After much preparation, I took a trip to the old high school today for my long awaited book launch. It really has been an amazing experience getting this far. I only graduated from that school last year, so I saw many dear friends and teachers. Initially, I had the simple intention of stopping by the library and seeing if anyone was interested in a book. Once I mentioned the idea to one of the teachers, they wouldn’t have it! A great deal of the staff got behind me and insisted that this turn into a full scale book launch, and it certainly did. They contacted the local radio and newspaper, seeing if they could announce the event. I ended up going in for an interview with the paper and writing a small essay to the radio. Sure enough, they ran with it. Posters were put up in the school and I even merited the morning announcements. I was astonished to have been so powerfully supported by the community surrounding me, (one teacher in particular got the ball rolling). It would appear the idea of self-publication easily catches the eyes of the majority.
It would appear I don’t get out nearly enough, because showing my face in public yesterday and today actually got some response. Don’t take this as a sign of arrogance. I’m just not use to, “you’re that young man who was in the paper, aren’t you?” People actually knew who I was as I carried my box of books around (not that this wasn’t enough of a give away).
When I first got there, I only spoke to a few individuals, calmly waiting my turn in the library. Honestly, I was hoping to hear how live had been for others recently, instead of having them inquire about the book business. It comes to the point when I’m just sick of talking about books. Because I’m so rarely seen, people can only be sure that I have been working on my books. Not much else could be happening to me in my little office, hidden away from the world.
To begin the book launch, I was asked to do a reading before actually selling anything. I was expecting a solid…five people to show up. Wouldn’t you know it, I had a total of thirty, sitting and watching me read the prologue of my first novel. It was alien for me to be reading out loud like that, but I had undergone my share of practice, so it went well. I found trying to make a female voice overly difficult however. Being on the tail end of my teen years, my voice isn’t as flexible as it used to be. I was given applause, and I thanked the many people involved in making this little dream a reality.
Finally, I was able to start my sales, and start I did! Teachers and students came forward and offered me paper support (money) while I handed back paper labour (books). I sold upwards of thirty books, and not a single buyer would accept their copy without my signature. Any buyers that had forgotten initially, well, they hunted me down. Even the school library came and bought a few copies. That was the real kicker for me.
At the end of the day, after having visited a few classes and spoken to a few old friends, I returned to the library. I went to the librarian and asked if I could put my books on the shelf. She said I could, and ran to get her camera. She was one of my many friends at the school, and insisted that this moment was worth documenting.
Now keep in mind, I have nothing against the book series Twilight. I think if you enjoy the story and writing style, that’s your opinion alone. Still I felt the need to make the joke.
“I’m content as long as I’m not beside the Twilight series,” I jested, as we walked to the fiction section. I couldn’t understand why the librarian had suddenly burst into laugher upon the joke’s mentioning. It wasn’t that funny I thought…until I recalled the writer of Twilight had the last name Meyer, which turned out to be painfully close to Metcalfe. That’s right! I’m shelf buddies with Edward Cullen! And I’m not just near…I’m right beside. All well. At least people may notice my books now :)
