Sunday, September 20, 2009

20 Hours of Driving

I'm back!

Audio Books worked for me. I highly recommend it to anyone forced to stare at an interstate for hours on end.

I'm happy to report that driving was not the highlight of my Utah tour. So many great other things overshadowed the mind-numbing driving time.

Thursday I met some great people at Southern Utah University. Their librarian conference offered opportunities for school visits around the St. George area.

And, maybe, if I'm very very lucky, Kim Hanson from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. will convince the president of his company to invest in Alvor.

Never heard of them? I hadn't either. Here's how it works. Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. is a company who prebounds books for libraries. They use a buckram cover that defies wear on the corners of the books. Each section of their book is over-sewn and is guaranteed against defective binding.

Basically, they find books that they think will do well in the market, buy 1,000 copies from the publisher, bind them with their super powers and sell them to libraries all over the country.

Sounds cool, huh? I thought so.

Alvor is in Kim's hands now. It's his job to read my book and pitch it to the man in charge. If they decide to take my book, Alvor will have a hardback.

Industrial strength, indestructible hardback. He told me he still has the original Harry Potter bound books still in circulation. They last that long.

And, if this hasn't sounded like a commercial yet, here's their website. http://www.btsb.com/

Friday, I sold out of books at Barnes & Noble in Sandy. Next time I think we need more books.

Saturday I spent the afternoon at Costco in Lehi. No one dropped a bottle of wine. Thank goodness. Three different people came up to me and said they already had my book and how was it possible I was right there at their Costco and they didn't know it so I could sign their books.

Lots of people talked to me. I love you, Utah. And lots of people even bought a book.

Still, if you sit still for four hours in Costco, you're brain starts to melt and drip out of your ears. I think. I didn't fully recover until I got back to my brother's house in Taylorsville, or Murray depending on which GPS you ask.

I'm happy to say that it was a worthwhile week. Part of me wishes I had been able to go to the League of Utah Writers Conference yesterday, but I guess you can't win them all. Here's to doing what you can in the hours that you have with the resources you've been given.

4 comments:

Kerren said...

I am so happy to hear that your trip went so well. I love it that around every corner, you find a new and wonderful possibility! Here's to even more exciting horizons.

Anonymous said...

This is great news! How exciting to sell out!!!

I get what you mean about just sitting forever until you think you have lost consciousness...LOL

It is amazing how really doing nothing can wear a person out - but I think the whole adrenaline thing for you had to be going on too! :)

Thank you for the update! When you hit Minnesota email me so I can come and cheer for you! LOL

Laura said...

Exciting horizons would be great. Still working on that one.

Minnesota would be a blast. Someday I'll get out there. I know my family in Pennsylvania wouldn't mind if I headed east.

Thanks for your encouragement!

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry that i missed you on Friday. I felt awful about it all weekend long! Forgive me? I'll catch up with you soon and make it up to you by taking you to lunch!