Today is the official release date of my first historical romance, MISTRESS OF PLEASURE, and I have to say that it is finally sinking in. I actually sold a book. Gah! After trying to sell for close to 11 years, having written over 40 manuscripts and having collected over 200 rejection letters (one from my own editor...LOL), I have to say I thought this day would never come.
Then yesterday, while I was in Bend during my Labor day weekend getaway, I popped into the local Barnes and Noble. And holy bloody cow! There was my book. On the shelf! Only...eh...it wasn't so gloriously displayed as you see here. This here is the AFTER photo.
My book was actually on the very bottom shelf, hidden away from sight and light. I know it's naughty, people, but COME ON. LOL. Anyway, I dug the poor thing out and was surprised to find there was only one. When they had earlier told me they had five. Hm. And what was worse, the loner was improperly alphabetized. So I was on the bottom because of a mistake, when in fact, I should have been on top (naturally). So I walked over to the customer service desk, introduced myself and politely asked, "Where are the rest of my books?" The gal and I spent the next 15 minutes hunting for a needle in a haystack. Quite literally. The gal was amazingly lovely throughout the whole hunt and kept repeating, "It should be here somewhere." Which was reassuring. We eventually found them (yay!). It wasn't that I my book was naughty (although...), the rest of my stash simply hadn't been shelved and were still sitting in the back awaiting attention. Fortunately, I had come into the store or who knows what sad fate those poor things would have met... The exciting part, in the end (aside from seeing my book and holding it while standing in a bookstore) was not only being able to sign that stash of books and re-arrange them to receive the star treatment they truly deserved, but I found out that one of my books had already been put on reserve! Now THAT is what a writer's journey into a bookstore should be like.
14 comments:
Woo! Happy Kermit dancing! And a book already on reserve... How exceedingly fun!
Woohoo, Delilah!!! That's such a cool story. I'm glad you got to sign them, fix the error AND that the book was already on reserve. So very awesome.
Now...where's the pic of you next to the stack????
Squeeee! I'm so glad you saved your books from the bottom shelf. That is no place for such a beauty to be displayed. ;-)
So excited for you!!!!
(((BIG HUGS!)))
~Kimberly
Yay!!!! There's nothing like that first trip to the bookstore. Because you know your book is out and you know it's on the shelf, but to *see* it there is the most amazing feeling. Congratulations!!! You so deserve it.
Love the pic. Demon Slayes is honored to be sharing your shelf. :)
OH HOW FUN!!!! They look beautiful!!!
You gals, ROCK. Thank you Jessa, Elisabeth, Kimberly, Angie, and Eliza for posting. Jessa, I can *so* see you doing the Happy Kermit dance and I'm grinning just thinking about it. Elisabeth, I had a picture of myself next to the stack but that goofy grin on my face had to go :D. Kimberly, Squee!!! Thank you and I'm drinking lots of fluids, LOL. Angie, I figured if I put my book next to yours maybe *someone* would eventually pick up my book.
Eliza, beautiful and fun is right. Thank you so much for sharing this special day with me :D
Wow, Delilah! What a journey to publication! Huge CONGRATULATIONS on holding that precious book in your hands and how wonderful that you got the star treatment you deserve!
Now picture those books flying off the shelves into the hands of eager readers!
Delilah,
Great story of assertiveness getting results! You're my new role model. LOL Good on you, and hurray that the correct place to shelf yourself was up top!!
Congrats on the release, and here's wishing all good things your way. :-)
Kris
Delilah, you are my hero! It's got to be a special feeling to see your first book on the shelf, but fitting for such a special person! Can't wait to pick up your book!
Delilah!
I bought your book tonight on my way home from work! The gal at the Clackamas B&N helped me find it. I bought it right off their rack of books waiting to be shelved :) Tomorrow night I'm going back to get some work done on one of my projects and I'll make sure "they" have it properly displayed.
Dancing going on for you here too!
Thank you Genene for the huge congrats!!! Here's hoping it flies off the shelves too (though not because booksellers are throwing them off...LOL). Kris, just you wait until your release comes. I'll be stalking you with many more congrats than you'll ever have to offer, LOL. Thank you, girl. You're the best. Hey Darla!!! Thank you for always making me feel so loved and special. Love ya! Su, bless your heart, thank you so much for running out to the bookstore on my launch date and buying it. Remember, I owe you a hug!
Congrats on your debut!! The cover is very eye catching. You are off to an amazing start!
Love the picture in the bookstore. I think you need to exhort your list of supporters to go to the bookstores nearest them and make sure your book is properly displayed. Whenever I travel (which is almost monthly) I take with me a list of authors I support and turn all their books out for everyone to see. :) I've often wondered if anyone comes by and turns them back again. I sure hope not. Congrats, woman! You certainly deserve it.
Congrats, Delilah! Isn't that the greatest feeling in the world to walk into a bookstore and see your efforts staring back at you (even if it's the spine)? Yes, you really need to check those shelves and make sure yours are face OUT. I try to do that with anyone's I know when I'm in the big box stores.
Lexie
Post a Comment