One Year Later

About a year ago I did my first public book tabling event at the Oregon Library Association annual conference in Eugene, Oregon. I learned so much about how to talk about my book with strangers. That is the thing about tabling, you get to practice over and over with each person that stops.

Last week the conference was in Portland and it was a joint conference this time with the Pacific Northwest Library Association. Librarians are my people so the whole environment is welcoming and supportive.

I felt more at ease telling people about my book, my newsletter and my new zine. I could pull on stories readers have shared with me to potential new readers. I heard again the need for an audio book version of my novel and I am working on it. I just need some dedicated time to read and edit it. I am very excited about the audio book. My new zine on How to Do Archival Research was also very popular, perhaps because I was talking with librarians who understand the importance and value of research skills. It does make me want to develop and teach a class on doing archival research, maybe in the fall after the audio book and my new book, Blood in the Archives are out in the world.

My favorite experience of the whole conference was talking with a reader who bought my book last year and loved it. She was hoping that a new book was forthcoming. I told her I would email her as soon as it was available. When she told me she was moved and inspired by the Traveling Archivist, my eyes started to well up. Her words meant so much to me. To be seen and acknowledged by a stranger is powerful.

All in all, the conference felt like a time to reflect on the last year and my path as an author, not quite a book birthday or the beginning of a new year. I could see where I have grown and improved and where I see myself going in the future. I am grateful for the opportunity and time for reflection.

Buy Me A Coffee

Some additional highlights:

Free People’s Society Library - I got my own Free Society library card and a picture in front of it to add to my Mary in Front of Library series on my website.

Archival Revival PDX - I met Connie last year and loved her work then. This year I bought more than punn-y cards about microfiche, her jewelry is perfect for librarians and archivists but really for anyone who is a reader.

Imagination Station - who doesn’t love Dolly?

University of Oregon Digital Newspaper Project - such a great resource and I love that they provide a path to get more newspapers digitized

Microcosm Publishing - I love these folks so much! What they sell and how they do it is inspiring. If you haven’t heard of them, go check them out.