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This week: Observations: Waiting to Board the Ark Edited by: fyn  
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Lord! when you sell a man a book you don’t sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night – there’s all heaven and earth in a book, a real book.~~ Christopher Morley
Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats.~~ Og Mandino
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Ah...Art in the Park...150 vendors, 40K+ people meandering through....life is full of possibilities. Add in torrential downpours, winds whipping out of nowhere trying to play with pop-up tents as if they were kites that needed to be free to fly, temperatures ranging from the 90s on Saturday to 45 degrees on Sunday and you have a recipe for disaster. Right? Not really.
Sure, if I'd been selling a 'Mittens' book with a pair attached, I'd have made a small fortune. But it really wasn't all that bad. The folks who came, wanted to buy. And they did. Golf umbrellas in a dizzy mosaic of patterns and colors kaleidoscoped the pathways between the lines of multi-colored tents. Maybe it was the vendors who were either sweltering (and wet) or freezing (and wet) that looked miserably pathetic that inspired the parting of ways between wallet and cash. Maybe it was the collection of creative and inventive products. Commenting on someone's (pick one or more: umbrella, bundled up kid, sopping wet hair-do, plastic bag rain-gear or sunny smile) get up or attitude sparked pauses and conversations. The tents were grand to huddle beneath as the skies opened and it didn't rain as much as oceans descended! A Captive Audience. Listen, buy or brave the deluge!
A positive attitude, no matter what, can overcome a multitude of negative circumstances. Did all the authors sell books? No, sadly to say, but the majority did. Yet standing there waiting for the buyer to actually buy wasn't enough. Talking, smiling, commenting--these actions caused even the most determined 'middle of the aisle' looker to at least slow down enough to look! Posters, six-foot dragons, killer covers all designed to catch the eye, did in fact, catch the eye and pull folks in. Something about the folks who come to an event in lousy weather...they want to spend. Whereas on a glorious, beautiful day, they get out to look and enjoy the weather. Give me the diehards!
Saturday was hot and then it poured. Afterwards, the humidity skyrocketed and folks wandered through the sauna-like steam. Sunday, the temps peaked at about 45 degrees; I kept expecting the rain to become snow. I spent both days soaked. My fingers were wrinkled, my feet squished in my (depending on the day) sandals or boots. I spent both days soaking wet. I looked like a drowned rat. I was exhausted, but I had a blast. I was determined to be a sunny spot and keep smiling. Even when my tent collapsed. Even when about ten gallons of water overflowed and swamped me. (Freezing cold water, I might add!) Certainly, there was no point in being down or upset about something I couldn't change. I made the most of it.
Some people were very cranky. Some vendors just left their tents buttoned up and never bothered to show up. I had to shake my head at them. If you aren't there, mentally or physically, you can't sell anything! Those who didn't buy, left with bookmarks or flyers. There's always the chance that they will hit Amazon or the like. You simply, never know. The important thing is getting the word out, being a presence and hoping for the best! Something many folks don't get: Writing the book is the easy part--selling it is the work part!!!
Sunday, I saw a 'princess.' Beautiful ball gown right out of Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast. Lovely parasol, lovelier smile. She was handing out flyers for some sort of 'Princess Parties.' She was elegant, fun, dazzlingly pretty and every bit a royal entity. Even though she had on high heels that had to make walking in the rain-slicked grass and mud a chore, even though that delightfully magical gown was soaked and trailing in the mud. She carried her own sunlight and made people smile. She was every bit the princess to all the adoring little girls and had time for each and every one of them! It didn't matter to her a bit that she was the most bedraggled princess; the essence of her 'princess-ness' came from inside...and that is something to remember.
Tents collapsed. It was interesting to see which vendors...or passers-by stopped to help. Most everyone did! Made others smile. Goodness all around. selling books, supporting authors and trying to file away the assorted 'characters' I saw meandering...the lady with the floppy hat covered in fresh flowers...the grandfather being tugged along by his granddaughters who seemed unable or all too willing to spend his money on what ever they wanted...the little girl who left my tent with not only my set of'Alyndoria' books, but one of my stuffed dragons props as well. So many different people, personalities and possibilities. Can't wait for some of them to surface in my next book...for I KNOW they shall!
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On Moms...
Steve adding writing to ntbk.  says: Mom passed away on 2-1-2000. I took solace in knowing she saw the opening of the 21st century. I never had the chance to tell her goodbye. I did thank her for instilling the gift of writing in my heart. Rhonda, my wife, cannot have children so mothers day is doubly hard for her. Her mom died from alcholism and still misses her. In the grand scheme of things moms are indeed important.
Oh yes!
Elfin Dragon-finally published  writes: Mom's, I think you've really said it all in this newsletter. We all have different kinds and I think we often see at least a little bit of them in ourselves. Whether we want to or not. Last month during the challenge to write 30 poems one of the prompts was to write what our biggest fear was. In truth mine was that I would become exactly like my mother. Don't get me wrong, I love her very much. But there are many aspects which I simply would rather not have and yet...(sigh). Today my boss reminded me that at least I have family, a mother (and father) who love me and we can still work through differences and problems as they arise. That is the good thing and I wish we all could have it. So this year, during mother's and father's day (even if they're gone) say a little prayer of thanks that either you had someone in your life whom you could rely upon, who was there for you when you needed them. And if they are still there for you say a prayer of thanks they're still there for you, even if sometimes you disagree. 
GaelicQueen  adds: You wrote an eloquent piece on the celebration and remembrance of mothers. My mother passed away October, 1988. The grief fades with time but never truly leaves.
brom21  says:Thanks for the newsletter on moms. I have a great one. She does all or most of the above things you mentioned. Mothers also have an intuition and loving wings that we will never escape. I thank you for reminding me of how important it is to treasure my mother.
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For Authors: June 03, 2015 Issue [#7026]
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