Frances came from the Charlotte area!

Before I was published I might have daydreamed a little about the events I would do once I was . . . well, you know . . . famous. Signings, readings, interviews.

Now, two years into this published author business, let’s just say the reality hasn’t quite lived up to the daydream. I’ve done signings where the only takers were people I pretty much accosted and charmed into buying a book. I gave a talk (paid!) where one person came. And she didn’t know I was going to be there–she just sort of stumbled into the room.

There have been others that came closer to those early daydreams–my book launch was incredible. Doing a signing at the International Christian Retail Show was just plain fun. And then there was yesterday.

I did a signing and reading at our local Barnes & Noble to benefit the Literacy  Council of Buncombe County (you can still benefit them–if you shop B&N on-line, enter code ID #11827862 at checkout to donate 10% of the purchase through May 8). I invited folks and it was well advertised, but still, I was holding my breath knowing I could easily end up reading to the literacy council staff and my husband.

My standing-room only crowd!

And then . . . people came. A reader who connected with me on Facebook came all the way from Charlotte, NC. Friends came and brought their own friends. Passers by heard me reading and stopped to listen, then stayed. After the reading others swung by the table and ended up buying books.

Oh, it wasn’t like Nicholas Sparks or Francine Rivers with a line snaking out to the sidewalk, but it sure made me feel good. And it was mostly because people I know came and made it look like an event so other people started paying attention, too.

My delusions of grandeur have yet to play out, but this business of having good friends I can count on? That’s better than any dream of fame or fortune.