Preparing For A Book Sale

Reposted from 9/2009

I want to send a Happy Birthday wish to the website publetariat.com. The web team is looking for contest entries from blogs that fit their criteria which is listed on the website. For self published authors or anyone thinking about self publishing, this is an excellent site to learn about our craft. Topics on the main page are written by people who already have experience in the publishing field. Topics include how to write, design a book, tips on publishing, how to sell a book and much more. Self published authors need all the help they can get. Keep track of the articles on this site. Treat what you read as a tool to make you a better author from writing to sales.

Tuesday was my usual blog post day. I had an entirely different post written, but I got distracted. Things happen for a reason. I truly believe that. This morning I found an email. It was from the publetariat web team inviting me to enter in their contest. They had posted the following entry on the main page last fall, thinking that what I did to prepare for a book sale might be of help to other authors. So this is the blog post that I chose for their contest. If you want to enter, deadline is March 6 at midnight PST. Entry is free.

Let it be known that I'm not one of the experienced writers that usually make the main page. Most of what I do as a self published author is by a try and fail method then I work on improving the next time and keep going. My blog tells about my life and publishing experiences and describes the books I've written. What did surprise and delighted me was the publetariat email states that my blog entries get a respectable view count. I recently read that the blog title needs to be interesting just like the title for a book. The title sparks readers interest and gets them to explore the post entry. Perhaps, sparking interest is what I've done right.

Preparing For A Book Sale

Friday, Civil War Days begins in Belle Plaine, Iowa. I'm going to sell my books in the park on the fringes of North versus south battles. So am I ready?

I've watched the weather forecasts. Looks like perfect days for having a table full of books outside. To help the customers visually see what kind of books I write, I made place cards that states the genre to place by each pile of books. It would be a good thing if the wind wasn't too strong, or I will spend time chasing those place cards down. Also, the bookmarkers I printed that list my inventory and address for future reference.

I've been doing a mental list in my head this morning. It has taken a lot of preparation for this three day event. I've got an aluminum folding table left over from my craft sale days. (Those craft sales are where I learned some salesmanship.) An Indian blanket for a table cover, doesn't go along with the Civil War but in that century. Dressing in a pioneer dress and wearing a bonnet should give me some attention. (How did I come by a pioneer dress and bonnet? I revamped a dress and sewed the bonnet years ago when I volunteered at Usher Ferry in Cedar Rapids. I was spinning in a one room log cabin as the woman who lived there. When visitors came in, I had to tell them about my life. It was fun to act the part.) I still have my money box from craft show days (a small fishing tackle box). It's perfect with a top divided shelf for change and the bottom for bills. I bought a mesh folding chair with a canopy top so I wouldn't have to sit in direct sunlight. Haven't had it out of the bag to see if I can set it up. Every time I buy something in a bag or box that needs put together, I've found it a struggle to put the object back in the bag. So guess I'll wing putting the chair together in the park after I have the table set up.

After some fall house cleaning, I found a four by four poster board upstairs to use for a sign to lean against the table. This advertisement shows that I am a local person. That might help get me some interest if not sales. So I printed large banners and tacked them to the poster board. The sign reads Keystone Author Fay Risner - Book Sale - Featuring - Ella Mayfield's Pawpaw Militia . On each side of the Book Sale line was a blank space so I put a picture of my book cover on one side and a Confederate Flag on the other. That definitely states which side of the war I'm on. Figured I might as well join. You can't hear it in my writing, but I have a southern accent. That would be a dead give away if I tried to join the Union forces. They might shoot me for a spy.

I have no idea where I am to set up. The man I talked to said I could be by a building where reenactors sell their wares. Guess someone will point me in the right direction.

Friday is the day the schools bring students to learn about the Civil War. I wanted to be a part of that education. Besides, a presentation will go along with my book. So I made up another poster board. While the reenactors will be talking military feats, I will be discussing Bushwhackers and Jayhawkers. A time line of the border war between Kansas territory and Missouri is on the poster. A large Missouri map dominates the board with stars for important places and Vernon County drawn in so the children can see where my history comes from.

I won't have anyone to watch my table and I don't know how far it will be to the concession stand. I baked an apple cake. That will be meals and snacks plus I'm taking a large container of ice tea.

