Its funny how one thing leads to another.
One night in August, I was in Borders after having my eardrum hoovered at the ENT for about the third time. I'd had this ear infection for months. So I was meandering around the art section feeling very sorry for myself when i saw a sign, saying "Calling all artists. Would you like to have your work promoted in Borders?... etc can't remember exactly.
Anyway, I scribbled down the number and name and emailed this lady at Borders.
Basically they were looking to promote artists as a way of reaching out to the community, and getting involved. I couldnt believe my luck. I got the November spot. So for a whole month I was going to have a wall in the childrens book section to display my work. Fantastic!
I then got to thinking well I have a couple of months until this exhibition..... this is a bookstore, why dont i make a book??? I was given permission to sell this hypothetical book through the checkout at Borders. So I started basically laying out a design for this book, and researching printers.
I wrote a counting book, really though the focus was to be on the pictures, I guess I also was writing it as a way of possibly getting work with a real publisher. I don't know, really I didnt know what the hell I was doing, I was walking blind.
So somehow I wrote this book, got the pictures together, and after not much luck finding a printer I wandered in to Angus and Robertson one night and randomly picked up a childrens book that turned out to be self published, and it had the printers name on the inside cover. Also the phone number of the author and illustrator! Just like that.
Anyway, I met the printer and also phoned the author who gave me heaps of great advice.
And a few days after my exhibition started I got the book into Borders. From that, I approached other stores around town and was able to tell them about Borders which led them to have some faith and take the book on consignment as well.
Then yesterday I had a one hour "in store appearance" which was kind of weird. I mean I am extroverted but found it a little confronting!! But then once a few people started coming up, I kind of started to enjoy it.
Then later i went for a wander down to some shops that are selling my book, to find that I had sold 4 out of 4 in one store, and 1 out of 2 in another. In only about 3 weeks! It was such a buzz.
I can't thank Borders enough for the opportunity, if it wasnt for them I wouldnt have even published this book.
