I have documented a lot of surreal moments in my author journey on here–selling the book, preorders, my first review, my first author signing, etc.
Here’s another one for the books.
I was in a Barnes & Noble Booksellers in a local mall. And because I’m a bit delulu, I asked them on a whim if they had copies of Hurricane Baby: Stories in stock. The lady checked her computer and said, “We don’t–but it looks like our sister store in _____ has seven copies. We can order it for you if you’d like, though.”
You could have knocked me over with a puff of wind. My book actually WAS IN STOCK in the local branch of one of the biggest booksellers in the world. My stars–
I didn’t tell her who I was–I just smiled and thanked her.
Today I went to the sister store and FOUND MY BOOK in the huge Mississippi authors section in the front just inside the automatic doors and to the left. A whole stack of them.
I was almost hyperventilating at this point.
But I picked up a copy, took it to the front desk, introduced myself as the author, and asked if I could sign all their copies. They agreed to that, and the manager went to the back to find GOLD STICKERS that say “SIGNED EDITION” on them to place on the front covers of the books. I signed every copy even as my hands were shaking.
FOLKS–I was in a display with John Grisham, Greg Iles, Della Owens, Fannie Flagg, Kiese Laymon, Jesmyn Ward.
Bestsellers. Award-winners. And little old me.
I’ve run out of words to describe the feelings. And that’s saying something.