Book Tour 2011--Next Steps

ADVISORY: If you’re seeing the blogs about my book tour for the first time, your reading may be enhanced by starting at the beginning. To do so, click on Older Posts at the bottom of the page and go to December 9, 2011, "Book Tour 2011"
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I have now been home 26 days from my 26-day book tour. Re-entry should certainly be over—and pretty much is. Energy level back to normal. House back in order and housekeeping routines resumed. Thank you notes mailed. Finances tabulated. Ms Malibu cleaned, inside and out.

Top priority for next steps is finding a job with a regular paycheck. The process has begun. Ideal would be part-time, flexible hours, few responsibilities, high pay. I’m joking, obviously. But seriously, I do hope to piece things together in such a way that I can have time and creative energy to keep writing. Wish me luck—and be in touch if you have any suggestions, contacts, or relevant information. The areas that interest me are clerical, tutoring, and writing. I have an interview this week and have submitted one other application. I need to get busy; mortgage payments wait for no man!

“What will you write next?” is the most common question I am asked these days. The short answer is a straight novel, not tied to the Revised Common Lectionary. (While grounding the Sunday by Sunday trilogy in the RCL was the right and proper framework and worked well if not easily, I eagerly anticipate being free from that regimen.) The longer answer is that I plan to wait a year before beginning another book, noting ideas and possible characters and plot lines, and allowing all that to simmer and ferment and sort itself out a bit. One tiny little thought needling me is that the story will be set in the mid- to late- 1800s. But don’t hold me to that… Between now and then, I may resurrect some short stories and query/submit them vigorously. Also, I will keep blogging and writing for my congregational newsletter and, if opportunity develops, write some magazine articles.

Sunday by Sunday is most certainly not relegated to the past, though. I will continue to promote and market, seeking invitations to speak and present programs, which is where I sell most of my books. I’ll continue sending complimentary copies, hoping for positive reviews and recommendations. And I’ll try to enlist my fan base—I have one of those now! a couple hundred devoted readers—to make the word-of-mouth impact significant. In fact, my next message to my email subscribers will focus on how they can help, such ways as: #3) get my books placed in local libraries and independent bookstores; #2) invite me and encourage others to invite me to speak—and I need to create a smart and glossy flyer to help in that regard; and, #1 – talk the books up with friends and strangers who might be interested.

Indeed, there are plenty of next steps to take. Get officially available on Amazon. Check out christianbooks.com as a possible outlet. Approach Martin Doblmeier about making his first fiction movie out of Sunday by Sunday. Hey, doesn’t hurt to ask. Anyone have his contact info? I’ll find it. Who do you think should play Rose? Oh, and yes, I will now copyright books II and III through the Library of Congress. Been meaning to do that…

I have other dreams, as well, about future writing endeavors. If you’d like to keep up with them, please email me at cfossum@sundaybysunday.com and tell me to add you to my subscriber email list for periodic updates.

As I finally end this record of Book Tour 2011 (in 2012--it's time to end!), I say once again, from the bottom of my heart and soul, thank you, thank you, thank you all.

Book Tour 2011---Luxury

I am compelled to write briefly about this topic because I enjoyed so much of it while on tour!

There was luxury of time as I drove long distances and in the two weeks I spent in home territory, with more and longer-than-usual visits. There was luxury of food, too, with hosts cooking special for me and family feasts. Even though this was a working vacation, there were times of luxurious idleness, unencumbered by routine tasks.

And I indulged in luxury accommodations one night toward the end of the trip. ‘Twas a gray and rainy Sunday when I left Auburn, Indiana heading for Knoxville, Tennessee. Fatigued after three events the day before and stressed by driving conditions—and having enjoyed several financially successful events—I decided to splurge. Night had fallen when I reached Berea, Kentucky and checked in at the historic Boone Tavern. The hotel was richly adorned with holiday décor. Right outside my window, across the street, a huge evergreen in the town center decorated with lights twinkled at me through the mist. After a tasty supper at a local Italian restaurant, I luxuriated in the high bed with its thick mattress and feather tick, and admired and enjoyed the fine furniture crafted by Berea College students. Students from the college also served me a scrumptious breakfast in the elegant dining room. And on my way I went, pampered and refreshed--and so very grateful.

