Sold a “Lollipop” and an “IWKYA,” which turned into a swap of books with a fellow Authors Guild member.
The former was a café sale to a nice young couple, both UC students, he of Afghani descent and in electrical engineering, she Chinese-Mexican and studying micro-biology. Isn’t that the best recent argument you’ve run into for liberalized immigration laws?
The swap came about this way. A Guild member asked at the members’ forum why people self-published. Usually I find nothing here relevant to me, but since I figured my approach is pretty idiosyncratic (it sure is), I decided to describe it. This led one reader to my web site and to my receiving an order from Pay Pal. When I learned she wrote romance novels and memoirs (and taught creative writing), I proposed we trade my and Adele’s book for a memoir of hers. Done! (I will be refunding what she paid PP.)
[I had hoped someone might want to make a documentary — but this will do.]
Almost sold a “Pirates & Mouse” too. A fellow looked over my books and took a card. He returned to his table and, having checked my web site, came back and said it was the one wanted. Now, I have recently stopped selling “Pirates” (and “Outlaws, Rebels…”) because they are out of print and the only way I get new stock is buying them on line and marking up the price, so I profit, which doesn’t seem entirely hamish. But I checked Bookfinders, saw what used copies were going for, and offered a better-conditioned, signed one for $2 more. He accepted my proposal – and I never saw him again.
However, another woman/ex-customer spotted the book , which I was still toting it with me, and said she’d buy it. But first a check had to arrive – or a ship enter port – or a horse come in.
In other news…
1. There has been none on “Messiahs…” I will inquire further.
2. My article on “Moon Ray” and “MeduSalem” went up at tcj.com. (Because of the controversy over the author of the former, it had been so long since I’d submitted it, contrary to my custom, I read it – and it was pretty good.) The creator of “MeduSalem” was pleased and the publisher of “Moon Ray” was too – but a tad less so. As expected, the “Comments” space drew some negativity which, in my view, tended toward the inane and unrelalted to anything I wrote.
What drew my attention more was that for several days my Facebook link to the article drew zero response. (The total last time I checked had swelled two, which is still low, even for me.) At the same time, I had posted praise of a local jeweler at Next Door, following the fine service I received. That drew 12,000 views and 84 comments. (Praise I posted for our garage door repairman drew 1,100 views and a half-dozen comments.)
Maybe, I thought, I am in the wrong business.
Maybe I should become an influencer.
Happy Thanksgiving.
So many Bob Levins on the Internet; I'm the Bob Levin who writes.