I've heard from several readers that they've seen my book, Monarch, at their library. I have no idea how the book ended up at their library - if it was donated, or requested, or what, but what a great feeling! Still, I've never seen this phenomenon with my own eyes. I'm with a small publisher, so although my books are readily available to bookstores and libraries, they will not end up on those shelves in droves. More like a slow trickle.
So a few months ago, I donated a copy of Monarch to my local library. I kept checking their database to see if the book was on their shelves yet, but it wasn't. It just said processing. Months and months went by and I forgot about it and stopped checking. Finally, yesterday, I went to the library with my daughter. We go often to get her books, and I occasionally check one out. Yesterday, I remembered Monarch and checked the database. Available. Sweet! I went downstairs to the Teen and General Fiction section and searched the "A" section for my book, and I found it, and my daughter smiled and whispered, "Mom, it's YOUR BOOK" and I whispered back, "OH MY GOSH, I KNOW."
I know this sounds weird, but it was a really great feeling to see the top of my book stamped with the library's name. The cover was protected with the laminate-type covering. There were barcodes on it, and numbers, and the little chip they put on the back cover to easily check it out. I don't know. I just stood there and held my book and soaked it in. Not that it was checked out, but I hope it gets checked out sometime. My mom donated a copy of Monarch to her local library where I grew up, and she said every time she goes in, it's checked out. I've even had someone tell me they checked it out there and read it and loved it.
I guess my point today is that as writers, the little things matter. The little moments. And let me tell you, most of those moments for me have come about because of my own doing. For me, things haven't just happened out of thin air, and I don't think they do for most people. I know when I self-published my novella, Cinders, I felt kind of cheated that I did everything myself (even though that's exactly what I wanted). But I wanted to start somewhere like that, somewhere slow for me, and in control. Things are still slow as I take things one step at a time. There's nothing wrong with going slow. It's fun to think about things spinning around you, happening in a whirlwind, carrying you up to the top, lifting you up at every moment as all your dreams come true. But I think I'd take that moment in the library over all of that. Any day.
Do you have any favorite moments in your writing career? Or if you're a reader, do you have favorite moments of seeing a long-awaited book somewhere?
I think if I ever see a book on a shelf written by my hubby, that will be the best moment for me as a reader. :-) But seeing your book up somewhere would definitely be second!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rose! :) I know I can't wait to see one of Nevets' books on a shelf! I keep thinking about his book. How's it coming?
ReplyDeleteI've been reading through the latest edits. I think it is pretty cool! I don't know whether he's put out feelers for publishers yet though. :-) Like you, he's a perfectionist!
DeleteYeah, he'll get there when he's ready. :)
DeleteSo far it's been seeing my name on the back cover of Genre Wars.
ReplyDeleteChuck, that's great! My first published short stories are really special to me too.
DeleteI'm so happy for you, Michelle! You know, for me, seeing my book in a library would be such a cool treat. I hold such a special place in my heart for libraries, and I'd love to see my own book there sometime.
ReplyDeleteI think my personal favorite moment was when I talked to my brother after he read my collection. He said something that was really personal to me that let me know after so many years that he understood everything I went through as a child. We are so different that I was never sure if that was true, but he confirmed it. I felt so close to him at that moment.
Thank you, Davin! What a wonderful moment you've shared. That's really incredible, and one I hope you never forget. Sometimes I think that's where the magic in writing lies - in understanding like that.
DeleteYou know you can donate a copy of your book to your library. :)
Last December I read to a third grade class. I knew the teacher and had donated a copy of THE MAN IN THE CINDER CLOUDS to her classroom library earlier in the year. One of her students came up to me and told me she read the book and really liked it. It's one thing when it's my kids or their friends, but I didn't know this little girl.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read the first two chapters of my RUDY TOOT-TOOT manuscript (I expect to publish it this spring, timeline still TBD) she asked if I could copy the pages and give them to her so she could finish reading it.
That's the type of feedback that helps keep me motivated. It's also extra special writing for kids, and hopefully helping some reluctant readers overcome their reservations and discover the fun that can be found in the pages of a book.
Rick, that's fantastic about both books! I think I would have loved to meet authors when I was younger, but I never did. It makes me want to visit schools and such and let others who want to write know that they can reach their dreams, and also that authors are just people telling stories we hope they love. :)
ReplyDeleteCool - I don't think my first novel made it into any libraries that I know of (the book I illustrated did, though). That would be SO nice to see.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite moment was a reading I did at a SF con in Canada, and afterwards a number of *total strangers* came up to buy a copy and get it signed -- up to that moment, I figured only my family and friends would ever buy it. When I realized that people I didn't know would actually want to read it, too, I nearly broke my face from grinning so hard. I hope those poor readers didn't think I'd gone mad!
-Alex MacKenzie