Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Elvis Has Not Left the Building

For the past two days, Elvis Presley, Fabio and Marilyn Monroe were at my book fair. Derek Jeter also hung out at the men’s section. Bozo the Clown decided to stay home, as the high-class office building where the book fair was held didn’t permit clowning around. They all got a lot of attention, especially Fabio, his bare chest in broad, full view. Women asked how much it would cost them to take Fabio and Elvis home (funny…not many men were interested in Marilyn, even with the slinky red gown she wore. Many of them were lawyers in suits and ties. But get them in a pair of jeans…). When I quoted a price, none took me up on the offer. They’d frown and walk away. (“What price, fame?”)

“But wait,” you say. “Elvis and Marilyn are dead.” And you’d be right. In fact, none of these celebrities uttered a word, except for Elvis. He says a few things now and then – three phrases, to be exact. “Thanks for letting me talk to you,” “Hi, I’m Elvis Presley,” and his trademark “Thank you very much.” He’s not much on reading, though. Never spends a dime at my book fairs, despite the great selection of books that surround him. Just stands there in his gold lamé suit, grinning. He speaks when I turn him on, and quiets when I turn him off. The switch is hidden behind his left elbow. (Ever met a man you could turn on and off by a simple switch on his arm, ladies? No offense, men!)

If you haven’t guessed by now, my “celebrities” are life-size, cardboard cutouts. And they look real enough to slink up to and chat with a while. I set them up at most of the book fairs I stage for the single purpose of drawing attention. It works every time.

It amazes me how much interest these cardboard creatures draw. Immortalized and frozen in time, a simple photograph enlarged to six feet tall creates reactions that put a grin on my face whenever a book lover asks how much it would cost to take home a fold-up piece of stiff paper! Last week, female employees of an assisted living facility where I held a book fair took photos of themselves standing with Fabio. I didn’t care – they were having a blast as they admired the hunk and shopped for the products I’d brought.

My point is obvious and I’m, in my own way, taking advantage of it: people are fascinated by and interested in celebrities. They fantasize. They drool. And they stop and look at my books for sale. It’s all in the presentation.

Perhaps one day, I can arrange to have Fabio at a book fair, live and in person. But wait, first he’d have write a book. (Does he know how to read? With a mane like that, does he even have to?)

Until next time, happy reading!

Monday, May 29, 2006

Recognizing Memorial Day...And My Two Sons

Today I was lucky enough to connect and have lunch with my oldest son, who turns 28 tomorrow, the former "official" Memorial Day date, that being before the government moved most holidays to Mondays. He serves in the US Air Force, and has for 8 years. His younger brother is a member of the US Navy. It being Memorial Day today, I want to thank and honor those who serve our country -- my two sons included. I am proud of them and their choices to devote their lives to the freedom of our nation.

As for book talk, two of the titles I currently have available at my book fairs which recognize our servicemen and military history are these:

1) Absolute Victory--America's Greatest Generation and Their World War II Triumph. It is from the Editors of TIME, with a foreword by George H.W. Bush. The book is a 60th anniversary tribute of V-J Day, and comes with a reprinted Life magazine dated July 2, 1945. Amazingly, the cover cost of the magazine at that time was a mere 10 cents!

2) Soldiers of Freedom, by Kai Wright, is an illustrated history of African Americans in the Armed Forces. It has been a popular seller this past week at the book fairs. The book begins with the Revolutionary War, through Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the ongoing war in Afghanistan. It traces the full history of African Americans' involvement in every branch of the US armed forces.

We are lucky to live in the United States of America.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

The World of Book Selling


School's out for summer and in many families, that means regular trips to the library. It's what I did when I was young. From the time I could read, I had my nose in a book much of the time. So much so, that I remember my mother scolding me at the age of seven for reading too much, and telling me to "go outside and play." (I had been reading a book about how to tell time.) Sad at having to end my intense study, I obeyed, and silently forgave Mom for not understanding my fascination with books. Didn't she know I was happiest when reading?

Nancy Drew mysteries caught my attention early. No sooner had I finished one, and I'd hurry off to check out the next book in the series. Later, I focused on Perry Mason and Edgar Allan Poe stories. By then, in junior high school, I was buying my own books through book clubs I'd joined. With book and transistor radio in hand, I'd climb up into the ancient weeping willow tree in our back yard to hide from the world, reading away a summer day -- after chores were done, of course.

That love of the printed word has stayed with me throughout my life. Having written for newspapers, magazines, and worked in public relations and marketing (with special event coordination thrown in), I am now in the business of book selling. Not your every-day, chain-store-variety type of book sales. Not even sales on E-bay. I stage and run book fairs. I sell directly to employees and the public at places of business after setting up what amounts to a "mobile" book store, complete with shelves, tables full of products in 12 different categories, sales signs, appropriate decor, and cash register. This season, I carry more than 500 titles -- for children, men, women of all ages.

"Isn't that a lot of work?" you might ask. Well, yes it is. But it's also fun and gives me (and my employees) a lot of pleasure. After all, we're in the business of fulfilling customer needs by providing a means to explore new worlds. Isn't that what reading is all about?

And so, this blog begins. I will share stories about the people I meet. I will talk about their reading interests, and what's popular in the world of book sales (I can't keep enough Raechel Ray cookbooks in stock right now!). Because a book fair is also a "special event," now and then, a horror story of sorts will be thrown in. After all, dealing with the public can be a challenge! The customers from hell are always out there...but it's my job to smile and serve their needs, and I do.

Won't you join me and follow this blog? I promise it will be informative and entertaining. If nothing else, you might find out about a book title that piques your interest enough to go out and buy it...or check it out from your local library.

Happy reading!