Yesterday, at the suggestion of my internet publicist, I released a book into the wild. I did it through using the website, bookcrossings.com.
Basically you register with bookcrossings.com as you would with facebook.com or myspace.com. Once a member you give the title of the book you are going to release, and the name of where you have left it. The site manger configures the actual address according to the information you have given.
I left a copy of the book I wrote, Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident, in a café in Berkeley.
On leaving the café at 6pm—the internet publicist and I were the last patrons and they were trying to close—the person closing up noticed the book, and asked, “Did one of you leave your book?”
My publicist and I exchanged giddy glances. In addition to the book I had left a $10 bill in the back flap for the finder to have a cup of coffee or tea and a pastry on me. I included this in the instructions given on bookcrossings.com and in the front of the book where I signed my name.
The publicist remained silent as I disclaimed owning the book.
The café worker, a little puzzled, glanced at the book, as we looked on, I wondering whether the worker would be the person who would become the book’s owner.
Once outside the publicist explained that she had remained silent because months ago she had gone to the counter in the café’ and asked if she could leave with them a copy of another client’s book she was promoting, and they give it to the person—a person who had read on bookcrossings.com about the book being left at the coffee shop—who would come there and ask for it. The person behind the counter had said, “No.” That person had been the worker who had seen us out, asking if one of us had left the copy of my book.
And now she had my book, essentially not knowing I had left it.
She may have later figured out I was the owner of the copy. A color photo of me is in the back flap. That’s also where I left the money. The publicist said, “She’ll probably take the money,” and leave the book.
This morning I received an e-mail from a member of bookcrossing.com. They were so excited at what I had done, despite stating they probably would get there in time to get the book. They live outside of Berkeley and weren’t sure they’d be coming in today for Mass as they usually did.
The person added they had researched Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident and felt it to be a thought-provoking read. The person praised my venture—that I had released something positive into the universe—and considered the $10 an added treat. They wished me blessings on my week ahead.
I would like to have sold a copy of my book. Isn’t that the name of the game in America? What I did goes against the grain of all we are taught in the publishing business. Don’t give your writing away.
But the internet is forcing us to change our ways of doing business.
And I need blessings.
What to do?
I’ve already spoken with workers at the Starbucks near where I live. Their manager arrives tomorrow morning at 8:30. I’ll speak with her about leaving a copy of Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident there too.