One of my favorite chapters in Peter Mayle's memoirs about Provence centers on Mayle's experiences as a new author. Readers leave copies of A Year in Provence in the mail box for him to sign, while others show up on the front step and invite themselves in. That hasn't happened to me yet, but in the last part of the chapter, Mayle describes what it's like to be an author at a book signing, sitting behind a table while people sneak past and stare in any direction except at the writer's face.
Yes, it can be that way sometimes. Often enough that I wonder why people seem afraid. We're readers, and we love books; otherwise, we wouldn't be here in the bookstore on a snowy Saturday. Yet every once in a while, a book buyer scuttles past as if the author on the other side of the book signing table has cooties or might bite.
That said, I had a lovely time at the signing event today at Half Price Books. The staff were obliging and friendly; one came over to talk with me about Love is the Thread, so she could be informed when she sent people over to see the book. Later she told me that it looked like I had had a successful day.
Lovely conversations with people about friendship, mine with Kristine, and some that they shared from their own lives. The author may seem like a different species there on the other side of the author table, but it was delightful to share with people whether they bought a copy or not. (And yes, some of them did.) A successful day, indeed.