Book Tour 2011 -- Family and Friends

The trip was half about the books and half about people. Many wonderful moments with family and friends...

• For the first time, my mother took her walker outside of her place, to Thanksgiving dinner at my sister’s house—and took pleasure in her adolescent grandchildren sitting on the seat of the walker and zooming around Taking the walker typifies for me Mother’s proactive stance towards the considerable challenges of aging. Rather than fighting change, she’s been proactive vis a vis, for example, using a cane, getting a hearing aid, and moving into an assisted living facility. Her determination to remain as independent as possible while asking for help as needed is a huge gift to us kids. Her world shrinks as her energy and strength decline, but how I admire her as she meets the daily challenges of institutional living, melancholy, and so forth.
  




• I’m so glad I had a couple of special times with my brother, another person I admire greatly as he battles “incomplete paraplegia,” a shocking outcome of back surgery last March. “The paralysis is nothing,” he states, compared to the agony of bladder dysfunction that’s gone unrelieved for months now, one procedure or medication after another failing to solve the problem. But his determination to persevere and overcome, spiked with humor (sometimes, understandably, of the gallows variety) and counting the blessings, has a beauty of its own.
  




• ‘Twas great staying for a couple nights with my cousin and his wife, and I treasure our reminiscences about our Grandma and Grandpa Cristy. Our childhood memories complimented each other, while apocryphal stories brought both laughter and pondering. I never had heard the one about Grandpa greeting my cousin’s wife, then fiancée, with “Well, hi there, er, uh,—Adam’s Apple!” upon one of their first meetings when he couldn’t remember her name. And Grandma’s mortification over it. Very cool seeing many family photos and pieces around their house, including both the painting (in pastels, I think) of the farmhouse with the dog on the porch and the aerial shot of the whole farm. Oh, my, so long ago.
  




• Other familial high points – Hide-and-go-seek with my nephew’s little ones, the youngest at that stage of screaming out when the seeker gets close. Ongoing conversation with a sister about our wasbands and life after divorce. Mom’s 88th birthday party, her sitting there smilingly, reveling in the generations and looking about 75 or so. Driving through the village of Ringwood, surprised again, at how much smaller our big old house looks to me now than it did then. Never did get by the cemetery to visit Dad, and Polly and Grandma and Grandpa and the rest; too busy with the living...

And some quick notes about friends...

• A fabulous friend from Ringwood IL—growing up in that unusual little village was, indeed, a bonding experience—came to the signing in Woodstock. After a great chat, she went to the coffee shop next door and brought me a steaming cup of pumpkin spicy coffee as she took her leave. Man, that drink was sweet and tasty!
  




• Visit with a high school classmate now in Kenosha. We worshiped at her church, then a rich afternoon of catching up at her house with lunch from Tenuta’s, the best supplied Italian deli “this side of Italy,” and hanging out with one of her daughters, a very impressive young woman home on college break.
  




• More catching up over coffee and the most delicious pumpkin roll I’ve ever tasted with a devoted fan who bought a bunch of books! I’ve known this special person, and her twin sister who lives in Kansas, since middle school days. And then she delighted me again when she turned up at my event at McHenry UMC.
  




• Soup supper in Kendallville IN at the home of a former teaching colleague. Two other buddies from my time there came and the four of us talked non-stop, more about what we’re doing now than what we did then.
  
  And many other special times with friends and family, alluded to in earlier posts. Wow. How grateful I am for the blessing of loving, caring, interesting and interested people in my life!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Book Tour 2011--Driving and Weather

Ms Malibu and I traveled 2307.6 miles on the book tour.

“All by yourself?!” person after person exclaims.

I love traveling alone, just me and the radio and long expanses of time to think and just to be, comfortably settled into the driver’s seat, an open snack and bottle of water at my side.

