From the Trenches
Amazing Texas
by Lacey, T.Jensen
Published by: Jefferson Press
The Experience
Day 2, Amazing Texas book tour
So far, the most difficult thing about this trip has been driving through the spin-off storms from Hurricane Dolly. I’m in Clute, Texas, and the people of this area are very helpful, friendly and with a great sense of humor--all assets when you’re on the road.
After an 18-hour day yesterday, today will seem light by comparison: visit a couple of bookstores and libraries, have a booth to sign books at the Great Texas Mosquito Festival, then in bed by (I hope) 10.
Even as dry as much of Texas has been, the wildflowers along the road en route here seemed to greet me with a big Texas welcome. Tomorrow, The Discovery Channel, Radio Disney and journalists from NPR and The New York Times will be attending the festival, offering more possibilities for exposure and marketing.
Whoever said writing is a solitary art has never been on a book tour. You have to be prepared to follow your work with marketing what you’ve done, and get out there.
To be continued......
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Day 7 of 13:
Last night I experienced a dark night of the soul: fatigue and bone-crushing loneliness were twin mongrels snapping at my usually-buoyant spirit, and I felt like calling it done. I’m just at the half-way point, though, and I’m committed.
This is not my first book tour by any means, but I have learned some things that I’ve either forgotten from previous experiences or am learning anew.
When you’re on a book tour:
*Be prepared to be tired but ready at a moment’s notice to speak in a fresh, animated manner about your book--regardless of who’s asking.
There is little to no down time on a book tour, especially with the economy being what it is. I’m traveling in Texas, for example, and must make those miles (and gas dollars) count. So as I’ve been driving, I’ve been in the lookout for any place that might have an interest in my “tourable history” book.
This means virtually every tourism office, museum, and local-interest establishments are places I stop in and hand out sample copies.
*Keep a notebook or folder for business cards. You and/or your publicist will want to follow-up with people who received book copies or interviewed you.
*Accept the fact that despite the problems with fatigue (mentally and physically), you’d be best not to complain to anyone. I remember another author complaining about her tour, and even I thought, “Yeah, right, don’t tell me you didn’t want this.” Writers DO want to go on a book tours, but there’s another part of us all that doesn’t.
*You can expect surprises and even cause to laugh. One gentleman for whom I signed a book had his dog with him. “What’s her name?” I asked.
“Rolex,” he replied.
“Why Rolex?”
“She’s a watch dog.”
...so there will be things out there to make you smile.
*And lastly: remember to take gifts for the folks keeping the home fires burning. They’ll never believe that you didn’t have the opportunity to go out and buy something!
Cheers,
TJL
So far, so good.
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Day I Don’t Know What Number It Is, But I’m In…
San Antonio....on route here, stopped by a couple of cool, smaller towns to promote the book. Gruene (it was settled by Germans but the people there pronounce it “Green") is a beautiful and ‘way cool place. Their claim to fame is that they have resisted progress since 1872, and the town reflects this. If you want a place to slow down, this is definitely it.
Then I stopped in Seguin, named after an old-time Texas hero. This is another cool place to stop if you feel the need to get out of the big towns and find some friendly folks.
Now I’m in San Antonio, and after cruising through some cemeteries (yes, I’m one of those weird people who love cemeteries), settled into The Fairmount (OMG I highly recommend this place), downtown San Antonio. It’s beautiful and has been here forever.
After some hours on the phone to newspaper, radio personalities, etc., I’m ready to call it a night.
A walk around La Villita and The Alamo in the a.m. will refresh my spirits and get me going.
People who have been coming to the signing table have asked me this question without fail: “How many books are you going to write?”
I tell them that having a book come out is like giving birth, and until my imagination and insatiable sense of curiosity dry up, I will continue to write and get published.
Books are like babies, and my literary biological clock is ticking. I have so many more literary “babies” to offer to the world!
Until later,
T.
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Day 11.
I’m in San Antonio and being around the downtown area--so walkable and full of friendly people--is a joy after being in the car so long.
My signing here (an indie called The Twig, I recommend them!) was absolutely WONderful. The staff and owner were great, I felt like I was more than welcome--and they sold out of every book they had, including the display copy.
The people who came to the signing were very nice and talkative; some of them stayed around for about an hour, just talking books and Texas history.
Thanks to the great media attention given by The Twig and the local papers, it was a success. This is what keeps writers going out on the road.
Today: Galveston, Midsummer Books.
Cheers,
T.
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This is Day 13 and I am headed home. On this trek--not my first book tour, but definitely my longest--I have discovered a few things:
--I look better in the mirrors of the more expensive rooms.
--A GPS navigator is DEFINITELY on my Christmas list.
--patience is not always a virtue. Sometimes you just get ignored while you’re waiting.
--when you go to a signing and things are slow, go ahead and sign all the stock. A signed book is a sold book.
I have been on the fringes of two hurricanes (Dolly and Eduardo), signed books in unbearable heat at festival grounds, driven more miles than I care to count, listened to several books on tape, and met some amazing people along the way.
I also, despite myself, have picked up some ideas for more books.
And so it goes.
Cheers,
TJL