The Week The Book Became a Bestseller

OK, OK. I admit it. When your first book is published you are over the moon, elated, delighted. It’s almost like having a baby. Well maybe not exactly but you get the point. Then, before long — weeks, days, minutes, really — you start watching the numbers. You go to Amazon three and four times a day (actually more but I don’t want to sound too crazy) and check your status.

You go in bookstores and ask if they have copies of your book — hoping the sales clerk hasn’t looked at the photo on the jacket cover. “You know I’ve heard it’s a really great book! Sure would love to see it in you store.” There, I’ve come clean.

But when you finally hit a best-seller list, it was all worth it. And this week I found out that Dairy Queen had, in fact, made it to the SIBA list — #14. SIBA, Southeastern Indepenedent Booksellers Alliance, is a mighty list and I was proud to be on it — if even for one week. Be on the lookout, though, because I intend to climb my way back.

Posted April 13, 2008 at 4:19 pm · 2 comments

Comments

  1. That’s wonderful! Congratulations. And I love that you admit to doing those things. I’m an aspiring author, and I have a hunch that when/if I’m published, I’ll be obsessed by the numbers, even if I plan not to be.

    Caryn, April 18th, 2008, 8:49 pm

  2. Aunt Susan,

    I was so sad when I finished the last page of Dairy Queen – I wanted to keep reading more. Other members of your audience obviously feel the same way. Therefore, it is no surprise to me that your book has been so popular. Congratulations to you and Catherine Grace for making the SIBA best seller list!

    Also, since you publicly admitted your undercover reconnaissance at the bookstores, you should know that I have been up to some mischief myself. I have sabotaged displays at two of the Barnes and Noble locations in Charleston. You will be happy to know that Dairy Queen is now the first book a customer will see when they walk through the front door!

    Much Love,

    Ginny

    PS: If it is not too much to ask, please hurry and finish up your next novel. I can’t wait to read it!

    Ginny, April 21st, 2008, 1:24 pm

Leave a Comment