Outdoor Events--Be Prepared

      As I said last month, slowly things are returning to normal which means outdoor book fairs are coming back. I've been at this for some time now, and at each event I find dozens of new authors who arrive unprepared. Indoor events usually provide a table and chair. Outdoor venues sell or designate a place on the sidewalk. All the schlepping is up to you. I boldly double park to unload if I can't get closer to my spot than a more distant lot. At the minimum, bring a table(s) and a chair or two and your boxes of books. Have a light-weight folding dolly. It's a challenge to haul books any distance.

   And for heavens sake, check the weather report! If lucky, you might be stationed in a pavilion or a tent with shade and shelter for you and your books from foul weather, but not very often. My family gifted me with a basic blue tarp supposedly capable of being set up by one person---think a tall, mechanically-inclined person. I am not tall enough to push it up. Luckily, my husband is. He usually comes along to do just that. That small tent has saved me and my books more than once, but I admit, I would be wiped out in a bad storm--which did happen to me once, and I lost several books to the rain, couldn't get the wet tarp down and into the car without the kindness of strangers, etc.  That disaster also taught me to pack all the merchandise into plastic boxes and not put out stacks of books, but just one copy each. As they sell, I replace them. Usually, they are displayed on book racks or book stands which all have to be lugged, but it is the most efficient method I've found.

     As for decorations, how much more do you want to carry? Some use tablecloths which I only do if required (read all requirements carefully-some do ask for tablecloths). Others invest in large banners that have to be set up and don't fare well on a windy day. Flowers look nice but vases fall over. I only did this once for my Roses series, a lovely selection of yellow roses. Toward the end, I gave the roses away in order not to have to transport them home. This also tempted no one to buy a book, though the public is always looking for freebies. Never once has swag sold a book as far as I can tell. As for myself, I only pick up pens and nail files which are useful. I do hand out postcards with the book cover on one side and the blurb and order information on the other along with a list of my other titles and how to reach me for further events. These are useful for readers who might order an e-book later, though I've never noticed a rush of Amazon sales, maybe one or two at most. Postcards can be had cheap from Vista Print and other online outlets, but they do blow away in the wind. Have something to hold them down. The rest of my decor is minimal.  I use handfuls of Mardi Gras beads, small foam footballs and crushed beer cans that fit into the crannies of my book boxes. Even these can cause problems as toddlers tend to get handsy and can take down an entire display with one quick grab as you try to sell their mothers on romance.

     Remember to bring change. For ease of transactions, I simply make all my titles $15 and have lot of fives on hand. I also take take checks and have never had one bounce because readers are good folks. It is possible to pay for a credit card app if you are so inclined, but I don't bother. Often they don't work well. Those more conversant with technology probably know of other ways. Next, offer a bag.  No extra expense required. I use colorful bags I've collected in my travels or even the standard, can't get rid of them, plastic grocery bags. I do have some slightly racy covers which some won't want to carry exposed, but bags are also good for foul weather sales to folks who take refuge under your tent.

     For your own survival, ask if any food will be easily available. My husband departs after the tent goes up. Usually, I am there alone. Take a friend if you can, but often you sit outdoors for hours, if lucky stationed close enough to meet authors to the right and left for company and to watch your table if you need a bathroom break. Bathrooms can be some distance away. Ask where they are upon arrival. Some venues offer you bottles of water, some nothing. The best have an author's lounge where you can refresh yourself and get a snack. Usually, I carry a small cooler with drinks, a sandwich, some fruit, and cookies to get through the day. Also, for me, a thermos of hot tea is essential because sometimes when there is no foot traffic, I can have a cup of tea and read someone else's book to pass the time.

     There, I think I have covered it all, but will take questions if I've let anything out, or if you'd like to share ideas. Be prepared for anything as the scouts would say.

Back to Normal--Sort Of

      I received my first Covid shot (Pfizer) in January before going for hip surgery. The hospital staff was efficiency personified, and I was in and out in half an hour. I did worry about getting my second shot when I was put into the PT rehab place. They had no Pfizer on hand, but did transport me back to the hospital for my second shot--no side effects at all. So, I was fully immunized by the time I returned home. Masks were required in regular PT, no problem for me. If I can do thirty lunges and the same amount of step-ups while in pain and wear one, you should be wearing one, too.

     I revised two manuscripts written before the surgery and sent them off to my two publishers. Both said they were way behind as everyone seemed to take up writing with nothing else to do. First time in a long time that my manuscripts have been put on a wait list, but at least the process has begun for the Bad Boy Sinner and Lion in the Heather.  

