Author adventures on Independent Bookstore Day

May 7, 2024 — I was happy to be invited to host an author table at Adventure, Ink on Saturday morning, April 27 — Independent Bookstore Day.

The Michigan Book Hop event kicked off the same day. Michigan Book Hop participants go from one independent book store to another (in several different regions across the state) to collect BINGO stamps for visiting the store and other activities (like buy a book from a local author) for chances to win prizes.

Adventure, Ink had a Golden Ticket hidden in its store for a lucky finder to win a bonus prize. No one found it while I was there. But someone found it later, as I saw on social media. I haven’t heard where it was but one of the clues they gave said something like “don’t leave your books on the table.” I wonder if it was in the drawer of the table I was sitting at? I tried to open it, but maybe not hard enough.

Laura, one of the book store owners, advised that I talk to everyone who came into the store. “Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself,” she said. “Tell them you’re a local author.” This seems like simple advice, but I was glad she said it because I think there’s a part of us that doesn’t want to seem too pushy. Most of the people I chatted with bought the book. 

During my two hours at the store, a young girl sat down on the couch next to me to read my book. She laughed at the hungry hippo and said it reminded her of the Hungry Hungry Hippo game. She smiled at the cool cucumber page. I asked her if she recognized who his date was. Her mom recognized the cucumber had a date with a date (and told her daughter that a date is a dried fruit). She commented that she liked the wordplay. I love to see people interacting with my book and “getting it.” Several people remarked on how attractive the illustrations are. Someone commented to her husband, “look how pretty.”

Another mom, who brought her daughter, opened the book, started reading and said, “hilarious.” I told her she’d just made my day. She asked me if we let people know I’d be at the store. The store and I did social media posts about their Independent Bookstore Day activities, including the visits by me and an author of a fantasy series.

Two nice young women each bought a copy of my book for their Little Free Libraries. One of them has one in her front yard, and the other has one at the front of the local elementary school. I’m going to make a note of looking into marketing to Little Free Library owners. Someone bought one for their godson, another for a baby grandchild, who will grown into the book. The Mom whose daughter was reading the book bought it for her. She didn’t quite finish reading it, but told her Mom, “I just want it.”

I sold seven books while I was there. I somewhat randomly thought I’d consider selling six to be successful, so I beat my expectations. Laura had my book displayed among others by local authors, which will fulfill one of the BINGO squares.

My husband and son met me toward the end of the event as a show of support. So sweet! They looked around the shop and we bought a few books. A book that caught my eye from where I was seated was called Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. I asked Laura about it. She’s read it and highly recommended it and another customer said it’s one of her all-time favorites. It’s a funny take on the end of the world.  Buying Good Omens fulfilled my BINGO square for buying a book recommended by a bookseller. Tim received several other stamps when he made our purchase. I selected another book, Opening to Grief, finding your way from loss to peace, that looked promising. I’d randomly opened the book to a beautiful quote by Barbara Kingsolver. Afterward, we went to The Owl a few doors down Main Street for coffee, chai and a pastry. I love owls and so I really enjoy the cafe’s decor. 

It’s still pretty unreal to me being an author and taking part in these kinds of events. It was totally coincidental that my book was published two days after I retired. You may recall that I retired earlier than expected. One of my neighbors said about me, “you don’t gather any moss.” Here’s to active bodies and minds, into our 60s and well beyond. But also getting enough R and R, which is equally important. My birthday was last week and my age digits turned over into a brand new decade. That’s a hard one to believe as well. As of this writing, today marks two years since the complicated heart surgery that I survived. I’m so incredibly grateful.

My next author event is Thursday, May 16 when I return to Adventure, Ink, during downtown Milan’s Third Thursdays. I’ll be there from 5- 8 pm selling and signing books. I hope to see you there. My full event schedule is on the home page of this website. I’ll keep it updated as I add more events. 

Let me know if you have any questions for the illustrator, Jenny, or me. We’d love to hear from you. And don’t forget, you can send in the activity from the back of the book, via the contact page, anytime. You might just win a cute, clever and incredibly soft little stuffed red fox. The prize was top secret until my blog post last week, which let the fox out of the bag, so to speak. 

Image credits: top, Laura Harvey of Adventure, Ink. Others: G. Kuhnlein.