I spent Friday & Saturday in Leonard, Michigan, down a dirt road with a gorgeous canopy of trees, nestled in green hills dotted with lavender. My first book signing event ever may have been unusual location-wise, but it was a wonderful setting and a soothing venue. Lavender just makes you feel good, and our Michigan Authors tent looked straight out to fields of lavender blowing in the breezes. Often, people bent over the plants with wicker baskets and scissors, cutting bouquets, releasing the scent into the summer air.
I didn’t cut my own, but came away with a bouquet of dried lavender, already assembled, and tied with a pretty ribbon. I sampled lavender ice cream, brownies, scones, and shortbread. Actually, I more than “sampled” the shortbread.
In the book tent, there were six or seven of us, which gave me plenty of time to wander the festival, try the the food, and buy the crafts. I bought many herbal products and a lot of books, including a few by Iris, the owner of the farm. I couldn’t resist Growing Lavender, her book of poems, or the recipe collection that included the lavender shortbread and other yummy treats.
On duty in the author’s tent, we took turns cashing customers out at the central register, and we also had spotlight hours, where each author got to be featured at the front of the tent at a table, signing books. I did that on Friday and it was more fun than I thought it would be. The whole thing was more fun than I thought it would be.
I was really pretty nervous about doing this festival. Stressing all month. I’m shy, which none of my friends believe, but really I am. I do well one-on-one, but don’t like to put myself out there with strangers. Unless I want my books to stay in boxes in my closet, I have to get over it and introduce myself to the writing public. This was the perfect, gentle place to transform myself.
Over a thousand people went through the festival, and all of them passed our tent. I was surprised at how many of them stopped and shopped. We had a variety of authors and books: children’s books, Michigan history, poetry, memoir, and my book. You wouldn’t think many people at a lavender festival have a secret yearning to be writers, but many people I spoke to, and sold books to, have just that wish. Amazing!
Although I went in with no expectations, and really just wanted to meet other Michigan authors, especially those in my writing group, I’m happy to report that my first book signing and hand-selling experience was a lovely lavender success.
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