Been thinking...

I recently posted a book review on Acts of Courage, by Pamela Horner. I tried to keep the review focused on the book and not the author, but that is not possible in hindsight. In reality, we as authors are our books...if that makes sense.

I met Ms. Horner at a local seller's market. Normally, sometime after lunch, I take a break from my booth, make my rounds to see what everyone else has, and enter into engaging conversations with other booth owners. There were three authors on that day, and me being one of the three.

When I talked to Ms. Horner, I was gracious and kind and showed an interest in her books, which I did. I love to read almost as much as I love to write. I want to hear and see other authors have that passion for their books. As a courtesy, I always drop (whether an author or not) that I am also a vendor and I am "over there" selling. All the other vendors swing by my booth with a warm hello shortly thereafter. I am not trying to sell my books; I am trying to make acquaintances...we all see each other at the same shows, month after month.

Unfortunately, Ms. Horner did not stop by my booth and show the same reciprocity. Now, there is no written rule to do so, but it is considered vendor courtesy at the markets.

I say all that because my booth was within a foot of another children's author, Sharon Moore. During downtimes, we talked, and I found out that her wonderful illustrator was a displaced refugee from Ukraine, now living in the UK. Even though we were both selling children's books, Sharon would also plug my books into her customers! I was so impressed with her unselfishness that I gave her a copy of one of my books when the market closed, and I would like to give her a plug here:

sharonmoorefun.org

I don't know why authors think we are in competition—we are not. Your book and my book are different. You have your fans and following, and I have my fans and following. My fans may buy your books, and your fans may buy my books. But either way, neither of us is going to lose our fans or our following. It is not like the salesmanship pie—there are enough pieces to go around, and everyone can have two pieces.

For that reason, here is Ms. Horner's page as well.

pamelahorner.com