Last Friday, I attended my very first New Mexico Book Co-op meeting. They are “New Mexico’s largest cooperative organization featuring New Mexico Books, publishers and authors,” as quoted on their website. I found out about them through a random search on the Internet. I was a little nervous.
I didn’t have any reason to be. The room was packed with energetic, accomplished writers: people who are brilliant AND have a desire to help each other succeed. I was definitely in the right place.
I talked at length with Loretta Hall, author of Out of This World, New Mexico’s Contributions to Space Travel, who was not only kind and helpful, but also very interesting. I am looking forward to attending one of her upcoming readings/signings. My husband is an aerospace engineer (“rocket scientist”), and I think her book would make a nice gift.
The meeting concluded with the owner of Garcia Street Books in Santa Fe asking the audience what we thought of author events. Turns out they have been losing money promoting events through advertising. Of course, if you’ve been reading my past blog entries, you know that I certainly DO have opinions on this topic. One woman present stated she just wanted a place to do a reading; the promotion/advertising was not a requirement. I am kind of that same mindset – just give me a place, and I’ll do the rest. If I don’t bring in enough people, the bookstore will still make some money if they have not spent anything on hosting me. Period.
The next meeting is in September, and I am already looking forward to it. Hopefully I will make more connections, learn more, and find local support for my book. What’s beautiful about New Mexico is its fierce loyalty toward homegrown talent. Thank you.
