Jackie K. Cooper at SEBA
You may recognize Jackie K. Cooper from his appearance on this site back in June, when he was a contender for the Georgia Author of the Year Awards. A while back, he sent me a letter about his trip to the annual Southeastern Bookseller’s Association meeting–soon to become the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance meeting–and now that I’ve gotten back into the blogging groove, here it is!
I went to the Southeastern Bookseller’s Association (SEBA) meeting in Winston Salem, North Carolina. This is a gathering of book publishers and bookstore owners, with a smattering of authors thrown in. It is a time for meeting and greeting, as well as schmoozing and signing. It is a chance to see and be seen, and it is all a lot of fun.
The driving force behind this event is a lady named Wanda Jewell. I learned this when I first got there and met a lady who was looking at the Mercer University Press display (where I was hanging out). I introduced myself and she told me who she was and added, “I am Wanda’s assistant.”
I then showed my complete ignorance by asking “Who’s Wanda?’ That is when I learned the lady of the day is Wanda Jewell. Later when Paula Millen, of the South Carolina Book Fest Millens, and I were walking around we ran into Wanda Jewell, and Paula introduced us. Wanda is as down to earth as anyone you would ever want to meet. Not at all as formidable as I expected.
Looming over the aisles at SEBA was my picture. I had brought a big poster with me that I sat up on an easel to try to draw people to my books. I don’t know if it sold any books for me but it sure did get people’s attention. As my friend Jackie White always tells me, that big-a** picture is worth its weight in gold.
One of my favorite people is Patti Callahan Henry and she was at SEBA. The last time I had seen her she introduced me to Marjory Wentworth, the Poet Laureate of South Carolina, and Mary Alice Monroe, the author of Sweetgrass. Patti was at SEBA to sign copies of her new book Where the River Runs.
Patti and I dropped by to see Daren Wang, moderator and voice of “The Spoken Word.” I had met Daren at the South Carolina Book Festival last year and Patti knows him from other venues. Anyway as we stood talking with him I asked him to keep me in mind to be on “The Spoken Word.” “Like he hasn’t heard that a thousand times today,” said Patti. It was probably true but I did want to remind him about my book and my willingness to participate on his show. I don’t think however I will be waiting by the phone.
Kathryn R. Wall was there and she is one of the warmest, sweetest people you could ever meet. Kathy writes mysteries and her latest is Resurrection Road. I almost stomped on her foot when she told me she had been invited to go on a book cruise. It seems Steve Berry had had to decline an invitation for this event so they called Kathy. Now she and her husband Norman are taking a cruise, all expenses paid. Now why couldn’t they have thought hmmm Steve can’t make it, let’s call Jackie. It just doesn’t happen that way.
In the afternoon I ran into Charles Martin. He wrote The Dead Don’t Dance which has been optioned as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. It is supposed to be on sometimes next spring. Charles also told me two of his other books are being looked at by Hollywood producers. Of course he added, “That is like somebody riding through your neighborhood and saying your house looks nice. It doesn’t mean they are going to get out and make you an offer for it.”
My response was that at least they were driving in his neighborhood. I hadn’t seen any such cars in mine.
The day at SEBA flew by and soon it was time for me to leave. I had seen a lot of people, talked a lot of book business, gotten some addresses for possible agents, and obtained some free samples of upcoming books. What more could you ask for on a sunny day in September? Next year, when it’ll be SIBA, it will be held in Orlando. Hey Wanda, get ready. I am coming back!
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4 October 2005 | guest authors |