I survived the inaugural Grace Mellman Community Library Book Fair in Temecula, and all I got was book sales, hope for humanity, and fantastic memories.
That’s right, dear readers, a blast was had by all. For the first ever book fair at the marvelous Grace Mellman library, it went smoothly and had a solid turn out (of writers and attendees both).
It was definitely my record for “most books sold at a live event,” though to be fair I’ve only done two before this. My wife and kids were absolutely clutch in helping me set up, tear down, and hand out freebies to anyone who came within Nerf football-distance of my booth. When an adorable eight-year-old missing his front tooth runs up to you with a bookmark, you take it. There is no choice to be made.
This was also the official debut of RIVEN in paperback, which people snapped up! Nice to see an old friend get some new attention, and does that mean a sequel in the future?! Mayhaps, oh, mayhaps.
Also someone who bought the first Deadgirl pointed out that Lucy looks a lot like Taylor Swift in a black wig on that cover, which I never noticed before but, I mean, yeah kinda.
I chatted with amazing fellow authors and book aficionados, participated in book trades, and got myself on the list for some upcoming book fairs. And a soupçon of interest from a book club or two. Overall, a tremendous opportunity and–other than an unseasonable godawful heat–one that went off without a hitch!
And here’s some photographic evidence for the (inevitable) trial:
B.C. Johnson 