Author talks and book signings galore!

My calendar went from empty to full -- and it continues to fill! I'm amazed at my new-found ability for self-promotion almost as much as by people actually buying my book. First up was the Tony Hillerman Branch Library, followed two weeks later by Page 1 Books, then South Valley Branch Library, and Juan Tabo Branch Library just last Saturday. I will be honest -- very few people show up to author talks at public libraries. In one branch, the library manager stayed just so that there would be someone in the audience. However, the people who do come are interested and engaged and full of questions and the desire to learn. A few bought books. All took bookmarks. At the suggestion of the library manager at Hillerman, I donated three copies of my book to the library. It is now in the catalog and ... all three copies are checked out! This bodes well. I have, however, given up on Erna Fergusson and Special Collections for the time being. Maybe once I'm famous and a real draw, but for now ... attendance doesn't warrant the additional time and effort. 

The staff at Page 1 Books were delightful and I sold 4 books -- a record! It is a very laid-back, kind of funky hipster (in a good way) community book store. Lots of used books as well as new and lots and lots of books by local authors. The wind, on the other hand -- they warned us that Albuquerque gets wind in the Spring. It would blew not only bookmarks but actual books onto the ground. I spent most of my time sprawled across the table holding things down. The staff felt so bad, they offered to host me again later in the summer, after the time of the winds!

This Saturday, June 7, I will be in Santa Fe at Garcia Street Books from 10-1 or 2, with two other authors, members of the New Mexico Book Association. The Association has an arrangement with Garcia Street Books for three authors on the first Saturday of the month. I'm so excited, I'm going up on Friday and staying over just so that I won't risk being late!

Wheels Museum is coming up on June 28, the Mesa Verde Literary Festival on July 12, and four others, including Page 1, are in the works for August and possibly September. These will be with the members of my writer's group, Write Minds, so we should attract more people to the tables, with our variety of works in a variety of genres. 

I still haven't heard back from the Castañeda or Plaza Hotels. I'll follow up one more time, but at this point, I'm thinking it might be better to just wait until November and the Fred Harvey Weekend.