At holistic
expos, I’m thrown into the 60s hippie era. Vendors often arrive late and slowly
set up colorful displays, with handmade signs and draped scarves. Patchouli and
aromatic oils fill the air. Vendors wear loose shirts or long skirts, and talk
about the paranormal, reiki, and healing. With ease, I lure people into my
booth for readings, but it’s more difficult to sell my book. In that venue, I’m
conservative.
Book fairs are different.
Everyone enjoys words and loves to read. Vendors have plain booth displays,
with little color and easy lettering, and it smells like a bookstore. When I
arrive early to set up my booth, other vendors stand ready. Some look askance
at my “buy a book, get a free psychic reading”, although most try to accept it.
Instead of the paranormal, we discuss plot lines, sales, and our next work. In
that venue, I’m one of the least conservative.
In November, I
had a booth at a library book expo. Well organized, it featured genteel
volunteers, many authors, and a mishmash of lovely things for sale. People
stopped to talk about my book, and I sold a good amount. The only downside was
a woman close to my age, who stared at me every half hour from her booth.
As she prepared
to leave, she gave me the evil eye. When I was younger, I used to talk music in
bars with band members, as their girlfriends perfected their dirty looks. But
this was way worse, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead. I assume the book
expo woman didn’t like the invasion of my psychic readings. In retrospect, I
should have been intuitive enough to approach her, instead of minding my own
business. It’s hard to know what to do, when my venue changes every weekend.
I like being a
rover, so it’s been a wonderful autumn. Thank you to all who attended the
holistic expos and book fairs.
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