at the Chicago Printer’s Row 34th Annual Lit Fest celebration.

For the second year in a row, I was able to set up a table and sell my books, A Stranger’s Child and Pocket Money, under the Chicago Writers’ Association tent.

This year’s time slot felt different…
We set up Saturday from 3-6 pm. The rain held off and the temps were comfortably cool for a mid-June afternoon. The Saturday crowd seemed more fluid…more people, but not necessarily more conversations or sales.
There was a larger crowd in attendance this time around–last year we closed the fest, 2-6 pm on Sunday, and it was excessively windy and brutally hot.
Last year may have offered less lookers, but definitely more long-talkers, lol.

I held a contest to give away a free Kindle version of one of my books–it was crazy to me how many people had to pass because they do NOT have a Kindle or Kindle app. (Crazy-cool! Reading it old school!) Freebies always draw a lot of people. They were nice, not too chatty, and absolutely unfazed by my name/email request. I promised not to abuse their information. They ALL basically shrugged and said ‘no problem, I already receive so much unsolicited email…’
Last year I was harassed by a non-smoker for suggesting she help herself to my swag matches! True story, read it here.

I sold three books. Not a lot, but hopefully some of the drawing entrants and pen grabbers will look me up at home and order through Amazon.

It was a pleasant afternoon. My table mate, YA author Debbie Winnekins Deutsch, and I made up a game of bingo to help pass any down time. There really wasn’t much down time, but we’d interrupt a conversation to shout, “TUBE TOP!” or “SLEEVE TATTOO!” and cross off the square on our boards. You see A LOT of interesting things in downtown Chicago in the summer…we’re already collecting ideas for next year’s game.

I also chatted with a handful of CWA book hawkers. Such an eclectic and talented group. I directed many interested parties to the other side of the tent for detailed information on the CWA and how to join. If YOU are a writer, I recommend you look into joining as well. The connections and opportunities available through this professional writer’s group are impressive and abundant. Getting Lit is really just the tip of their offerings. (pa-dum-pum, lol)

The mythology fans I spoke with got me really excited to finish Book 2 in The Pandoran Legacy!

How cool would that be? To sell Book 2 at next year’s Lit Fest?
Oh, I am SO GETTING LIT again.

Random things I learned Saturday:
1. Zombies are a blue-collar monster.
2. Olympia Fields is the place to retire to if you love golf.
3. You don’t need the Square because you can manually add the number through the app on the phone!
4. Once you start looking for things to check off your bingo board, you have a hard time not looking for those things…even after you’ve marked them off.
5. You can survive a 30 degree parking garage ramp in an SUV. Entering and exiting.

Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod…