Today’s the day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) where, on the first Wednesday of every month, writers get together to share their insecurities and offer encouragement. The IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can learn all about it and sign up for it here.
I took a couple of my print books to the local independent book store and talked to the manager about stocking them. I was nervous, but he was friendly and encouraging and said the store was happy to support local authors. He took the books on consignment and said he’d let me know if and when they needed more. Deep breath.
I’d love to hear about other self-published authors’ experiences with indie book stores and what worked for them.
Now on to the A to Z Challenge!
A is for — Anne from Anne of Green Gables
Anne Shirley, the lively, imaginative orphan girl of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 classic, Anne of Green Gables, enchanted me when I first read her story many years ago. I was a schoolgirl myself at the time and loved reading of her adventures. Who can forget Anne’s cracking her slate over Gilbert Blythe’s head when he called her red braids “carrots,” or her walk along the ridge-pole of a neighbor’s roof on a dare, or her accidentally dying her hair green?
Her wild imagination and indomitable spirit endeared her to me. Of course, the fact that she was a budding writer made me love her even more. Montgomery wrote several sequels, which I also enjoyed, and Anne’s story has been portrayed in numerous TV series and in film. My favorite of those I’ve seen is the 1985 CBC TV mini-series with Megan Follows as Anne — a must watch for Anne fans.
© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2015. All rights reserved.
I Loved this book series, but then to see her come to life in the Mini Series, what a great job, definately one of my favourites and Ive introduced her to both of my daughters also.
Thank you for the flash back and making me smile!
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You’re welcome! I introduced her to my daughter, as well.
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Such a wonderful series for girls. I need to remember this for my granddaughter.
Neat the local store said ‘okay’!!
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Yes, it’s a great series. I’m excited about the store agreeing to take the books! It’s a start!
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Anne was one of my favorites growing up. She was unapologetically smart and ambitious, which was unusual for that time period.
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That’s one of the reasons I liked her so much. 🙂
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I’ve had success with consignment through a local bookstore that’s earned a good following for my books. We have to be creative these days to compete and survive.
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That’s great to know! It seemed a good way to get my foot in the door.
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Good for you going to your local bookstore and especially fir not being offended by his consignment offer. We all have to start somewhere. I love buying from local authors. What about donating one to local library if they do any kind of book feature shelves. Our library dies lots of ‘features’ and I always head to those shelves first!
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Thanks, Sammy! I was just happy they were willing to take a chance on an unknown. I plan on giving a copy to the library. They do book signings, too, though I’m going to have to work myself up to that one. That’s a little further out of my comfort zone.
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It would be for me, too!
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Gosh! I used to watch this as a little girl..loved it!
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Me, too!
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I loved watching this when I was wee. I’d almost forgotten it existed! Great post 🙂
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Thanks! I enjoy re-watching and re-reading, too, from time to time.
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I love Anne Shirley! I was introduced to Anne of Green Gables as a girl from the series you mentioned (which is great) and have loved her since. I never read the books though until a few years ago, actually, which are, of course, even better. (Though the series does a great job adapting the story, from what I remember). I read almost the entire series back-to-back, and have only the last two to go. I’ve been thinking on reading them soon, actually, and then I’ll probably start over and re-read the series again, because they are those kinds of stories.
I’ll stop gushing now… 😛
And congrats for getting your book in a bookstore!
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Thank you, Sara! Writing this post made me want to read them again, too.
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I remember the 1985 series, Anne of Green Gables great choice. So glad that you had the courage and good response from the local book dealer, we all have to be thick skinned and prepared for rejection if we hope to get our work out there, or at least that has been my experience.
#Blogging from A-Z swinging by to meet and greet. I am 471 and 472 in the long list, with MOVIES and What’s in a NAME Hope you swing by to 4covert2overt and Defining Ways. Hope to meet up everywhere @M_C_V_Egan
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♫ ƤҼƌҪҼ ƌƝƊ ĻƠṼҼ ॐ βԼƐֆֆїɳɠֆ ƌƝƊ βԼїֆֆ ♫…
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It’s a fun series. And you’re not kidding about needing a thick skin, but I’m encouraged by the positive experience. If we don’t try, we’ll never know what might have been.
