It was with great apprehension I scheduled the release party for my newest novel "Murder U" at Magness Library this past week.
It wasn’t a nervousness wondering whether my newest book would be enjoyed by my readers. I’m past that phase as I’ve heard good feedback from my first three books, "Red Dog Saloon," "Average Joe" and "Friday Night Frights." And, since I began writing just over two years ago, my writing has become smoother and easier to read. That came through experience and honing my style. If you read "Red Dog" and then "Murder U," I think you’ll see I’ve become more polished.
No, the angst for my book release party wasn’t acceptance. It was whether anyone would show up. It’s awkward when you throw a party and no one shows up. As a writer, there’s nothing worse than to have a signing and no one shows up or everyone just walks by your table like you’re a barker at the carnival. It’s tough when you put yourself out there and no one seems interested.
This issue started swirling in my head after the release of "Red Dog Saloon." Sure, I’ve moved a ton of copies of my debut novel over the past year and a half since it came out, but it didn’t exactly start out with a bang.
I can recall sitting upstairs at Magness Library and literally being able to hear a clock tick it was so quiet. There were a total of six people who showed up to get a book and two of them were relatives who were required to be there, you know because they’re relatives. It was like I was the best-kept secret in town even though I’d put a big announcement in the paper and everything. It was the feeling you get when you graduate college. You think the world will fall at your feet once you walk out with that degree only to find out, at least in my case and the cases of most college grads I know, nobody cares.
Since that time I’ve been to many book signings where nobody came. This misery is often shared with other authors who are also sitting there with that look on their face for a couple of hours during group events.
So, with much apprehension I headed to the library last week with a box of "Murder U" books and a cake that looked just like the book that I had made at Kroger. I figured if I was going to be lonely, I was at least going to eat some cake.
However, I was anything but lonely. I sold two books before I even got inside and had surpassed the six-book mark I set at the opening for "Red Dog" before I even got the books set out. To say the release for "Murder U" was a success would be an understatement as I was constantly signing and greeting the whole time. I didn’t even get any of that delicious cake until the signing was over. I have my hometown to thank for it. What a difference a year and a half makes.
Hey, shameless plug, if you didn’t get to see me at the library, there are signed copies for sale up here at the Southern Standard. Come see me.
Standard reporter Duane Sherrill can be reached at 473-2191.