I’m so excited to have author and bookstore manager Jenness Walker at Tag(g)lines today. First of all, I just think she’s a hoot. Second, I love her books.
Third, she offers a fun and unique perspective since she’s both a book-writer and a book-seller. It’s possible I may have spit out my pop in laughter during her post. Enjoy!
(And be sure to check out her books–Double Take and Bliss!)
(And be sure to check out her books–Double Take and Bliss!)
Caught in the Middle
“Do you have the book written by that Walker girl?” The lady peers at me over her glasses after I welcomed her to the small bookstore where I work.
“Yes, ma’am. Right over here.” I lead her to the shelf and point to the proper location.
“Thanks,” she says as she tugs my first novel free of the surrounding books (happily nestled right next to the latest Susan May Warren novel).
Smiling to myself, I leave her alone to shop as I continue with my work. Anonymous. I have help today, so when the customer checks out, Betty is the one behind the counter. She rings up the book, then asks if the customer wants it signed.
“That would be great,” the customer says. Surprised.
“Jenness!” Betty hollers out, and I slink out from between the shelves. So much for remaining incognito.
It’s not that I mind signing books—I’ve been practicing my autograph since at least fourth grade. It’s just that being a shy author and working in a small Christian bookstore can be a little tricky.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my job. In some ways it’s absolutely perfect. I’m surrounded by books—lots of books—all day. I get to brag on my author friends and make sure my absolute favorite books remain on the shelf. (Like Madman by Tracy Groot and The Great Divide by Davis Bunn.)
Now that I’m manager, I can order in many of the new authors I want to try. After all, if no one else buys the books, I will! I have the privilege of attending ICRS on behalf of my store and gathering up all those free books while meeting/reuniting with some of my favorite people.
Yeah, it’s a fantastic job.
But then there’s the pesky little self-promotion thing. How in the world do I host my own book-signing? I have yet to figure out how to do it so it won’t be the lamest thing ever. But, as manager, I want those first sales to go to the store where I work, of course!
Next, there are the times when someone asks me what my book is about. Someone else’s—no problem. But a quick summary of my own? That’s what I prepare for months to sit in front of an editor and forget! I’m getting better—after six or so conferences, you would hope so. But here’s one from shortly after I received my first contract:
“What’s your story about?” The lady looks at me expectantly.
I try not to squirm. “I’m really bad at this.” There goes the disclaimer thing…again. I take a deep breath and begin. “It’s a romantic suspense, and it has kind of a book-within-a-book, where the bad guy acts out the story on the heroine. The hero figures it out and works to keep the heroine safe and expose the bad guy.”
Not the best summary in the world, but my voice didn’t shake and my mind didn’t totally blank out. That was something. Searching her face, I wait for feedback.
“Heroin, huh?” She adjusts her purse and shakes her head. “I had a friend who got addicted to the stuff. Totally fried his brain. Heroin is just awful stuff.”
I blink rapidly as I try to figure out what just happened. Finally I murmur in agreement…and make a mental note to work on a summary that doesn’t include the word heroine/heroin.
Thankfully, I’m getting better. I think. But then there are those days when they come in, looking for a book recommendation. Am I going to push my own suspense over Kristen Heitzmann? Or my funny co-authored book over Jenny B. Jones? Seriously?
Of course, sometimes the customers’ requests are more specific, and my stories fit the category. But if they know who I am and recognize my name on the cover, I can’t help but feel I’m pressuring them. And something this girl does not like to do is pressure anyone. (I don’t even have a honey-do list!) So I end up insisting that they don’t have to buy the book—no problem, just a suggestion—as I blink my baby blues, take their card, and ring up their purchase.
So there’s a random glimpse at the life of an author with the perfect day job.
What’s your day job? What interesting situations do you find yourself in as a writer?
Jenness Walker loves books, as evidenced by her day jobs, which have included cleaning a library, freelance editing, and managing a small Christian bookstore. She lives in South Florida with her brilliant website-designer husband of nine years and her not-so-brilliant but super-cute canine. When she’s not reading or writing suspense, or working on light-hearted romances with co-author Tracy Bowen, Jenness loves to hang out with her little family, spend way too much time on Pinterest, and plan road trips to small-town America. You can find her online at http://www.jennesswalker.com/.
