Books, Books, and More Books

Does it seem to you like everyone is authoring a book lately, or is it just me? Maybe it's because I'm an author, trying to get my book sold, that it seems this way. I have to admit, it is a little disheartening to me. I can get easily discouraged when it seems like everyone out there is doing it better than me or has an advantage over me...and I know comparison is the thief of JOY, so I try not to stay in that mindset, but it's not easy! 

I remember before I ever had my book published, someone asked me if I was going to have a book launch party. I had never heard of a book launch party before! That's how new I was to this whole industry. And now, even after 3 years at it, I still feel like a newbie, or at least like the one that doesn't really know what she's doing. 

I think that might be because I'm not really doing it the way your "supposed to". I don't have a huge following on IG or Facebook...I haven't built a large brand...I haven't collected a long email list...and I'm not a celebrity. I'm just a mom and gramma, who wrote a poem for her family for Christmas, and somehow got inspired by that family to make my poem a book.

I don't sell SEEING Christmas on Amazon. (Although it is available as an ebook here) That's another thing I don't do that I think most people think you "should". But I really felt like God was saying to me to start local and support local. So I've been doing what I call "shlepping my book around" to a bunch of local shops. It has been wonderful building relationships with so many sweet shop owners...and so very encouraging to me that they would want to purchase my book and share it with others through their store. Some of those stores in Michigan are Parooz Boutique Gifts in Grand Rapids,  Lavender & Lace Boutique in Lowell, The Ada Village General Store in Ada and 

Gather-d in Rockford. Stores in Alabama include Monograms Plus in Vestavia Hills and The Holiday Shop in Birmingham. There is also a store in Texas called Willow House in McKinney. 

I'm working hard at getting my message out into the world. I'm guessing that's what every author that takes the time to put their message down on paper and then venture to publish their writing for all the world to see, is trying to do! As an indie author, however, I don't have a team of people behind me. I just keep taking it one day at a time, doing what I think needs to be done next, asking God for help and guidance, in the hopes that my boxes of books that I have stacked up in my office will continue to dwindle as they make their way out into the world of books, books, and more books. 

If you own SEEING Christmas, and know of a local shop near you that would be a good fit for it, you can help spread its message by taking your copy in and showing them! I can send them a case of books at 40% off retail if they are interested! You can have them contact me at Littlebirdpress360@gmail.com. And THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!,  in advance, for helping me get the message of SEEING Christmas out into the world!