As I mentioned when I talked about marketing earlier, sometimes there are necessary distractions to our work. I had about a month of distractions this past summer, which started by attending a writer’s retreat and ICRS (the International Christian Retailer’s Show). After that my husband and I took a research trip to Belgium and Northern France. Even as I’m writing this it seems like these are experiences only a writer could have. Writer’s retreats, book conventions, research trips across the ocean. It’s one of those seasons that should make a person pause and remember to be grateful for so many blessings.
But I have to admit leading up to that month I was a little apprehensive. I’d be a poster child for the Homebody Association if such a thing existed. Even as I realized I was excited about living a dream, I kept asking myself what was I thinking? All these plans are people-intensive, and I’m not someone who gets energized from being around a lot of people. I had a deadline and knew I wasn’t going to get much work done.
However, some dates were set in stone, like the retreat and ICRS. I had to coordinate that with not only my schedule but my husband’s and three wonderful women from my family who volunteered to take turns staying here to care for the boys while I was gone. That’s why all of my travel ended up being in the same month.
But each one of the trips were great opportunities. ICRS is a retailer’s show, a place for all of the publishers to present to book buyers and bookstore owners what they have to offer for the upcoming season. It’s a time when all the levels of the industry gather, from publishers and sales staff to editors and authors, agents, PR people, booksellers, press and support staff (and probably others I’m not even aware of!). There are rows and rows of booths set up on one end by gift vendors and on the other by every publisher imaginable, with posters of book covers highlighted in various and creative ways, and tables where books are signed and given to booksellers and their staff. I have no idea how much it costs a publisher to ship everything, set it all up in a rented booth space, then have staff available to speak to conventioneers. Needless to say, it calls for a very large convention hall with lots and lots of people.
Before I was published I’d heard about ICRS, wondering what it would be like to attend, hoping someday I might be able to go for a book signing. Would that mean, as an author, I’d “arrived?” Well, I’m not sure anyone ever feels like their arrival carves out a permanent place in this business, but it’s definitely a memorable experience. One that makes a person feel like an author, even though I at least never get a word written while I’m on the road.
Join Me!