Comments 26
LOL! This had me cracking up! Thanks for the laugh today! Tagg, you’re so cute. I love that hat!
Hehe, thanks, Jess. I like hats for bad hair days. 🙂
🙂 Working around books all day would be awesome! I work for a home builder. A lot of my coworkers are just now figuring out that I’m a writer. It’s weird when they want me to talk about my books.
I agree with you, Julie–working around books all day would rock!
So nice to meet Jenness (what a neat name!). I loved this post – I could hear Jenness’ voice all over it! We have a small Christian Book Store in our town and I could just picture this scenario happening there, especially the mistake about the heroin! 🙂 My “day” job is staying home full time with my kiddos and I find myself in interesting situations as a writer all the time!! It usually involves writing a steamy scene with my two year old twins jumping on the couch around me, trying to push the buttons on the computer and laughing when one can get my attention while the other one slams the cover down on my laptop. 🙂
Hilarious, Gabrielle. Awesome that you have all kinds of fodder for stories right in your own home. 🙂
My day job. Don’t really have one anymore since our abstinence grants ran out.
I love both of Jenness’ books–she’s just the coolest writer! And I love her hats.
I agree, Pat, she is the coolest writer!
Oh, I love Jenness — and I love both her books. I was reading a tense scene in Double Take and someone walked into the room — and I jumped out of my chairs. Literally.
Yep. She’s a good writer! And she can rock hats — you too, Melissa!
Thanks, Beth!
I need another Jenness book!! 🙂
What an awesome day job! I’m a curriculum editor, which can be boring at times but at least I’m honing my editing skills, right? That would definitely be difficult to self-promote without coming across as pressuring. I don’t envy you that. But I DO envy you being surrounded by books all day. So cool.
And Mel, you totally look adorable in that hat! I wish I wore hats well. I finally found a baseball type hat to wear when my hair is greasy and horrible, but I’ve never been able to find others that look cute. Sigh.
Thanks, Linds. Hats=me not having to do anything to my hair. Yay. 🙂 I bet you do wear hats well. We’re always our own worst critiques. 🙂
What a fun job! Writing books and getting to buy and read more books.
I know! I’m fighting envy… 🙂
Great to meet you Jenness! Heroine and heroin…very funny.
Yeah, I had one of those moments ~ The what just happened?!?!? scenario. I remember blinking rapidly too.
When asked about my novel and writing, I once told someone at work that my book was out on submission. “Submission?” she asks, eye brows raised. “What an odd topic?”
I had to hold my hand back from smacking my forehead.
“Ummm, nice lady…the book topic is not on ‘submission’…it’s just a term that my agent is shopping it to editors.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Fun stuff, ladies!
That is tooo hilarious, Loree.
Funny thing is, in Christian realms, I can totally see people thinking “submission” is a perfectly normal topic for a Christian living-type book for women. I probably wouldn’t choose to read it, though. HA! Just kidding. Seriously, just kidding. I know Biblical submission is good and all that…hehehe…
Melissa, the hat is awesome. You should do it more often. 🙂 Thanks for having me!
I love having you here, Jenness!! Your post made me crack up!
Terrific post. Terrific author. Terrific books.
And Jenness forgot to mention she also completely revamped the design of the bookstore when she became manager – so terrific interior designer, too!
Um, did I mention she’s terrific? 🙂
Oh hey, I think I saw Jenness’s before and after photos of the bookstore. Awesome transformation!
Couldn’t reply a, um, month ago. (Cringing.) Trying again! Thanks, ladies. It was a lot of fun…except for the painting! Ugh.
Love the hat, Melissa. And Jenness, I am insanely jealous of your job. And thanks for the laugh over having to sum up your book to someone. I think I’d have rambled far longer than you:) And I also think I”m going to go check it out, your short synopsis sold me, heroine and all;)
Ooh, I hope you do check out her books, Susan. Such good reads. 🙂
Thanks, Susan! Hope you like them! Hoping to have news of more coming out soon!
Oh my goodness! I LOVE that story about the heroin/e! I’m having serious nerve issues about the whole marketing thing/asking people to buy my book… I can’t imagine doing that and actually working AT the bookstore! I think I’d handle it exactly how you are though, well done!
Thanks Krista. It’s definitely an interesting situation to find myself in. 🙂