Opportunities Materialize

The economy is proving difficult for many small businesses. One recent victim of the decline was the independent bookstore of my friends, Don and Karen Dobson.

The Dobsons were true friends to many struggling area writers, stocking their books and hosting signings throughout the years the shop was in business. But struggling with increasing cost of doing business and competition from the chains has finally forced them to close the doors of their shop.

This is a loss for the Dobsons and all those who love the independent shops. And, of course, all the area writers who benefited by their friendliness and support lament the closing and will miss the opportunities they provided.

We search now for other venues to promote our work.

I've been working to find opportunities both here on the homefront and on line. I have a signing scheduled for June and have been talking to librarians about some others. But yesterday I had a phone call that surprised and pleased me.

A woman who has been a supporter and buyer of all my books called and asked if I would speak about writing and my work at a meeting of a literary group she chairs. Naturally I was willing. The surprise was that the event isn't until February 2010. It seems they schedule their events well in advance.

To quote Cervantes, "Fortune may have yet a better success in reserve for you, and they who lose today may win tomorrow."