GPS would make sense for me, especially given my sense of direction. If we humans come equipped with an inner compass, mine was put in backwards. My biggest navigational mistake—I made it three times on this trip—is to think I’ve gone the wrong direction and turn around and travel for a while only to discover that I’d been right in the first place.

But I’m not enamored of GPS as of yet. One reason is that I like stopping to ask for directions. I meet interesting people and pick up information about the area. Like in Kenosha, Wisconsin where I visited my high school chum (“We are the mighty Warriors, our hearts are brave and true…!”). Ms Malibu and I drove to and fro on the main drag, unable to find the right road. We stopped twice for help, the second time being informed that their signs identify roads only by number, not name. Oh. “That’s why I gave you the numbers, too,” my friend said when I finally found her. Oh. I didn’t write that part down—because I like to stop and ask for directions, I guess.

Much to my relief, there were no weather complications. I wouldn’t have intentionally planned a late Nov-early Dec. trip in snow country. The original plans were centered on a family wedding subsequently cancelled, by which time I was committed to the events. I did suffer some anticipatory anxiety, however, since I abhor driving in wintry conditions. The day before I left northeast Illinois for a five hour drive to northeast Indiana, Indiana schools were closed by ice and snow. But the toll road was clear as I sailed through the next day. How blessed I felt to enjoy the flat, white fields on either side, farms stretching into the distance, silo after ever-tinier silo—another coming home experience and time to savor the memories of my Indiana years.

Speaking of coming home experiences—NEXT: Friends and Family

Book Tour 2011--Drama

I love involving others in my readings and presentations. The stories come across more vividly and effectively when others join me—I always play the part of Rose—to portray her people. I was afraid, though, that this dramatic element might not be possible on tour because my “road show,” entitled “Advent Readings from Sunday by Sunday,” didn’t get put together until the last minute. With the first Sunday in Advent less than a week away, I almost gave up on the idea of recruiting actors. But through prayer and meditation, I was guided and energized to give it the old college try.

Yikes. I quickly contacted my “handler” at each venue to request volunteers and emailed the “scripts” so that those portraying Mindy, Pastor Sauer, Jim and Anita from next door, Stephanie Rose and others would have time to review. In 4 out of 5 cases, everything came together and drama happened!

We hit the jackpot for the premiere performance at Our Saviour Lutheran in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Their drama team responded enthusiastically and was joined by my sis and her husband as Anita and Jim (as mentioned in “Book Tour 2011—Serendipity”). Smashing performances! The stories and characters came to life in this place—and then in other settings—as evidenced in audience laughter, silent reflection, and even spontaneous participation with sound effects and commentary. What fun!

“I must be Sarah or Elizabeth from the Bible,” quipped an 80-something actress taking the part of the pregnant Anita. The character Chelsea from book III, a wide-eyed 5-year-old, was movingly interpreted by people of all ages, including an 11-year-old. And an interesting and amusing layer was laid on when a pastor most ably took on the role of Jim, skeptic atheist.

I read all the parts myself, when necessary, but, as you can easily imagine, the experience is vastly enhanced by people willing to step onto the stage. How very grateful I am to each and every one of them.

Book Tour 2011-- Infrastructure Incidents and Accidents

One night my ultimate hostess sister and her husband took me out for supper. When he went to pay the bill, we were laughing at the thickness of his billfold. Sorting through his cards, he hilariously justified the need to have each one in his hip pocket at all times. Playing along, I pulled out my measly-in-comparison stack, from Voter Registration to Belk’s Bra and Panty Club. (“Betcha’ don’t have one of these,” I kidded.) (He didn't.)

All well and good—until the next morning when I went to pay a bill online using my credit card. Not in my wallet. I hate that feeling—which I’ve experienced several times, unfortunately. After the usual thorough search of pockets, purse, and car, I called the restaurant. Hadn’t been turned in there. So I zeroed in on my most recent transaction and called a gas station downstate where I’d stopped. Yup, they had it. Great. Could they please mail it to my sister’s address? Nope. They had to destroy it.

