Sold a MESSIAHS to a college friend. (This makes the score: high school: 1; college: 1; law school: 1; entire adult life: 3).
Gave a MESSIAHS to a Berkeley friend who had given me a copy of his recently published novel. And swapped a MESSIAHS to a fellow in Cincinnati for a copy of his recently re-issued history of mini-comix.
No café action, except for conversations with two people who did/could not read books. One, a fortyish fellow in polo shirt and slacks, looked foreign, and when I asked what he did, replied so vaguely in terms of unspecified tasks for multiple family businesses that my immediate association was international ill-dealings. (Maybe, I thought, I should cut back on all the TV crime shows I’ve been viewing.)
The other was a woman who stops by every Sunday on her way to church. Actually, she is still seeking a satisfactory religion. She had been born Jewish and converted to Catholicism but it was too expensive. (“I can’t afford $100 for an annual dinner.”) She had recently tried a non-denominational church, but “Everyone was 80, and I’m not even 70.” When I asked what she did other mornings, she said, “ I sleep. I’ve told you I’m schizophrenic, right, Bob? I take a lot of pills.”
In other news…
An ethical/moral dilemma has arisen. I was discussing the upcoming MESSIAHS launch party with a friend, and he asked, “Am I getting a free copy?” “$30,” I said. Then he asked to be reminded when the party was. Now I can (fairly) distinctly remember his replying “It’s in my book” when I sent out the announcement, but he now said it conflicted with his next book club meeting. I’m not saying there’s a cause-and-effect here, but…
As regular readers may recall, this “free copies” issue has pre-occupied me previously, but I can’t recall anyone ever asking for one. (The closest anyone’s come was the lawyer friend, who never bought a book of mine, but who would ask me be sure to invite another lawyer friend to readings because he knew that fellow would and he could borrow it.) With my self-published books, I am reasonably generous with freebies, but when I am buying from my publisher, even with a discount, I am tighter-fisted.
What I should have done was tell my friend if his book club picked mine for its next meeting, I will give them a bulk rate. (“Buy five; get one free.”) In fact, if he is reading this, the offer stands.If anyone in a book club wants to do business, I will deal.
After all, I’ve ended seven wars.
So many Bob Levins on the Internet; I'm the Bob Levin who writes.