Photos: Ruth and Joan dine at Taste of Ukraine Restaurant in Edmonton
Last week I did a reading in Winnipeg at McNally Robinson bookstore. For days prior to the reading, they had displays out of my book, had the book on the recommended reading table, had posters all over the store advertising the reading. John, the events coordinator presented me with a masterful introduction, which he had prepared on his own without any input from me. It was just excellent and very flattering and it was clear he had read the entire book. There were about one hundred people at the reading, we sold a lot of books, and overall it was quite successful for everyone.
I am currently in Edmonton where I am supposed to do a reading at Chapters. I had been corresponding there with Sonya, who had approved the poster I had made regarding the reading, and asked me to send her half a dozen posters via snail mail, which I gladly did several months ago.
Joan and I drove into Edmonton, and went directly to the TV station, where Lynda did a very skillful and creative interview. She was quite wonderful and had actually read the entire book. We pitched the reading at Chapters and then went for lunch.
I thought I had best check in with the bookstore. I dialed the number.
Me: "Hello. May I please speak with Sonya?"
A Woman: "Oh, Sonya doesn't work at this store any more. Can I help you?"
Me: "Well, my name is Dr. Ruth Simkin and I am supposed to do a reading at your store this evening."
The woman: "Oh, you are? Well, I'll let you talk to Shannon then. She's busy right now. Can you call back later please?"
Joan and I ate our goma-ai (spinach salad) appetizer and then I redialed.
Me: "Hello, may I please speak with Shannon?"
A Woman: "Just one moment please."
I ate a piece of gari (pickled ginger).
Shannon: "Hello, this is Shannon."
Me: "Hello Shannon. My name is Dr. Ruth Simkin and I am supposed to do a reading at your store tonight."
Shannon: "You are?"
Me: "Yes, I had been dealing with Sonya."
Shannon: "Well, Sonya doesn't work at this store any more."
Me: Yes, I gathered that, but I drove into Edmonton especially for this reading, and have just finished a TV slot talking about it."
Shannon: "Oh. Did you write a book?"
Me: "Yes, I did. Are you not expecting me to do a reading there?"
Shannon: "Well, I see that your name is on the calendar with a question mark beside it but I didn't know what it was for. What is the name of your book?"
Me: "The Jagged Years of Ruthie J. So you are not expecting me?"
Shannon: "Well, we don't have a lot of people around. How many books do you normally sell?"
Me: "I had one hundred people at my reading last week in Winnipeg and sold a lot of books, but they were expecting me and did some advertising in the store."
Shannon: "Oh. Well, how many books are you bringing?"
Me: "Well, how many would you like me to bring?"
The rest of the conversation went downhill even more after that. I was concerned about how things would turn out.
I turned to Joan as we each speared a piece of sashimi.
"Well, if no one comes, we'll just go out for dinner, okay?" Joan smiled kindly.
The thing is that I, not the publishers, not the publicist, but I, the lowly author, pay for these book tours. Joan kindly drove me to Edmonton in her car, but we are staying in a hotel, and need to eat meals, for which I pay. And almost always I don't mind because it is part of marketing the book. I could have saved the cost of the Edmonton trip. I could have even done an extra reading in Calgary - I was asked to do so at the Epilepsy Foundation but had no free evenings. This could have been a successful evening in Calgary instead of a bust in Edmonton.
So it was with some trepidation that I showed up at Chapters. But I have to say that Shannon turned out to be terrific. She just could not do enough for us, and was encouraging and supportive. The trouble was that no one knew I was coming. One woman, Rose, a very young looking 84 year old, came down to the store after she had seen me on TV. She wanted to hear what I had to say in person. Because at the time no one else was around, Joan and I took Rose for coffee (there was an adjacent Starbucks in Chapters) and to Shannon's credit, Chapters bought our coffee. We chatted for about twenty minutes or so, and then Luke, a twelve year old boy showed up to buy a book for his mother. They also had seen the TV news this evening. The only two sales and the only two people who came were a result of the TV show. Much to Shannon's and Chapter's credit, they took twelve books to sell and Shannon was very encouraging and helpful. What could have turned out to be a bitter experience was saved by her professionalism and her enthusiasm and support.
After Rose and Luke left, it was time for Joan and I to go for dinner and a big drink. Since we were in Edmonton, of course we went to Taste of Ukraine Restaurant. We started the meal with caviar on blinis and shots of vodka, and things just got better after that. We had cabbage rolls and cherry ribs and cheese crepes and perogies, and more vodka drinks and prawns and a little more vodka and caramel baked apple in crepes with ice cream for desert and a little more vodka. We had a most wonderful waiter and it was a great meal!. In the morning, we return to Calgary. Life is still pretty darn good.
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