Vellichor Ink

They say you should learn something new every day. I’m not sure who they are, but I am convinced they were an Indie author. Seriously.

I have learned more lessons the hard way this year than I ever cared to.

The latest? Open every single box from the printer. Period. No questions asked. No shortcuts taken. Just open the damn boxes.

Why is that the latest lesson learned, you ask? Well, dear reader, I had my first in-person event last week and I ordered 30 books to sell. My order arrived in two separate boxes. I opened the first one and everything looked great. No issues. I decided to just leave the second box. The label was the same as the first–all the information matched up so it should have been fine, right? This was also the fifth order I’d received from the printers and I’d had zero issues.

I arrive to the craft fair and start unpacking things. I set up my table and get it all decorated and ready to go. I put out the first box of eight books and move to the second one and…it wasn’t my books.

Somehow I ended up with a box of books by award-winning poet Diosa Xochiquetzalcóatl.

I immediately sent a message to Ingram Spark and then looked up the other author on Instagram and sent her a message. Lo and behold, she had my books all the way in California.

After some tears and hugs from my mom (thank goodness she was almost there when I discovered the error), I sucked it up and put out all eight copies that I had. I talked to lots of people and handed out bookmarks and stickers. My amazing friends Jill (and her husband Bill) and Dian (and her daughter Ren) came to support and it was awesome to feel their love! I’d posted something on Facebook and the minute Dian saw me she hugged me til I let go and reminded me that everything was okay and the day wasn’t a failure–I was still there, getting my name and the book out there in the world. I ended up selling all eight books so I count the day as a success, but still. Lessons learned…yet again, the hard way.

I fully recognize that one day this will be a hilarious story. But that day is not today.

Diosa and I have messaged back and forth a few times and have decided to collaborate. She’s going to sell my books at her events and I’m going to sell hers, and maybe one day we’ll get to meet at an author event. So, all is not lost. And to connect with another author is always amazing. Not to mention, we are a poetry household and I am always on the lookout for new poetry books to add to our collection.

I am expecting Ingram to replace my books but I haven’t heard from them yet. I placed another order for twenty books so let’s all cross our fingers that the right books actually show up on my doorstep.