Welcome to new readers and new fans!
Thanks to a dear friend who is a friend of the owners of La Fonda, I got a last minute offer to serve as Artist-in-Residence at La Fonda from last Friday through Sunday! It was the ideal venue for hawking my wares, as it were, with its Fred Harvey/Couriers history. They set up two tables with black table cloths, two comfortable padded chairs, and a really snazzy backdrop. Parking and lunch were both complementary, as well.
I drove up Friday, arriving at 10:30 and leaving around 4:00 to check in at my hotel, El Sendero. Four people bought my book! It was also the debut of the turquoise and silver necklace that my friend Heidi lent me for just these events. Looks good with my funeral clothes, no?
Lunch was a to-die-for charcuterie board from the La Fiesta Lounge. Highly recommended. I suppose you could share it -- but why? I had to leave the table unattended, but everything was as I left it, except the level of candy in the bowl. 😆 Lots of people in the lobby, there for a wedding. I sold one book to a very nice young couple who kindly hung around and chatted with this bored author.
The next morning found me at Garcia Street Books, in company with two other members of New Mexico Book Association -- Ann and Dennis. I had just put the first stack of books on the table when a woman rushed up and pointed at the book, "Is this you?" I nodded. "Oh, good. My friend sent me here to buy a copy for her. She loves your work!" Ultimately, she bought one for her friend and one for herself. I still don't know what other work her friend is referring to, unless she's read my short stories. But I'm not about to quibble! Two more people bought my book before the morning was over.
Then it was back to La Fonda for lunch -- burrata with port wine figs, pignoli, fresh peas, and baby greens -- and an afternoon of bookselling.
It was a wonderful afternoon. First, Ann from the morning came by just to say "Hi," but stayed to help me sell my books. After an hour or so, I suggested that she put her books out on the second table. The time went much faster with the two of us, and I observed that people were far more willing to walk up and look if the two of us were talking to each other. We weren't ignoring them, but we also weren't intensely fixated on them. Upshot was I sold another 5 books! One was to a couple from Kansas who are Fred Harvey fans! Of course I told them all about the Fred Harvey History Weekend and gave them the link to the website.
So, that was Saturday. Sunday saw me back at the La Fonda at 9:00. Ann arrived shortly afterward. The morning was very quiet. It started to pick up around 11 or so. Between then and about 2, I sold another 5 books! Three men stopped and asked if the book were about Carlos Castaneda 🙄
My observations -- people who are checking in do not stop to look at books. They just want to get to their room. And they don't come back downstairs until dinner. People who are checking out do not stop and look at books. They just want to get out and off to wherever they are going. If they came down for breakfast, it was a quick bite and then back up to pack.
A very profitable weekend in every way! A total of 17 print books were sold and at least one ebook! Several more people took bookmarks, with promises to buy through that online vendor. At least as important, dozens of people are now aware of my book. The word is getting out.
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