I don’t usually (ever) post twice on the same day, but I’ve recovered a bit and therefore am ready to share a few more thoughts.

Yesterday wiped me out. I truly love FC2 and am thrilled when people buy their books, but as an introvert my energy drains a bit more with each passing social interaction. Please understand that I am not complaining. It’s just a fact of my life.

One often repeated, enjoyable experience is when a person walks over to the table, looks me in the eye, and says, “Thank you for doing what you do. FC2’s books are consistently fantastic and I don’t know what I’d do without them.” I’ve also been able to recommend my favorite books to people, and it’s especially thrilling when someone immediately picks up the recommended book and buys it. Really, though, who can resist three books for $20? The regular FC2 price is $16 per book. We sold out of two books by noon today: Michael Martone by Michael Martone and The Complete Tales of Ketzia Gold by Kate Bernheimer.

I also enjoy speaking with writers about submitting their work to FC2. It feels great to be able to tell someone that FC2 won’t take points off or will no longer consider publishing a manuscript because it has full-color images or weird page layout. FC2 is a business, but it’s also a non-profit, author-run small press. The editorial board is made up of all previously-published FC2 authors and rotates annually. So the books that come out each year to some extent reflect the interests of the board members that year, thereby ensuring a nice variety. Plus, as authors they very much have the author and not profit in mind (though making some money never hurts).

Most of what I’m doing here is FC2-related. Last night I attended FC2’s reception and reading. It was so good, and I’m going to leave it at that. Tomorrow I’m planning on going to a panel on women publishers, and I’m finally going to take the time to walk around the bookfair. On Sunday I’m planning on going to the Ransom Center to check out their “Technologies of Writing” exhibition. Michael Mejia went yesterday and confirmed that it’s a great exhibit.