There's an assembly line in the living room: books alone, books with packing slips, books with packing slips and mailing envelopes; completed envelopes ready for USPS. Somewhere along the way I ran out of sticky tape to attach the mailing labels, and then ran out of envelopes. I still have lots of books!
Yesterday, which was St. Patrick's Day, I sent out an e-mail to everyone I know in the whole world, telling them about 'Abbey Girls', our website, and details of how they might acquire a copy of the book if they wanted. I agonized about the mass mailing, exactly what to write, and how much of a naked marketing ploy it was. But being almost 65 makes a lot of things possible, including feeling joyful and happy and proud of our achievement. In fairness, I omitted to send the e-mails to our relatives just yet. I wanted to test the waters in the rest of the world first! I sent the e-mails first thing on the morning of St. Patrick's Day, and then closed my computer and spent the rest of the day clearing brush and making the garden ready for the growing season. By the end of the day I hadn't the energy to spit, let alone open a computer and read responses. Fortunately the local bar, The Roxbury Tavern, was hosting a St. Patrick's Day evening with great food and music. So that finished me off and I slept the sleep of the dead.
This morning, refreshed, I checked in to e-mail. There were about 60 responses, as well as lots of orders. I've had a wonderful day reading these messages and catching up with old friends. Each message allowed me to remember how I know this person, what part of my life they featured in (a few even go back to boarding school days), and how much I enjoyed their friendship, and still do. I've stayed in regular contact with many of them, but some I've not heard from in several years, and the book provided a wonderful excuse to catch up where we left off. I feel very happy.
Tomorrow I'll but more envelopes and sticky tape. I'll be smiling all the while.
Yesterday, which was St. Patrick's Day, I sent out an e-mail to everyone I know in the whole world, telling them about 'Abbey Girls', our website, and details of how they might acquire a copy of the book if they wanted. I agonized about the mass mailing, exactly what to write, and how much of a naked marketing ploy it was. But being almost 65 makes a lot of things possible, including feeling joyful and happy and proud of our achievement. In fairness, I omitted to send the e-mails to our relatives just yet. I wanted to test the waters in the rest of the world first! I sent the e-mails first thing on the morning of St. Patrick's Day, and then closed my computer and spent the rest of the day clearing brush and making the garden ready for the growing season. By the end of the day I hadn't the energy to spit, let alone open a computer and read responses. Fortunately the local bar, The Roxbury Tavern, was hosting a St. Patrick's Day evening with great food and music. So that finished me off and I slept the sleep of the dead.
This morning, refreshed, I checked in to e-mail. There were about 60 responses, as well as lots of orders. I've had a wonderful day reading these messages and catching up with old friends. Each message allowed me to remember how I know this person, what part of my life they featured in (a few even go back to boarding school days), and how much I enjoyed their friendship, and still do. I've stayed in regular contact with many of them, but some I've not heard from in several years, and the book provided a wonderful excuse to catch up where we left off. I feel very happy.
Tomorrow I'll but more envelopes and sticky tape. I'll be smiling all the while.
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