    The Art Guild, currently not meeting, got in touch asking me to take two paintings to show at the library and two at the Greek restaurant in town. I selected Night in the Forest and Luna Moth for the library and a still life of fruit and a red amaryllis for the Greeks. Since I couldn't drive or reach too high, my dear husband who had gotten his Moderna shots came along and hung them for me. It was lunch time when we finished. I looked around and saw people dining at well-spaced tables and a staff with facemasks worn properly. We had gotten take-out during the long months of seclusion from Olympus, and I thought, why not? We ordered chicken schwarma pasta and a gyro sandwich.  The salads were crisp, the food and pita warm, and my Lebanese iced tea delicious. Wonderful to eat in a restaurant again. Two weeks later, we tried a new Mexican place in town. The food and service was great--but I do wish someone would tell the entire staff that facemasks should cover the nose as well as the mouth. Still, we had a table well-spaced, and they made my husband a habanero pepper sauce blended by hand. Another enjoyable meal.

     Then, local arts and crafts shows began to revive. I took only my books to sell and sat outside on a lovely day so warm I got a little sunburn on the back of my neck. I always sell well at this event at an historic home, but did better than usual.. It seemed everyone wanted to be outside on a fine day and spend money after a year cooped up. The Literary Festival followed a couple of weeks later on a rainy, dreary day. I huddled in my little tent drinking hot tea from my thermos, reading, and eating a cookie. No sales at all until the sun came out around noon, A good friend stopped by and bought Lady Flora's Rescue, the first book in my new historical series. Looked like it would be my only sale and not even cover the cost of the space. The event ended at three p.m., and here it was two o'clock. Suddenly, sales picked up. I sold more than ever at this event. Ran out of one title, Lady Flora again, and all my Mardi Gras books, perhaps because Mardi Gras had been cancelled and people wanted to celebrate vicariously. This weekend, I have another Arts and Crafts festival. Of course, rain is predicted again. If possible, I will take some small pieces of art with me as well as books. I'd really like to see if this trend will continue considering that I sold only four books, all to the library, in past year. I have to say my e-books sold as usual. But my 2020 taxes will show I lost about $400 in income on paperbacks that are best hand sold.

     Regardless, I am thrilled to be almost back to normal.

Great Review of The Greatest Prize

 https://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/2021/03/11/reviewing-the-greatest-prize/

Check this out!

The Unexpected

      I fully expected to write a brief blog at the end of January despite being scheduled for hip surgery on the twenty-fifth of the month. Hey, I'd spend two or three nights in the hospital and be home in time to write my message before February arrived. Instead, I was transferred to a PT rehab facility for eleven days to rebuild my strength.  Physical therapy three times a day, decent food, sponge baths--but no computers. When not exercising, we were to stay in our rooms with no visitors thanks to the Covid epidemic. My husband could visit at a open window where we passed my laundry back and forth, not love notes.

     Of course, The Aussie Sinner had just come out, and I was unable to promote it from my room.  I also expected a shipment of The Greatest Prize paperbacks that I'd been trying to order since December, but the publisher had changed printers and complications ensued. Before, we just sent a message on how many copies we wanted and after paying through Paypal, the books appeared two weeks later. These showed up days after I'd returned home.  Not that I had anywhere to sell them because all events had been cancelled.  I wanted to drop the usual number of copies off at the local bookstore and the library--still sitting in the box.  Why? Because I'm not allowed to drive yet--and the roads are covered in ice.

     Yes, I live and often write about south Louisiana, but weather in the twenties and a sleet storm on Lundi Gras (the Monday before Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday) rank right up there with the highly unexpected.  Parades and other Mardi Gras activities had already been cancelled and thank heaven for that. Cajuns simply aren't equipped for black ice and slippery roads. I can only say the theme of my Mardi Gras books is "anything can happen on Mardi Gras day" in a city, small town or the country. If you can't get out, try reading Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball, Mardi Gras Madness, or Courir de Mardi Gras.

     Lest you think I did no publicity while in rehab, you'd be wrong. As usual, my purse was stocked with book cards showing my covers and having blurbs and ordering information on the back.  I freely distributed these to nurses, LPNs, and patients, many of whom were readers with time on their hands during the long night shifts and endless hours alone.  I know one of them is now reading her way through the Sinners series which is greatly gratifying. So, you never know what the unexpected  will bring your way for better or worse. Just be prepared to roll with it.  

Blue Christmas

     The thing I am most thankful for is that terrible 2020 is nearly over. For Christmas, I want a better 2021--and a Covid shot, but I'll have to wait my turn, probably months. Of the year in review, I can only say for lack of anything else to do, I completed four books. Daughter of the Rainbow, The Double Dilemma, and The Greatest Prize, all in the Longleigh Chronicles, and The Aussie Sinner, the newest Sinners title.  The first two came out in the spring, Greatest Prize in December, and Aussie Sinner will be available in late January. I'm also nearly done with The Bad Boy Sinner. Evidently, all writers were just as productive as one of my editors was not thrilled to get my manuscript for Aussie Sinner, saying they were slammed with editorial work. As a result of that, it moved through the lengthy publishing process like maple syrup on a cold day. But, that's okay. I don't plan to do as much next year and do plan to have another hip surgery.  If that is successful and Covid gives us a break, I'll be hitting road again, not spending every day writing.

