The Jerk at my Booksigning

My booksigning at the CT International Auto Show was quite interesting, and I believe a success. Although I only sold a few books, I did have several lengthy conversations with people who excitedly took a copy of my press release so they could buy the book online. A Hartford police officer approached me for a chat and he wrote the book title in his little planner so he could purchase the book for his daughter. She is considering a cross country trip, but torn between motorcycle and RV. Another couple hunted me down to purchase a book after saying they had looked for me all over the show and even in the cars. They had seen my ad in the Journal Inquirer on Thursday. A security guard asked me if I was the guy he had heard on the Ray Dunaway radio show a couple of months ago. I told him that I was. There were many others who stopped to ask questions or chat. I watched a constant flow of foot traffic pass by, and the majority of them saw my poster, which is a blown up bookcover of “Strapped Into An American Dream.” Thousands of people each day passed by my booth. On day one of the Show, I had more than I could transport from my car to the Show. I was in a parking garage, but with no clue as to where I needed to go. I carried my box of 16 books, which was quite heavy. I had my leather zippered bag with more books and newspaper articles on top of the box. Then I had a collapsed easel that I had borrowed for the event, and that lie on top of the bag which was on top of the box. I lifted these items with my right arm, squeezing the box high and tight so that the collapsed easel with it’s many legs was pressed against my armpit. I then tried to grab the handled giftbag with yet more books in it as well as the cardboard poster. I couldn’t handle it all as the easel began to slip from my pit and I slowly release the box and the bag, and the easel fell a short distance to the cement and made a disruptively loud noise. I then grabbed a passerby, who assisted me the rest of the way as we both blindly made our way to this show. After the show it got much more interesting, as I had to make the trek to my car, unsure of its exact location…unassisted. Box under bag under collapsed easel tucked tightly under my right arm. Gift bag of books and poster in my left hand. This was one difficult undertaking, and I would make it about 20 steps before I needed to dismantle my load with the loud easel bringing attention to myself. Once I made it to the garage, where I couldn’t find my car, I asked the security guard for a ride via his golf cart. He told me that it’s broken and he could not assist. My dismantles became louder. Then I started carrying the box of books a short distance, putting them down, and going back for the rest of the items. I then found my car, and boy was I a happy camper. All I could think of during this trek was Steve Martin in The Jerk when he kept accumulating bulky items to carry with him down the street. Although I felt like a circus clown, I thought this is how it is in the beginning, and it sounded so much like a rookie story. So many successful people have stories like this. It’s the perseverence that made them successful. I will do this act again if it means i’m on my way.

CT International Auto Show website listing my appearance

It’s official!  I will be having a book signing at the Auto Show this Saturday and Sunday (Nov 7th and 8th) from 12-4 PM. Click link and see listing at bottom of first page.  Check us out this weekend at the CT Convention Center in Hartford, CT.

 

 

http://www.paragonexpo.com/343_ACTIVITIES.html

CT Auto Show event

I heard on the radio today about a car show at the Connecticut Convention Center this weekend.  I knew it was too late to ask, but looked for a contact via google anyway.  I sent an email to one of the contacts asking if they would like to have me do a book signing at their event this weekend since we both fall under travel.  An hour later I received a reply from the event planner saying that she just had my email forwarded to her and she wished I had sent it earlier.  She told me that they could have had a nice setup with a nice display for me, but there was just nothing left in the budget.  She did say that she would love to have me do a book signing for “Strapped Into An American Dream” but she just wouldn’t be able to include me in the advertizing.  I agreed to do a signing, telling her that I will bring along my poster and box of books.  She will have a booth for me.  Further details will follow once I get an email confirmation from her, but I told her that I could do the signing on Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 7th and 8th) from 12-4 PM.  This is my best opportunity to date.