Thus began my major infrastructure accident while on the road. Card was cancelled, a new one issued with a different #. Could they mail it to my sister’s address? Nope—had to go to home address—where mail was not being delivered-so, I called… Okay, this story is essentially quite boring, with many more details of managing finances on a major trip without benefit of a credit card. And yet, there were gains.

Even though there was some insecurity, I found the challenge of a “hand-to-mouth” existence invigorating. Could I sell enough books at an evening event to fill my gas tank the next morning?Another good part was being reminded anew of my privileged life and able to stay calm in the assurance that my resources would not fail me. Friends and relatives would cash my checks, if necessary. Or I could do this… or that… I wouldn’t be on the street. I wouldn’t miss a meal. Not knowing exactly where the next dollar would come from was “faux poverty,” not the debilitating daily grind endured by those actually living in poverty.

There were two other infrastructure issues woven into the tour: using my car as a warehouse, continually having to shift books and materials around so that I had what I needed going into each event; and, my brand new android smartphone. While enabling me to receive email on the road as well as process credit cards, the learning curve for a person of my limited tech savvy is steep and the transition time lengthy… which keeps me yearning for the days when phones could not be lost or go dead or ring in church.

Anyway, my infrastructure hung together fairly well on this major journey. In the next installment, I shall tell about my surprise and delight at how drama became an important part of my book tour adventures.

Book Tour 2011--Serendipity

Surprises popped up throughout the tour, naturally, and most of them were good.* I herein share four of them.

To set up for surprise #1, here is an excerpt from my blog way back on August 25, 2010: “A small spiral notebook in which I jotted ideas and thoughts before they were forgotten proved to be most helpful in the writing of the first two books. I outfitted such a notebook with tabs for characters and topics for Sunday by Sunday III, and for months prior to beginning III, scribbled many plot possibilities and bits of dialogue in it as they came to me. I lived in eager anticipation of utilizing them at the appropriate time in the writing process. Alas, in the midst of major redecorating of my house, I lost this wealth of time-saving, inspiring tidbits. The likely scenario is that I’ll find it the day after the book goes to press, of course. How lovely if I would find it sooner—like, say, tomorrow!”

I did not find it on that tomorrow, but rather on tour, shortly after publication. I was at my cousin’s, and he and I were chatting as I reorganized a carryall. I ripped open the Velcro on an outside pocket of the satchel and immediately recognized the small red notebook with a rose sketched on the front. I haven’t delved into it too much, for fear of regret at all the dynamite ideas and clever phrases lost. Oh, well. I’m still glad I found it.

Surprise # 2 came when my brother-in-law and sister agreed to act out a Sunday by Sunday skit with me for a Sunday morning event. They portrayed the characters Jim and Anita, and I asked them because my brother-in-law is an amiable smart aleck, just like Jim. I was pleasantly astounded when—after reviewing the script—they were up for it! In a phone conversation the day before the event, my bro-in-law joked that he’d practiced five hours so far and had a one-way ticket for Hollywood, leaving Sunday night. My crazy sister teased me right before performance that, “Oh, by the way, we’ve re-worked things a little. Jim and Anita are going to…oh,” she dismissed with a little wave, “you’ll see…” Just kidding. They were fabulous. Very fun, very cool.

I was on my way to Office Depot or someplace similar to have a new supply of bookmarks printed when Surprise # 3 hit. Seeing a storefront print shop, I wheeled in there to see if they could do it. Yes, indeed, and I met two delightful brothers working in this family-owned business. One of them was a voracious reader, and we had intense conversation about contemporary literature while they were turning out the job—and he wound up buying the whole set of my books in its lovely deluxe gift box. Yee-haw!

The owner of the bookstore in Woodstock told me on the day of my signing that a customer had been in a few days prior and was excited when she saw my exhibit, announcing that I would be speaking at their church in Indiana. Surprise # 4 was revealed a week later when the pastor of the church in Albion that was on my schedule told me that she was that person. She’d been visiting family in the area and stopped by Read Between the Lynes. Purely coincidental!

*For the not-so-good surprises, see the next entry, “Infrastructure Accidents and Incidents.”