signing to
do that. But still I was out there and people walking by saw me. Who knows what
benefits that will bring one day.
Paula, a new friend helped me do some promoting by
arranging for me to address several PAC Meetings at local schools. Things went
well and as a result I started doing Author’s Visits. The first visit was on
April 30th, what a great way to end the month! The reports of these
visits will appear under the “News” tab.
Well, that does it for this month, be sure to check out next months Memo and until then, be well. J