     Christmas is the one time of year we get together with our three grown children, their significant others, and the grandkids, not always at our house as we take turns hosting, but still together for present opening, meals, movies, and games.  None of that this year, so I am feeling a little blue. I told my husband I didn't want a tree or any decorations.  I didn't plan to make a huge dinner or do any baking, but he brought home a small tree anyhow--which then had to be decorated with one string of lights and about a quarter of our ornaments. A relative sent a large balsam wreath which we put on our fence. A friend stopped by with cookies, so I had to reciprocate by whipping up batch of my easiest to make treats. Christmas just won't let me alone to brood as I'd like.

     The tree is not the best we've had, but certainly not the worst. One year, we took the kids to a tree farm to cut our own.  Out in those field, all the trees seems kind of puny so we settled on the biggest we could find.  When unfurled in our room, it took up half the space and required oodles of ornaments. Note to self, trees look much larger indoors.  Perhaps our biggest folly was waiting for our freshman daughter to come home from college to get a tree.  She arrived just a few days before Christmas--and lo and behold, the lots in our town were empty and shut down. So, we piled in the car and drove to the next town over which also appeared denuded of pine trees except for a sign in the window of a mom and pop sandwich shop which said, "We have Christmas Trees."  We piled out of the car and were shown to a small lot behind the store where three trees remained, none of them big or grand, mostly small and yellow.  We took the best of them which I swear shed half its needles on the way home. Covered with lots of lights and ornaments, it wasn't awful, but even my daughter said not to wait for her next year.

     There, recounting Christmases past has lifted my mood a little as will the Zoom get together we plan for tomorrow.  As I say to everyone these days, stay safe and well.  Here's treat for the eye for all of you, the cover of The Aussie Sinner already up for pre-sale on Amazon.

Blog with a Blog

 https://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/2020/11/12/return-of-guest-fox-lynn-shurr/

I am fudging a little for the month of November. My fellow prolific author, Jeff Salter, did such a great job on this interview, that I am passing it along. You might discover lots of new things about me if you read it to the end.

Halloween Horrors

      As a child, I was scared of every bump in the night, sure terrible creatures (usually mice) inhabited the crawl space right next to my bed. Needless to say, Halloween was not my favorite holiday. A showing of  Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow sent me straight to my parents' bed because of bad dreams--and I was ten. They kicked me out, saying I was too old for this.  Not that I didn't like the trick or treat aspect of Halloween. We selected the most heavy duty shopping bag we could find and joined large groups of free-range Fifties kids to prowl the night door to door without any parental interference. Nearly every house had a light on in our small town of two-thousand. If we needed a bathroom, someone would always let us in. Our sole trick was scattering dried corn we robbed from a farmer's field on the porches of people who chose not to be home. Some smashed pumpkins or threw eggs, but not our group--because if our families did find out--ouch!

     The only scare I had in those days came at the threshold of my fifth grade teacher who lived in an old Victorian home surrounded by tall, dark trees on top of a small hill. Her name, most fittingly, was Miss Updegrave. As we climbed the two sets of stone steps to get to the house, the full moon disappeared behind a cloud. When we got to the porch, thunder rolled and the porch swing went into action on its own. I am fairly sure I saw a black cat in the bushes. We bugged the hell out of there, and good thing because the on-coming storm would have ruined our paper bags filled to the brim with full-sized candy bars.

     Being a scaredy-cat, I've never had an urge to write horror stories, though I have done a few unpublished Twilight Zone style short stories. My one attempt at a rather benign ghost story, The Courville Rose ran into a peculiar problem. Beginning during the Civil War, a young woman of eighteen commits suicide by gently throwing herself into the river and letting her petticoats take her down after she learns of the death of her fiancé in battle. Being Catholic, she should go straight to hell for taking her life, but the nuns who educated her pray mightily to prevent this given her disturbed state. Instead, she is doomed to haunt her family home for all eternity. She watches over the place through thick and thin, but when she begins to recognize souls she once knew in new bodies, she wants to possess someone and go in search of her lost love. She brings this off partially, but the stubborn little girl won't leave her body--and so they have to grown up sharing, one always looking for her old love, and the girl loving the boy who saved her from being drowned by the spirit. An interesting conundrum, I thought.

     Not what the first publisher I offered it to thought, however. I got a message saying they couldn't print a book that condoned teen suicide. Huh? In the 1860's a female of eighteen was considered an adult and usually married at that age or younger. This was no Romeo and Juliet tale but one of a love lost in battle. I argued my point to no avail, even softened her death by having her accidentally fall into the river but refuse to fight for her life. I mean, there had to be a mortal sin for her to be condemned to haunting. What kind of God would do that because of an accident? Oh well, it was no go. You can try to argue with a publisher, but no is usually no.

      It was my good luck that the next press took the book. The Courville Rose is still my only ghost story, and isn't horrible at all. Eventually, it does have a happy ending. Still, the first editor told me to stick contemporary romance, my strongest talent. Being a little rebellious, I have tried a couple of mysteries and a long historical series. Authors do get tired of writing the same old same old all the time, but none have been as successful as my Sinner sports romances. So, be on the lookout for The Aussie Sinner this winter.