Lisa Ryan and Brenda
Adult Library Director Lisa Ryan greeted us at the Dexter library, where I was to speak. Including myself there were a total of six people in a large room with forty chairs: Lisa, my writing partners—Susan and Peggy, Peggy’s friend Mary and a very late comer. Why so few? Lisa thought it may relate to the fact that it was the week after Thanksgiving and people had Christmas on their minds. And it was COLD! In addition I am an unknown writer and did not contact the media to get an interview about the novel and event.
Peggy, Brenda and Susan
Still, Peggy, Susan and I had the opportunity to visit about the process of writing, about our group and about our books. Margaret Fuchs Singer published a touching yet riveting memoir, “Legacy of a False Promise, A Daughters Reckoning.” Susan Morales recently published a novel “A Bar Room View of Love.” In it a young woman attempts to expose an ashram and finds redemption. Check out their websites under relevant links on this blog.
Mary Higgins
Lisa, a savvy librarian and historian, has her own stories to write and Mary Higgins has written and produced a play. We stressed that writing groups provide structure, support and motivation. Lisa is in the process of establishing such a group at the library. Go Lisa!
What we learned: Many unknown authors, often self-published, send only a description of their books to the library. However, a book cannot be put into the library system without knowing the quality of the prose. This means that a librarian must read the book. A wise tactic for a little known author is to donate a book to the library. Lisa stated that, if a book earns a place on the shelf, her library will purchase another copy.
Intuitively I knew to do this when “Family at Booknook” was published. I donated novels to all the surrounding libraries. Since then, I’ve been invited to speak at Adrian, Saline and now Dexter libraries. All have assured me that they purchased extra copies. As with all writers, I want my novel read, and getting it in libraries is great exposure.
