It’s winter in Wisconsin.  It snows in the winter in Wisconsin.  For my first book signing this past Saturday at the Beans n Cream Coffeehouse, it snowed.  The snow began several hours before my 10 a.m. start time.  It was the type of snow that melts when it hits the road pavement and turns into a mush.  The mush makes driving tenuous.  My hopes for hoards of book purchasers with books in hand to sign melted like the new snow striking pavement.

The table at the coffee shop had a sign reading “Reserved for Rex Owens book signing”.  A stack of books sat on the table.  I added my book cover poster to attract potential book readers and took a seat.  My wife was armed with the camera to record the historic moments.  The first person through the door was my best friend, he picked up a book from my table, purchased it and his four shot cappuccino then joined me at the table.  Everyone that stopped by the table followed his lead that morning.  I was in author’s heaven.  On a Saturday morning I was hanging out at the coffee shop, drinking coffee, selling books, signing books and talking with my friends for two and a half hours.  What could be better?  I sold about 10 books and it was very satisfying.

It’s still winter in Wisconsin.  My “big” event was the book reading and signing at the Sun Prairie Public Library this past Monday evening.  The snow began about 3:00 p.m.   It snowed hard.  It was the kind of snow that when you turn on your ‘brights’ when driving you get a wall of white and realize it’s worse so you turn them off.  About 5:30 p.m. my phone began ringing, friends calling to tell me the snow was too much of a hazard and they wouldn’t be attending the reading.  I didn’t answer those calls; I let them go to voicemail.  I appreciated the calls but didn’t want to hear them.

By 6:20 p.m. only one person arrived for the reading.  I was determined not to cancel.  Then two more arrived.  At 6:30 the library staff insisted that I begin even with only three people in the room.  I started.  During my opening remarks people straggled into the room, one by one, until we had ten in all.  I wanted to have an informal conversation with readers, not just lecture and read.  We struck up a conversation, people contributed their experiences traveling in Ireland and after the reading we continued to talk.  My wife Lynette sold books at a table in the back of the room and we sold another 10 books.  I was elated.

For an author talking directly with readers is a very special experience.  We all write to be read.  Talking with readers completes the writing experience and provides another way for writers to enrich their writing.  I thoroughly enjoy the reading and signing events.  The events connect me with my community and make me whole as a writer.  I’m looking forward to a year of author events in 2014.

Next week is family week with son, daughter-in-law and one year old granddaughter visiting from Omaha.  The whole clan will be together for the first time in several years.  I’m going take a break for posting a blog and enjoy the warmth of my family.  For 2014 I offer a traditional Irish blessing:

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going and the insight to know when you’re going too far.  

This Saturday, December 14th I have my first ever public book signing.  I’m nervous, anxious, and uncertain and my self-confidence is hiding somewhere.  I am very lucky that the owner-manager of our local coffee hangout, Jeff Gauger, from Beans n Cream Coffee House wants me to spend several hours Saturday morning signing books.  I am dumbfounded that he believes that I will be an “attraction”.  I’ve never been an “attraction” before and I am doubtful.  His bet is that the good local folks will want to with me well on finally publishing MURPHY’S TROUBLES, and take the time to buy a cup of coffee, maybe a danish or breakfast burrito.

Jeff even created a fantastic poster to advertise my upcoming appearance both at Beans n Cream and the Sun Prairie Library Monday night (December 16th) at 6:30 p.m.  I volunteered to take the posters around town and ask businesses to display them in a prominent place for several weeks.  It was the least I could do.

I wanted to use my “event” Monday night to support the Library so I’ll be donating half of the royalties from each book sale to the Library Foundation.  I didn’t want to advertise this because I was afraid that folks might see it as a gimmick to sell books.  It’s not.  It’s just my way of saying thanks to the Library Director, Tracy Herold, for her support.   There’s simply nothing more natural than a novelist supporting their local library in whatever way possible.

I have been working toward this time in my life for the past sixteen years.  I am ready, it’s the path I’ve chosen or maybe it’s chosen me, most days I’m not sure.  Wish me luck.  

I  can finally answer all my well meaning friends, who ask:  Where is that book of yours?  To be honest they have all been very generous and offered congratulations, asked where to buy the book and asked if I’ve planned any author events in December.

I’ve independently published my debut novel using Create Space, the publishing arm of Amazon.  My experience with Create Space has been nothing short of a miracle.  I singed a service agreement with Create Space on October 7th, and in 31 busness days my book is available to the world.

By contrast, I signed a contract with micro publisher, Mischievous Muse Press, and terminated the contract in February this year after 2 ½ years of frustration and providing numerous edited manuscripts that were never accepted.  I often wondered why they ever offered me a contract.

Create Space offers several distribution packages and I’ve selected the Expanded Distribution.  It means my royalties will be less but MURPHY’S TROUBLES will be available world-wide on Amazon and placed in bookstores at no out- of-pocket cost to me.

Amazon also offers me, again at no cost, an author’s webpage that is interactive.  In addition to providing readers with a bit more information about me, the author’s page has a forum where I can respond directly to readers’ questions, reactions and opinions.  It is a way for me to develop a relationship with my readers which is very important to me. 

I began the journey down publication road in January 2010 after being laid off from my job in December, 2009.  The lay-off was completely unexpected but I rebounded quickly by deciding it was an opportunity in wolf’s clothing.  With the lay-off I had the time to find out if I had the skills needed to have both a freelance career and to publish my fiction.

Following the exhilaration of seeing my book on Amazon I took a brief trip down memory lane.  I’m a saver and I’ve saved the notes from all my writing classes and conferences.  In the beginning of my writing journey I joined a critique group led by Laurel Yourke, a talented and award winning teacher, scholar and writer.  Stuffed in my notes from her critique class I found a one page assignment I turned in on November 6, 2000.  The assignment was a scene between Ian Murphy and his boyhood friend, Timolty Doyle.  I have been writing Ian’s story for a very long time.

I am honored to offer MURPHY’S  TROUBLES to all readers on Amazon.com and in local bookstores.  If you get a chance, send me an e-mail or post to this blog; let me know what you think.