Praise God, it isn’t about me
9 November 2009
On Saturday, I had a book signing at the Barnes and Noble down on The Plaza here in Kansas City. This is the bookstore I grew up going to, and also the one Skylar would go to (were she a reader), so I was pretty excited. The only thing that had me slightly nervous is that for my first book signing back in July, we’d invited basically everyone we knew and most of them came. And if they weren’t able to come, most of them have bought the book since and had them signed. So I knew that Saturday would be a more accurate representation of a book signing for a debut author.
Uh, I preferred the less accurate one.
Actually, I feel like the signing went fine. I sold 4 books, which is 4 more than I would have sold in those two hours had I not been there. Plus I had a couple of conversations that might lead to future sales.
But as I sat there for two hours, making eye contact with whomever I could, then watching them walk right by me, it occurred to me how grateful I am to know that it’s not about me. I don’t write to glorify myself, I don’t do book signings to get attention, and I don’t do school visits to hear myself talk. I do it because God has asked me to, and because I trust He has a plan. And because I believe that, it makes me feel like the sales I had on Saturday were the only sales that needed to happen. They were important, and that’s why I was there.
How do non-believing authors do it? Without God, the blow to the ego would be devastating.
Please, guys. If you walk into a bookstore and there’s an author set up at a table signing books, and if that author smiles at you and says, “Hi, how are you?” will you at least exercise a little common courtesy? I eventually became amused by how many people turned away without any kind of acknowledgment. It made me think of Stephanie Tanner on Full House, when she’d say, “How rude.”
Have a great Monday, everyone!
Comments
If ever an author deigns to visit Cumberland for a signing, I shall offer full support! =)
Posted by Roseanna White on 9 November 2009
:) Happy Monday to you too! Keep being obedient, the results will come in unexpectedly blessed ways.
Posted by Erica Vetsch on 9 November 2009
Right on, Stephanie. We write for an Audience of One, right? :-)
Posted by Lynn Rush on 9 November 2009