The Value of "Getting Out There"

By Elaine L. Orr

Because of the pandemic and a couple of health "issues," I haven't been with readers as much as in the past. I've gotten a real charge out of two events in the last couple of weeks, with more on the horizon.

The first was a flea market for crafters and antique and collectible sellers at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. They said crafters, so I pitched books, and they said I could participate. I mostly wanted to meet a cross-section of folks beyond those who go to libraries and bookstores. I had a blast, and actually sold some books. 

Browsers included lots of children, which always makes me wish I would work harder on a couple of books for middle school kids. And not simply because everyone stops to talk to the children's book authors. 

This past weekend (October 26th) was the first author festival at the Springfield Barnes and Noble in several years. Sixteen authors sat in a U-shaped format, which made for a lot of interaction among authors and browsers.

I sat between a man whose fiction is based in part on his Vietnam era service and a group of poets. The best part of bookstore signings is the diversity. Second only to the fun.

As I looked for the photo at left, it reminded me of other Barnes and Noble events in Iowa and Indiana. 

In 2006, the Barnes and Noble in the Iowa City and Coralville area let me do a sole signing for one of my earliest books. My friend, the oft-published Leigh Michaels, and I sat together for a few hours and spoke to a number of people. I don't think I broke their sales records for the day, but it was a great experience. I look about twenty-five in the photo! Good camera angle.

When I lived in Indiana, the Barnes and Noble store in the Keystone Mall (near Indianapolis) was fantastic about working with authors. My Sisters in Crime Chapter often met there, and they regularly did signings in which a bunch of us would participate. 

It's a reminder of how much difference bookstores make in helping writers meet readers -- and advance their careers. Plus, we had a lot of fun, as you can see in the photo with another Indiana author, below. This would have been about 2011 or 2012, I think.

In a few weeks I'll do the annual ALUUC holiday arts and craft sale in Springfield, Illinois. It's so much more than that -- musicians, good food, and good company. I'll likely be the only bookseller again, and people tend to stop to talk for a few minutes. Mostly they ask where I get ideas, and I confess to having a mind that is part warped and  part hyperactive. 

I love independent bookstores, but for the first time in my life I don't live in a town that has one. I miss the sense of close-knit community that these smaller stores engender. Whether it's a large or small store, authors and readers make connections over books.

As holidays seasons grow closer, don't forget to give books to people in your life. I like to give books that have as the setting or context something the receiver is interested in, be it a hobby, vacation spot, or career interest. You can't go wrong with books.

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