When I was a first-time author, I didn't realize what being a "published author" would have in store for me. Sure it meant I wrote a book, and since then, I'm up to twenty. It also meant I was now into the retail side of life - Selling!
Sitting in front of my computer day after day does not get my work into the hands of people who love reading. That takes effort. So does fitting into an outfit that I wore only a couple times before I gained weight. But I did it!
And here I am in front of my display table
I joined with a group of writers who went from festival to festival, hawking our wares. That was fun and a great training ground for me as we navigated through rainstorms and wind and excessive heat. Now I've limited myself to only two or three outdoor events since I became a member of the Western North Carolina Society of Artisans. I offer my books for sale in our Red Awning Gallery located at the HUB in Hudson, NC. What a creative group of artisans I have chosen to be associated with.
Each first Friday of the month we have an event. Through the years, I have launched three different books at a First Friday. For the month of March, we decided to go big. I mean BIG! How about renting the large auditorium at the HUB? How about having seating around a carpet? A Red Carpet??? How about showcasing our art on a runway, using models from the nearby community college? The idea grew and grew and grew and finally, the first Friday in March arrived and we had a blast!
Here's the before picture.
Note a sketch of me by Rhonda Walker in the lower right-hand of the screen.
During the planning stage I had to rethink book development and train my mind to the concept of book covers as art. I chose three books to feature, one as yet unpublished. I removed the wording and looked at what was left. Art! I went to the local Pack and Ship and had them print enlarged versions of the front covers. I turned in a short script that was to be read as the model walked the runway carrying our art so that our guests could enjoy.
When the time came for music and mulling around, (Oh, did I mention we had live music by the dynamic duo, Paddyak? And three tables loaded with food?) we visited with everyone, enjoying the moment.
The lights dimmed...
And he was off. My first work was the one I did with Wongalee Thomas. It featured a photograph I took at the beach one year with a sketch in the center by the "Rembrandt of the Caribbean," Erwin de Vries, a friend of the subject of our book, Wongalee's father, Humphrey Tja-A-Ling.
I'm not really ready to reveal to the world this art that walked the runway, so I'm keeping it a little blurry.
It's my newest book, as yet unpublished, about a 1964 Ford Mercury Comet Caliente. I enlarged the back of the book, without its blurb, but with the car in the center of a collage of snapshots showing individual elements that make it up. You'll have to buy the book to see what I'm talking about.
I was so thrilled to see my third entry almost float down the red carpet. It was my finale!
It featured a duo biography I wrote about two outstanding members of our community, The Physician and the Forester - Marjorie and Bill Strawn: A Story of Devotion, Service and Faith. In the center of the cover is this duo, taken at a wedding in their time of happiness. Behind that is "Linn Cove," a watercolor done by their son, Matt, a member of our society of artisans.
Our event, "Art Takes the Runway," was a resounding success. We're already making plans for next year. Keep it in mind. You won't want to miss it!
Catch of the day,
Gretchen
