Guest Blogger on Our Anniversary Day

It's hard to believe we've kept this blog going for a year now. Thanks for the support.

Today our Sales Manager has a word to share with you.

"Becky recently invited a couple of our fiction authors to come and meet with several of us here at the office, I was one of them.

"One of the things you enjoy when you first get a job is meetings because it gets you out of work. Then as your tenure and your responsibilities grow, one of the things you dread is meetings because you can’t get your work done. At least that’s how it can be with me. I wasn’t sure what we were supposed to talk about but I went to the meetings. I’m really glad I did.

"We met on Wednesday with MaryLu Tyndall. She was shy, and I can appreciate at that especially when you’re around people you’ve never met before and you are the focal point. On Friday we met with Kelly Eileen Hake very young and very outgoing. Both ladies were very fun to be around. But that’s not the point of my blog.

"After the first meeting I came away with opened eyes to the depth of spirituality that MaryLu desires to put into her books and the passion that is evident in her for her craft and for her Lord. I was grateful to have met her, and to have heard at least glimpses of her testimony.

"From Kelly’s visit my eyes were opened to the amount of time that is put into researching even the simplest details of a story. The volumes and variety of books she speaks of being in her and her mother’s library along with old photos and other memorabilia from the era she writes about, the purchases she makes just for the sake of a story are remarkable. Both women talked about the trips they take to do research. Granted I’ve heard other authors talk about doing research to make sure their stories were historically accurate, but I never sat down and just let them talk about it with me before.

"Okay so what’s the point, right? Reading is not my choice of leisure activity, for me reading is 'work' -- although I’ll pick one of ours up to stay on top of things as a salesperson. I’ve gained a new and greater appreciation of our fiction authors (and other authors) and the time that goes into birthing the final product. And if I can transfer some of this appreciation onto my sales people, think what it could do to their selling techniques."

Attached is a picture of Nola on her trip this past summer to Hong Kong and Singapore to attend a trade show and visit bookstores.

Remember that the author is an important key to selling the passion for story to all those involved in the selling and buying of books: agents, editors, marketing, sales, book buyers, readers, etc. Don't be afraid to share your passion for writing as you talk to people. True passion will shine from the simplest of conversations.