Full Circle Author Moment

My second (official) job was as a bookseller. I worked at several different SmithBooks mall stores before getting the chance to help open a brand new flagship Chapters location in downtown Vancouver. I worked for that company from high school through into adulthood and always dreamed about selling my own book there.

Kids…it turns out dreams really do come true.

This is me, former Indigo bookseller, signing and selling copies of my debut novel in one of their stores.

It was such a full circle moment. One that never would have happened if I hadn’t made the decision to indie publish the print edition of Can’t Take It Back. Or reach out to Indigo about consignment. Or follow up with them about a book signing. Or feel brave enough to sit at the front of the store on a Saturday afternoon and talk about myself and my book. (both things I’m always reticent to do.)

I met so many people and had some fabulous conversations of all topics. Plus I sold more copies than I expected (probably because I expected to sell none.) There was only one person who wasn’t kind. He asked me about my book and when I started to give the basic pitch, he interrupted me and said “I only read classics. That’s all anyone should read.”

I can’t remember exactly what I said but I think it was something like “My dude…what are you doing at a bookstore full of newly written books then?!? Get thee to a dusty old library somewhere and do your thing. Leave me to do mine.” (I was probably a little nicer…but still.)

Thank you to everyone who took the time to chat or bought my book or asked me to sign it or just generally encouraged me to keep going. Hopefully I get to do this again soon.