tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post3123391080524858957..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: "No, This One Has Hamsters," by Jess LoureyLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-27789883955916406772007-10-13T14:08:00.000-04:002007-10-13T14:08:00.000-04:00Where do I find this kid? I think he's stolen the ...Where do I find this kid? I think he's stolen the idea for my next book.G.M. Malliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805971625496094303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-42591472266521143442007-10-12T14:00:00.000-04:002007-10-12T14:00:00.000-04:00Ha! "Goats with the Wind." It's a bestseller. Than...Ha! "Goats with the Wind." It's a bestseller. Thanks for reading, everyone!Jessica Loureyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11157662092822156124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-75906114753797310132007-10-11T21:33:00.000-04:002007-10-11T21:33:00.000-04:00A hamster, huh? Well, then it certainly IS a diffe...A hamster, huh? Well, then it certainly IS a different story altogether.<BR/><BR/>This opens up all sorts of doors of opportunity. Here's one swinging open right now: A woman--actually, she's a female goat--falls in love with, yes, a guy goat named, naturally, Rhett Buttler (hey, he's a goat! What else would he be called?) during the Civil War but he'll have none of her high-handedness. Oh, make that, her high-hoofedness. It's not Gone With the Wind at all, no, because you see, they're GOATS.<BR/><BR/>I love your story, Jess! Thanks for sharing it!The Imaginary Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12876079816033007930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-77771280833682130112007-10-11T10:27:00.000-04:002007-10-11T10:27:00.000-04:00My first few jobs (waitressing, retail sales) quic...My first few jobs (waitressing, retail sales) quickly acquainted me with the fact that the population is packed with eccentrics, most of whom, fortunately, are harmless if annoying. Like Jess and Julia--and perhaps some other MIers--I've also been a teacher, and in that career you meet plenty of personality disorders in the making. All fodder for the fiction mill and good preparation for the oddballs we meet at literary events. <BR/><BR/>Funny, well-written post, Jess! Clearly your sense of humor can and will get you through anything.....Nina Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951320004034298217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-86307388562190431832007-10-11T10:17:00.000-04:002007-10-11T10:17:00.000-04:00Haven't had EXACTLY that experience, but have had ...Haven't had EXACTLY that experience, but have had the person who wants to dominate my time when other people are waiting. (And had the ones who dominate my time when no one's waiting. Hmmm...)<BR/><BR/>I generally will, quite soon, tap them on the arm and wave them to the side and say, politely, "You can stay here and wait for things to free up so I can talk to you, but I need to talk to these people for a moment. Thanks."<BR/><BR/>I've never worked in retail and friends who have tell me that the public is pretty bizarre. My experiences with book signings and book fairs would tend to confirm that. There are some wonderful folks out there and then there are some, uh, nuts.Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-87127363875511968322007-10-11T09:57:00.000-04:002007-10-11T09:57:00.000-04:00Ah, yes. We've all had people like this show up at...Ah, yes. We've all had people like this show up at signings or panels. And generally they NEVER buy a book. You don't want to dampen their enthusiasm, but you also need to move them along graciously. It's tricky. <BR/><BR/>If there are people waiting for me to sign a book, ANY PEOPLE, I gently tell the talker: "Thank you for sharing, but I really must take the next person in line."<BR/><BR/>Sometimes they move on, sometimes they continue to block the way. If they're the blocker sort, I ask them nicely, but with a firm eye lock and smile, to please step to the side. The next step is to bring out the stun gun, but fortunately, I've never had to do that.<BR/><BR/>I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I really wish folks who monopolize authors at signings or panels would understand that we are there to "work" and that these aren't just our sales they are interfering with, but the sales of the bookseller or people who invited us. <BR/><BR/>And while we're on this subject, I really hate going to book fairs and festivals and while I'm at a signing table having authors, generally self-published, shoving their literature at me like I'm a captive audience, which I guess I am. I never buy books I learn about in that manner.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.com