Signing Books

(NOTE: This was originally posted on February 26, 2013, on my old blog, a few days after my first book signing event, coinciding with the publication of Soul Sketches)

I was talking with a friend today, and was trying to convey my thoughts about signing books. He attended my book signing this past Saturday night and noticed I was having the time of my life. And indeed I was. I’ve discovered I have some strong feelings about the subject of signing books. Please allow me to share – – it takes a bit of a story to convey my thoughts…

My brother Doug is the drummer in a local blues band, Steve Smith and the Sneakers. They’ve written a bunch of original material, enough to release a CD in 2008. They sold a lot of copies and it is available for download on iTunes. Then they put out a second CD in 2012, and it was great if not better than the original. I was thrilled for him and the other guys in the band, to get to watch people come out to local venues to watch them play, then to have people spend their money buying the CD. I got to thinking about musicians in general, and how it must be a very gratifying and humbling experience to realize that people will spend their money to buy your CDs to listen to your music, and/or buy tickets to pack a room to sit (or dance) and listen to you play your music live.

Now that I have published this very personal book of my innermost thoughts and personal experiences, I find it thrilling and humbling to realize that people are willing to spend their money on my book, and that they care enough about the book and me personally that they want me to sign their book. Whether it’s someone like Marilyn, Tammy or Sandra, whom I’ve known literally since kindergarten, or someone I’ve never met but was interested enough to buy the book and want it signed, it still means the world to me. And I can’t bring myself to sign with a simple “Best Wishes” or something like that. I want to thank that person for their interest in the book, and express my hope that what they read will truly be meaningful to them.

That’s just me. It all means a lot. To be able to say I’m a published author is a dream come true, and I have no intention of ever taking it for granted. It’s very humbling and gratifying. Thanks you.

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