The Debacle

​Because of the themes and overall style of my last book, Son of Ravage, I chose for my first Author reading and signing Santa Rosa’s largest comic bookstore. The book came out in late winter of 2019, and the reading and signing was scheduled for early Summer. I met with the shop owner, booked a date for their additional room that worked for both of us, and alerted family, friends, co-workers, press, and everyone else of the time and date. It was my first ever type of event, and needless to say, I was excited. I went to work immediately, practicing my signature and patiently awaiting the eventful day.
 
I showed up an hour early to set up, only to find a loud, enthusiastic group of men playing a rousing game of Magic: The Gathering in the same room where I was to be doing my reading.  I patiently asked the clerk if they would be clearing out the room soon and was informed brusquely:
 
“They aren’t going anywhere,” he answered, a bit too annoyed to signal things were going to go smoothly.
 
Cancel? Too late for that; people would soon be on their way. I set up the area for about thirty seats and waited while the gamers got louder.
 
Family, friends and readers filed in, taking their seats, looking over the table with books and tee-shirts, and at the scheduled time, the battle for attention ensued.
 
I drew a breath and began, accompanied by the growing exclamations of those seated on the other side of the room.
 
“Wow, you passed that card? What the fuck are you doing?”
 
I remained calm. I was raising the volume of my voice to be heard over the game enthusiasts. But the louder I got, the louder they became.
 
“Just how many goddamn creatures do you have in your graveyard?”
 
My audience was getting restless. I could see them looking over at the gamers with agitated faces. I was losing them to Magic. I read the first chapter, pausing for questions. There was one. I read the second chapter and thanked everyone for coming.
 
I did sell a lot of books that day. I think the purchases were more out of pity than anything else. But a sale is a sale.
 
BTW, in case you are interested, the first stop of my Fool’s Gold Author Reading and Signing tour is at an Oakland Dave and Buster’s. That is all.