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You got a better response that I did, so you’re already ahead of the game. Hope you sell tons. 🙂
Here’s my link if you’d like to drop by 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
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Thanks! I’m lucky the store was so accepting of local authors. I’m sure not all of them are.
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That is the series I watched the most of, and was what got me interested in her. Really great stories and heroine. I like your theme! Thanks for coming by and commenting on my blog! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ lisabuiecollard.com
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I agree, they’re great stories! Thanks for co-hosting!
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The whole Anne series is delightful. One of my favorites.
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Mine, too. 🙂
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Good luck with independent book store!
And Anne is a wonderful character!
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Thanks, Sonia! I’m keeping my fingers crossed. And I so agree about Anne.
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I adored Anne of Green Gables growing up! I can remember staying up late watching the whole thing on VCR tape 🙂
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What a great memory! I have it on VCR tape, too.
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Anne is my all time favourite! I even went to PEI in pursuit of her.
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Oh, that must have been fun! I read that there’s a museum there and everything. I’d love to go there someday.
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You can go to the Green Gables house (there really was one) and various other places associated with LM Montgomery. There’s even an Anne theme park but we steered clear of that! Have you read the prequel by (I think) Budge Thompson? It’s called Before Green Gables and very accurately builds up the hints about Anne’s early life into a good story.
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No, I hadn’t heard of that book. I’ll look it up. Thanks!
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What fond memories you have brought back. I loved Anne of Green Gables! Good luck with the A-Z Challenge!
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Thank you! She is a most memorable character.
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Yay for local bookstores! I love to visit the independent bookstores. They have so much character. (Pardon the pun 🙂 )
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Ha, ha, yes, I so agree!
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That’s great that you’re getting your book out there, Lori! All the best of luck to you. And I love Anne – that miniseries is so much fun. 🙂
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Thanks, Sue! Yes, I loved the miniseries, too.
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Congrats on getting your book in stores. You go!
I love L.M Montgomery. I watched the all the miniseries and I read every book she had written, when I was a kid. They are part of my very large book collection, which I have reread from time to time. I love the way she made the scenery live for me on the page. I planted silver bushes at my first house in her honor. I loved the book Pat of Silver Bush series. Anne of Green Gables also a fave. She is awesome with description and part of the reason I wanted to write.
Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
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Thanks, Juneta! Pat of the Silver Bush series — I haven’t read that one. You’ve just added to my TBR list. I’ve got to go look that up!
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I prefer Emily over Anne, if I’m going to pick between any of Montgomery’s characters, but only because I can relate more to Emily. I don’t think I’ve read an author who has put more of herself into her own characters. Reading Montgomery’s biographies is like reading her books!
N J Magas, author
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Ooh, I haven’t read those, either. Yay for more books to check out!
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Have I mentioned that your theme rocks? 🙂 I love Anne of Green Gables. I read those books to shreds when I was a kid. And I wanted red hair so badly!!!
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Thanks, Liz! They are wonderful books! I always thought Anne had lovely hair.
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I’ve sadly never read Anne of Green Gables (shock!) I think I used to conflate her with Pippy Longstocking, which I had read, so never thought to check out both. I should rectify this soon… time to find a nice copy!
Thanks for visiting Out of Print!
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Pippi was fun, too. I hope you enjoy the series!
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Although I’m not doing the A to Z Challenge, I had to respond to Anne of GG. Loved that book. Just bought the series in e-form. Can’t wait to see how my view changes as an adult.
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It should be fun rereading them! Thanks for stopping by!
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Congrats on getting local support. Let’s hope it continues.
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Thank you! I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
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My Mother introduced me to Anne of Green Gables many, many years ago. I love your Challenge posts so far!
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Thank you! I’m having fun with them.
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