A Huge Check-Mark!

I’m really excited, because I’ve broken through a blockage and achieved a wonderful check-mark on one of my goals! For some reason, since my book came out this winter I’ve had trouble with setting up a book signing and reading. Here’s the story.

At first I was reluctant to reach out and contact local bookstores about an event. I’m not sure why. When I did, they either didn’t reply or were discouraging about their participation. One bookstore wanted me to supply the books, so they wouldn’t have to take a risk on a first-time author. But that would have been in violation with my contract, as it would unfairly bypass my publisher. So that was a no-go.

I reached out to the other authors on my publisher’s author Facebook page, to see what they did. A few folks had good results doing a signing at a local cafe. This way, since they are not a bookstore, the author is allowed to supply the books. The cafe gets additional customers purchasing food and drink. It sounded great, and I thought of the perfect place, a local sustainable-food co-op cafe. They were initially receptive, although they said evening events hadn’t worked well because some patrons are just there to have dinner and chat, so their attention wasn’t on the reading. I understood that, and suggested a weekend afternoon. After some time passed, the event manager replied to say they were all booked up, but they’d had success with a signing on a Monday afternoon, so that’s what they offered me. I wasn’t thrilled about doing it during the week, when most folks are at work, so I let it drop.

A few months ago, BlackLion and I had made the acquaintance of a local Pagan author, and he said she mentioned she worked at a local bookstore. I hadn’t wanted to presume on a new acquaintance at first, but yesterday I decided to ask if she had any insight into setting up a signing with them, or at least getting them to reply to me. She wrote back to say that he misheard her, she didn’t work there but had been trying to set up her own book signing. She hadn’t had any luck, either.

We started chatting, and the outcome is that we’re joining forces to have a double author event in September! I’m thrilled! I’m reading her book right now, and it’s excellent. Hers is fiction and mine is non-fiction, but both are Pagan or Pagan-inspired, so it’s a good fit. We’ve rented a venue, which is very affordable since we’re splitting the cost, and we’ll provide the snacks and drinks ourselves. We also have some cool ideas for making the event fun for attendees, and for promoting it, and we’re meeting next week to brainstorm.

Blockage blasted through! Goal check-marked! The crowd goes wild! I think perhaps I was meant to collaborate on this project all along! Interestingly, that supposition was confirmed when I had an astrology reading last night from a dear friend of mine. He said that the influences in my 7th house (which is all about partnerships) are urging me to find new allies, ones who will help me with my life’s main purposes. Score!

So, here’s the rundown from this week. I’m really happy with my progress. Woo hoo!

Writing and Editing

Write 5,000 words per week on the Daily Spiritual Practice e-book. This is a project that I’d started a couple of years ago and set aside. I already have a working outline. I’m enjoying my regular writing sessions and want to keep the flow going, so I’m picking this WIP up again.  In progress. I’ve written 2804 words so far this week.

Finish all edits, appendices, and revisions of the Cultivating Self-Love e-book and give it to BlackLion for formatting. BlackLion has started on the formatting. I’m working on the Resources section in a separate document. Well underway!

Create a wonderful cover for Cultivating Self-Love. Haven’t set up a date for the photo shoot yet.

Post to my Starcat’s Corner blog at least 3 times per week, and on this blog at least 2 times per week. Achieved this week for SC. I didn’t post here on Sunday, but perhaps I’ll have something else to say this week, other than an update.

Write and edit at least 3 guest blog posts and have them posted. Nothing new here yet.

Promotion

Practice inviting people to purchase our Feline Dreamers wares and my books. Do it with joy and from a place of feeling positive and confident. As part of this process, learn more about effective, ethical promotion techniques. I’m in research mode. I’m reading Kristen Lamb’s new book and loving it!

Set up and offer a successful local book signing and reading for Starcat’s Corner: Essays on Pagan Living. Achieved! It’s all set up! Well, I still have work to do to make it happen, but I’m feeling really good about it.

Learn to use Amazon’s indie author resources to promote and sell my Cultivating Self Love e-book. Signed up for Smashwords and Amazon’s KDP program.

Raise all the money we need for our Rethinking Everything adventure, and have a fun and successful journey there and back! (Curious? Check out this link to our fundraising page and this link to the conference website). Still working on it.

Wellness and Practice

Continue doing my two main daily practices: morning pages and affirmations in my journal (4 pages each day) and daily dancing (at least 20 minutes each day). Achieved.

Practice drumming at least 3 times per week, plus the weekly troupe practice. Not yet.

Add more yoga to my life. I’ve made a start. Did yoga once this week, after a session of dancing, and it felt wonderful.

Spend more time outdoors. Walk, hike, meditate, and swim. Relax and enjoy the lovely summer weather! Yes. Some walking, some lake swimming, and hanging out with family at camp.