Lessons for a new book pedlar!

As a newly published author, I am learning a lot, usually at my own expense.

I recently blogged about the pain of non-response or outright rejection from book sellers. You will also know that self-publishing a book means hours and hours of self-promotion, and in my case, direct deliveries to bookstores and other outlets. Of course, when I felt compelled to start writing, I surely did not anticipate that the marketing and delivery would take on a life of its own, or that it would need to.

And the acceptance of books, especially on cold calls, is such a good feeling, a surprise and a blessing. I recently had wonderful chats with book sellers who took books, with no delay, like 6 at Mountain Light Books at the Chateau Lake Louise, 5 at The Viewpoint in the Samson Mall in Lake Louise Village, 6 at The Book Nook in Akamina Gifts at Waterton, and 6 for Jasper Mercantile and the Mt. Robson Store.

It is hard to describe the sense of appreciation and validation, that uplifting "specialness" that boosts the spirits of a beginning writer. Thank you George, Dale, Dave and Annie!  Good luck with sales this summer.

One lesson learned after perhaps one too many road trips to sell books...one should actually call to see if the bookstore being sought is actually there, and open and a bookstore.  You will be surprised at the number of places which appear on the internet as existing, but which are either gone, or are something else, or only sell used books, in a basement.  In the long run, turning into a town, and following the GPS to a building that is empty, or an address which doesn't exist or is not really a bookstore, is not the end of the world. I like driving, I like road trips and exploring places I have often just flown by on the highway, but it sure wastes time, usually on a trip where the cost of gas outweighs the "profit" from the books sold anyway.