My husband isn't so sure all this stuff will fit in my small car. Best be prepared. Today I pack the car just to see how is the best way to fit everything in. It will be good to have that much done. I'll have to get an early start to be set up before 9 a.m.

No matter what, this will be a fun experience going back in time amid the smell and explosions of gunpowder, war cries and crowd appreciation of the battles. Lincoln will give his Gettysburg Address, a church service will be held under the open sky and much more. I can't wait to get there.

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Created On: Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 EST 2009
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Excerpt from book "Specious Nephew"

"Ladies, please excuse me. I want to go to the water
closet before we leave," Jeffrey said, standing up.
"We all should think about that, shouldn't we, Gracie?"
asked Melinda.
Gracie didn't hear her. Jeffrey turned the wrong way
down the hall toward the outside door. Perhaps he didn't know
his way about, but if he didn't know the way to the water
closet, why hadn't he asked? Jeffery Armstrong didn't appear
to be the bashful type to her. She stared at the doorway, waiting
for him to realize his mistake and come back by.
"Gracie, don't you think we should think about leaving
soon? Gracie, are you listening to me?" persisted Melinda.
"What?" Gracie asked absently, not taking her eyes
from the door. It had been too long now. Jeffrey had to realize
his mistake. "Oh, I'm ready whenever the rest of you are." She
rubbed her arms. "I feel a bit chilly. I think I left my shawl out
on the hall table. I'll go get it."
"All right, dear," said Melinda. "Miss Moxie and I'll
wait here for you and Jeffrey."
Jeffrey wasn't in the hall. Perhaps he decided to leave
without saying anything. That would disappoint poor Melinda
if he decided to change his mind about taking them to the barn
dance. Gracie picked up her shawl. She draped it around her
shoulders and started back past the library. Puzzled that the
door was shut, she stopped. No one ever shut that door. She
placed her hand on the knob, giving it a gentle twist. She
pushed the door open a crack and peeked in.
Standing on a chair in front of the book shelves, Jeffrey
pulled a book out of the top shelf. He opened it and flipped
through a few pages. Closing it, he slipped the book inside his
suit jacket and stepped down from the chair. Gracie eased the
door shut as fast as she could and hurried to take her seat in the
parlor. What on earth was that man doing? If he wanted to read
a book why didn't he just say so? He lied about where he was
going. He shut the library door so no one would see what he
did. He stole one of Miss Molly's books, but he didn't know
much about priceless books. That brown covered book wasn't
one of the first additions so why would he want it?
Deep in thought, Gracie flinched at the sound of
Jeffrey's voice when he burst back into the parlor, announcing
he was ready to leave.
"Are you still cold now since you got your shawl from
the hall table, Gracie? If so you best bundle up good for the
ride out to Mr. Orie's farm. We need to get our coats. It'll be
cold tonight when we start home," instructed Melinda.
Gracie glanced at Jeffrey. He stared at her with a
smoldering expression on his face and one eyebrow raised.
"Maybe Miss Gracie hasn't had time to warm up, Aunt
Melinda. When did she get her shawl?" He asked, not taking
his eyes off Gracie.
"Just a few minutes ago," cheeped the little lady.
"Is that right? I do hope youve' warmed up by now,"
Jeffrey said. His voice was icy sounding through tightened lips.
"I'm fine," returned Gracie calmly, thinking some
things never change. Melinda always talked when she should
keep her mouth shut.
Jeffrey seemed to relax again. Maybe he decided she
hadn't seen anything with the door shut. She hoped that was the
case.

Family Mystery Sparks book Idea

Do you recognize this woman? The picture was taken around 1930. She should have grandchildren and great grandchildren. I would love to hear about her life and exchange family pictures.

Have you ever had a family mystery tale passed down through the generations. The story is usually elaborated on along the way. My southern Missouri family had one such mystery in the 1930's.

The mystery was the disappearance of my mother's aunt. Aunt Leona was the sister of my mother's father. She was five years older than my mother. The two of them saw a lot of each other when they were growing up.

It was agreed by the family that Leona was very spoiled. She was born a few years after the other four children were about grown. Her mother gave her baby girl anything she asked for including nice clothes which were the envy of my mother who didn't have nice things.

