Purple Gallinule on the St. Johns River

Since my doctor declared it was safe for me to go out into the world again, without fear of spreading the flu virus, I was able to avoid cancelling my first opportunity to speak to a local group about writing a book set in Florida and featuring the wildlife of the St. Johns River basin. I was a bit nervous, I’ll admit, since it’s been years since I did any kind of public speaking, teaching, or presentations. I shouldn’t have worried. It was sort of like riding a bike, only with less huffing and puffing.

The group was small, which I was grateful for, since it let me get my feet wet without facing a ton of people. We ended up in an informal chat configuration, with me sitting comfortably, chair angled so I could talk to the group and still operate the slide presentation I’d put together. And guess what? It was FUN! I’m a person who really likes to laugh, and I love it when I can make others laugh, too, so that was my approach. None of these good folks was seriously interested in writing a book themselves, which had been the general focus of the talk (as suggested by the programs director), so I made it more about the wonders of Florida wildlife, and the suggestion that it’s never too late to pursue a dream.

I did talk a bit about what goes into writing a book and how much research is involved, even when you think you know your topic fairly well. And because the group was small, there was plenty of back and forth, as they asked questions, sometimes on things like snake ID. One woman wanted to know just how aggressive water moccasins really are, and I was so glad I’ve actually had enough experience through working at Florida Audubon back in the day, and at the Central Florida Zoo, to be able to answer those kinds of questions with a modicum of intelligence.

I sold some books, and had a chance to leave some for the gift shop. But I think more importantly, I made some friends who will probably be keeping an eye out for my future books. If word of mouth is the biggest seller of books, and they say it is, then surely having one on one face time with readers is a great way to garner more of it.

One last thought. There was a gentleman there who admitted he didn’t own a computer nor a Kindle, and who generally gets his books from the local library. This man was not ever going to buy an eBook, nor was he likely to be buying print books, either. I believe he reads a lot, and using the library is a better option for him and his budget. He stayed behind after the group was gone, chatting with me about local birding spots and hiking areas. I gave him a signed copy of my book, and the look on his face was all the reward I needed. However, I believe I’ve made a friend for life, and I’m sure he will tell others about my books. SO totally worth the miniscule cost of the book!

All in all, I think the long term dividends of a small, local event like this one are well worth the effort. New readers, new contacts for future events, getting my books in the gift shop, having fun chatting about books and related topics, and making someone happy–well, what could be better?

How many of you have pursued your local resources in this way? I’m interested in hearing from you. Have you contacted any local bookstores, libraries, gift shops, or other business that might enjoy having you do a presentation? In my case, this was a very nice environmental center, with a facility for educational presentations and slide shows. In short, perfect for my needs, and for an audience already geared to be interested in anything nature-related. It doesn’t have to be a large venue to work for you, so if you haven’t thought about it before, I highly recommend checking out your local resources for new ways to get your books in front of readers. 

I hope you’ll share your experiences and ideas with us.