Bookstore Sunday: I'm Practically Famous!

Hader
June 2006 Raleigh, NC
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At one point in the history of the business we tried meeting with prospective customers in our home. However, with several demanding cats, an aversion to doing that much cleaning and not having what the Southerners around me would call a proper parlor to entertain in, we gave it up.

Now when we meet with customers we do so in whatever bookstore is closest to the customer.

It provides a nice, neutral territory, refreshments are served in the cafe and there are always plenty of books to peruse through while we’re waiting for people to show up.

Normally I’m already reading a book at home so I’m not very inclined to pick up something overly intensive while I’m there. I’ll collect a stack of Mutts comic strip collections, one or two odd books that catch my eye (the last time out those were “Bar Mitzvah Disco : The Music May Have Stopped, but the Party’s Never Over” by Bennet, Kroll and Shell and “The Amazing Mackerel Pudding Plan: Classic Diet Recipe Cards from the 1970s” by Wendy McClure).

Today, however, I went in search of one particular book. This book holds particular meaning for me as it was a great lesson in the craft of writing, editing and my attitudes towards writing. The book?





“I Went to Vassar for This?” by my favorite drood-ish author, Naomi Neale.

My heart was actually pounding a bit louder than normal as I picked it up off of the shelf. Opening the cover pages I found the Acknowledgments page and read:

“I’m also deeply indebted to Joe Cherry and T______ F________ for their many contributions. You guys are the best!”

Okay, so I’ve seen my name in print a few times for things I’ve written, but never in an actual book. And yeah, I know it sounds more than a little dorky, but I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was knee-high to a grasshopper in second or third grade and... well, seeing it in print -- and knowing that it was really me and not some other person with my name -- let’s just say it brought a big smile to my face that is still lingering now.

Thanks, drood. You’re the best.

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