The mystery took place in the Great Depression. Leona and her mother spent a lot of time making quilts. By the time she was in her mid twenties, Leona had a closet full of quilts stored for her hope chest. When she fell in love with a trucker, her parents disapproved. What they had against him was not clear. Who knows if Leona really loved him or just didn't want to wind up an old maid. Nothing they said could change Leona's mind so they gave her a fancy wedding in their front yard. According to a niece, one of Mom's younger sisters, she wore a lovely white dress and large straw hat which in Depression times was considered expensive.

A few days later, Leona's husband brought her back to collect her closet full of quilts. They left and were never seen again. Did she leave of her own free will? Did he murder her? Was he the bad person Leona's parents feared, and she just didn't want to hear, "I told you so."?

About fifteen years ago, I wrote to the reader to reader column in Capper's, asking if anyone could help me find descendants of Aunt Leona. While I waited for a reply, I began to worry. In today's world, the type of person who might answer my ad or show up to visit as a relative might not be to my liking. What had I let myself in for? As it turned out, I didn't have anyone answer my request.

A few years later, I wrote Specious Nephew, Book two in the Amazing Gracie Mystery Series. ISBN 1438248202 sold on my bookstore website http://www.booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com or Amazon - author Fay Risner

Let's start with the word Specious in the title. This is the way my mother pronounced suspicious, but I was surprised to find that the word specious is in the dictionary. The pronunciation fits right in with my historical mystery. However, the word tends to give libraries the impression that I misspelled the word. I've seen my book acknowledged in a library notice where in the title the word had been changed to suspicious to help me out.

The premise of the story is that Moser Mansion For Women resident Melinda Applegate hasn't any family close by to invite to a special wedding for the Moser Mansion owner's back yard wedding. So she sends a plea to the reader to reader column. If she has relatives she would like to hear from them.

Unlike me, Melinda gets an answer. A young man, Jeffrey Armstrong, shows up just in time for the wedding. He claims to be Melinda's nephew. She's more than willing to believe him, but Gracie Evans is not. He appears to be a con artist after what little money Melinda has. Gracie tries to warn the Moser residents but not one of them listens to her so she is determined to prove the man is up to no good.

Next week, I'll give you an excerpt to show you why Gracie thinks the man is dishonest.

Corel Print Photo Shop Installation

An update on my Corel Print/Photo Shop computer software. In mid December, advertising came in an email about the software being on sale. I've wanted new software for a long time. The freebie I got in the 90's with my first computer was lacking many of the latest additions this software has. I ordered right away, and the software came soon. To my consternation, the disk wouldn't download automatically. I didn't get the computer book for dummies I asked Santa to bring me so I was on my own.

After some dialogue with a help support person at Corel, she finally thought to ask me if I had a DVD player. The disk is dvd. I found the disk stated that on it, but who looks at the fine print on a software disk. No, my computer doesn't have a dvd player, and I'm betting that a lot of other computers for home use are not set up with one, either. I debated sending the software back rather than have a player installed in my computer. Then I decided to buy an external dvd player online. I might only use it once, but my reasoning was the software was on sale and within my price range at the moment. By the time I added the price of the DVD player that brought the total up, but still only about half what the software usually costs. I really, really wanted that software, but now I own a DVD player I may never have a need for again.

I did ask the Corel support helper if I could return the software in exchange for the download version. Would it install? However, I pointed out that I have dial up and it takes hours and hours to download anything from online. The Helper didn't reply which leads me to believe she expected me to have a problem.

The dvd player is plug and play. I plugged its Y posts into two holes in the portable USB station. The player wouldn't work. After several days of struggling with why, I finally got the brain storm to plug the player in the back USB ports. Not a handy place on the back side of my computer under the desk. Now the DVD player is way to the back of the computer. However, I got down on my hands and knees with a flashlight and plugged the software in. Right away it installed. Why? I emailed my brother that knows about computers. Turns out the portable unit doesn't have the power the USB ports on the back do. Seems I never stop learning about my computer.

To Corel's credit, the company support help does try to talk you through a problem. Once I got the DVD player, my mind was on how to make it work. A week or so later, I got an email from Corel asking me if I was doing all right with the software. They had not heard back from me. I explained the situation, and that I was all set now.

As a tip for other consumers, I said I went back and looked at all the write up on the software and not once was the fact that the disk would be DVD mentioned. If I had known that I would have trouble installing the software I wouldn't have bought it. I am not the only one with a computer that didn't come with a dvd player. I suggested to save other consumers the headaches I had, Corel should put that information in the advertising.