Dec 18
Book Signing
Sweetgrass Royall ACE Hardware
3008 Highway 17 North
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
 
   
This was a fun signing- despite the fact no one showed up. When I say no one, I mean no one.     I'm not trying to do that "aww shucks, people did show, but I'm just trying to be modest"  or "some people did show, but it felt like nothing in such a big empty store" in order to  illicit a pity response.  No one showed, no exaggeration, no fooling.   One of my favorite Grant Morrison Doom Patrol villains,  Number None, could have had his origin story here... (from beyond the unopened door, beneath the empty aisles springs NUMBER NONE...you get the idea...Morrison would do it better).

Why was it such a bust?   Well, as a rookie regional author I hardly have a fan base to draw upon...several other of local writers, 3 or 4 others I think, were supposed to show up too, some of these guys have been in the game long enough to draw people, but they didn't come either...with the exception of one, who stopped by for about 1/2 hour and then had to leave....Also,  this is a new holiday event at a relatively new store in Mount Pleasant, and was hosted after the usual business hours, so despite the stores best efforts at advertising the word did not travel.

Luckily I am experienced enough in my short-career that I just don't take such things personally.  For every good signing I have had, I usually have 2 or 3 lackluster ones -I think bands call this paying your dues.

But, as I said at the start of this rant, I still had fun.  I did sell two books.  One to a gentleman on the way out of the store at 6:30 (I got there before the 7 pm start time) and another to one of the employees of the store, Lou.  I had a great time talking history and genealogy with Lou!  I also spoke with Frank, the store manager, who seems like a really nice guy as well.  Besides I signed 4 more copies of my book for the store to sell, so leaving the total at 6.  I've certainly done worse.  So when we packed up early at 8:30 I was hardly depressed- I went home to see my wife Sheri who had just come back in town and baby Ellie (Sheri is 5 months pregnant). 

I have another signing tomorrow at the other ACE store across town, this one is in a a much-older spot and is a local institution, plus its' Friday night.  Perhaps it will be better attended?  Wish me luck!