I don't know if it's a good thing or not to find one of my books at Half Price Books. I mean, it's not like I'll get a royalty from the book a second time. But it also means someone didn't love the book enough to keep it enshrined on a shelf. Then again, it means the book can minister to one more mommy. Hence, my schizophrenia.
What I found on the shelves: A copy of Watching the Tree Limbs, then a very interesting find...
I pulled out Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. Over the word "Ordinary" someone had placed a skull sticker. I flipped it open. There, inside, was my signature and a note. Oddly (perhaps God's excellent sense of humor), I had written the inscription to someone named Mary:
Mary, I pray this book will be an encouragement to you. With joy, Mary.
It was as if God was telling me a hilarious joke, letting me know that Mary should be encouraged by what Mary had written. I laughed. I so wanted to find someone in the store, perhaps a random patron, and point out the irony. I thought for a second about buying the book, just so I had a record of this encounter, but I was simply too cheap to do it.
So, some other "Mary" will pick up that book for $5.98. And perhaps she will be encouraged by what's written inside. I hope so!
8 comments:
Perhaps this Mary has a son who's friends with Mark Goodyear's son (who apparently has an affinity for pirate stickers).
Boy do I remember that feeling! I walked into Powell's books in Portland and there was a copy of my first book (right when I was finishing up the third). I can't explain why it made me feel like a "real" writer. I guess it was the fact that someone had to buy it in the first place.
(Now when does the writer's union go into effect so that writers DO get royalties every time a book is resold like software writers, music writers....)
Ah well. Good thing we love what we do, right?
That is so funny. It's good you can laugh about it.
I've already seen my ARCs on eBay and other "garage sale" sites. One was upwards of $30! That is hilarious. I hope some poor soul doesn't acutally get fooled into thinking it's worth something like that.
I'm sure it's a matter of time before I see one in a used store too.
So, you've prayed that the Lord will encourage YOU through this book. I think He's answered that prayer!! (Plus He's encouraged thousands of others, as well...)
Katy McKenna www.fallible.com
People also sell books to used book stores because they need the money.
What in the world was the skull sticker for?? Haha... that's a weird one for that book. Does that imply that it's authographed??
I actually bought your book "Wishing on Dandelions" at Half Price book store. It was a blessed find since I had just sold some books and had some money to get me and my children some new books. I am saving it for my summer reading.
I imagine that would be a weird feeling. It reminds me of Music and Lyrics when he sees the same copy of his CD on sale at the music store week in and week out.
That inscription is amusing though, as is the fact that you wouldn't buy it because you were too cheap!
I buy used books ALL the time. I sell/trade my old books, too, at least many of them. A book has to be really good for me to keep it, and something I'm willing to read again.
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