Reader/Author Thoughts

​Welcome back to Blogville. Today I am sipping on a nice white tea, mmmmm, lemongrass and jasmine flavours. Oh, sorry, enjoying my tea and it distracted me. I’m so glad you stopped by. This blog is a bit scattered between my thoughts as a reader, as a writer, 

So, I know you must be a reader or you wouldn’t be here, well, you are either a reader, a friend or former colleague, or you are related to me lol, so I’d like to chat about bookstores and selling one’s own book. If we do not actually know each other I welcome you here. As an avid reader, I LOVE bookstores and I can spend hours in one simply browsing or even just seeing what’s new. I might even occasionally be caught snapping a quick photo of an interesting or unique recipe in a $59.00 recipe book. I consider that photo kind of a ‘living bookmark’ because if I like the recipe I will often save up and go back to purchase the recipe book. 

I love to look at books, and the graphics on book covers! I enjoy reading the back of the book to see if my favourite mystery writer has suddenly turned into a romantic novelist (it has happened). Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice . . . well books are just too expensive to be caught more than once. I love reading the plot summary on the back of the book of a favourite author or even a new author. Is it an enticing plot line? Does it have any of my favourite characters from their other books (in the case of my favourite authors)? All good things to look at and consider. It turns out that I should really simply determine if I have read the book already lol. Or maybe start carrying a list of books I have read. Thank goodness for patient booksellers who will allow me to exchange the book for something I haven’t already read, and that is only when I realize early enough why the plot sounds so familiar. I mean, there is no law that says you can only read a good book once, but it gets expensive buying books I have read already. While young people reading this blog may be shocked at the idea of accidentally re-purchasing and re-reading a book, people my age are reading this and thinking, “yep, I’ve done that.” 

Regarding the unique personalities of booksellers, there is something to be said about talking with the folks who work in brick and mortar bookstores or libraries. They know their business and they can talk about how the letters on the page jump right into your imagination and take you on a journey. If they get to know you they call out and say, “Lynn! One of your favourite authors’ has new book that has come in!” Or “Lynn. Have you read this author yet? I think you will love their work.” It is quite a different experience from reading on-line reviews. I mean, sure Stephen King might be raving about a new author’s work, but when you stop to think about it . . . I know Stephen King’s work and whether or not I like it, but do I really share the same taste in the books that Stephen King reads? However, my librarian or my bookseller? That is someone who knows what I like to read and what books to recommend to me. Plus, if it turns out I have already read a book, it is easier to return it to the bookstore and exchange it than go through the whole Amazon item return ordeal. Sometimes, when I mistakenly check out a library book that I have already read, I keep it just long enough for the librarian to be impressed with how quickly I read the book before I return it. Sometimes I remember that the librarian actually knows how many times I have checked that book out, but also I know that many librarians like re-reading books too, sometimes more than once.

On the topic of recommending books. If you ask my friends, they will tell you that I believe books should be circulating out there and not collecting dust on a bookshelf in my house. I keep some works of course but usually I buy, read, and then give the book to a friend or relative whom I know likes that author or genre of book. (So maybe now you can see why I forget I have read a book already lol) l. Sometimes I include books in my food bank donations, especially children’s books, and I sometimes donate books to shelters when I donate socks, slippers, and other necessities.

Speaking of books collecting dust, I feel that the humane thing to do for the several copies of my book that are collecting dust in boxes in my office, is to contact me to purchase one of them directly, I will even sign it. Just kidding, just kidding. There are many places you can order my book, and I thank you for each and every purchase. But I want to talk for a minute about self-published authors who are trying to get their books into readers’ hands. In my case, it has been a challenge trying to get the book into the hands of families who are travelling adoption, kinship and alternate care journeys. 

When my book first came out I was in awe of how it looked and felt in my hands. I could hardly believe what my birth sister and I had created together! Then I began the journey of making my book available to families travelling their adoption or kinship journey. For a self-published author this is no easy task. Apparently bookstores are not half as excited as I am to add mine to their collection lol. Who knew? I have to give a shout out to Mike Young, owner of Altered Reality in Timmins who offered to carry my book in his store when the book was initially released. Other shout outs go to: Claudette, owner of Aline’s Tea Shop in Timmins, Ontario; Gina at Coles Bookstore in the Timmins Square; and to Manticore Books in Orillia, Ontario for  accepting my book on their shelves! Thank you all for your support of this indie author.

When I was in Toronto, in the early days following the publication of the book, I went into a Chapters/Indigo store. I first went on the in-store computer to look for Charlie Angus’ new book. They didn’t have it in stock but the helpful bookseller referred me to a location nearby. I then looked up my book when she got busy. I cannot even begin to describe the butterflies in my stomach when I saw my book on that computer screen. So overwhelming. Misunderstanding the look that must have been on my face, the bookseller said, “I’m sorry, you are not having much luck today finding books.” I replied, “Actually, I have several copies of this book at my home because I wrote it!” Then I asked if she minded if I took a picture or two. Yes folks, I took a picture of myself and a computer screen displaying my book. (If you want to stop following my blog at this point, I understand lol.) But, it was honestly an AMAZING experience. I still get butterflies when I see a copy of my book or a book cover image when I’m not expecting it.

Yes, I admit to sitting at home and searching my book title. It is fun to see the places carrying it like Chapters Indigo.ca, Walmart.com, Target.com, Better World Books.com, The Book Bungalow, booktopia.com.au, and, wait for it . . .EBay! I have no idea how these sites select the books they carry but I’m grateful for every one. But I have to say, there is nothing like walking into a bookstore and seeing your book on the shelf. Remember when you first fell in love with your partner and when you would see them unexpectedly, there was that little happy feeling in the pit of your stomach? Well, that is how it feels to see my book on an actual shelf in a bookstore or at a library. I get an even warmer feeling if I meet someone who has purchased it for themselves or as a gift, often as an adoption finalization gift! Oh and I recently learned something; did you know that if you request that your library carry my book they will likely order it! So by making a simple request of your local,library, many families can benefit from the book without having buy a copy!

I also worked hard to ensure that the book as accessible for children and families who might struggle with the printed copies. Therefore, the book is available as an ebook and I invested in creating an audiobook for families who might need that format or even simply to take along in their car. I even narrate the audiobook! I know for a fact that children in adoption and kinship families have questions and I know that my book will help families discuss these questions in a colourful, relatable way when using the book as a discussion starter. Trust me, your children want to know things and have many questions! Don’t be afraid to talk to them. If you don’t know how or when to start talking, my book can help.

I thank you for joining me in Blogville today. I always appreciate your comments on my thoughts whether here, or more privately, by email [email protected] Take good care of each other.