Christmas is a time of stories. It is a time of memory. It is a time for the reading and exchange of books. Books will be picked up from dressing tables in visited houses and smuggled away, books will be opened avidly while a mound of unopened presents still waits, books will be taken as precious markers of solitude into quiet corners.
It is also a time for book sales. These can financially nourish a publisher through the dry seasons in the following year. They financially and emotionally nourish writers who are wondering about their place in the world. Even if the monetary returns are low, and the number of sales remain in single digits, there is something heartening about a book I have written being sold.
Maybe it has been bought out of kindness – someone browses at a book fayre and thinks, ‘Well really I should buy something, and maybe I can give it to someone if it’s not my cup of tea.’ I value the exchange. Someone has thought to support my endeavour, they have decided be a patron of the creative arts in their community in a direct and personal way. I know they have also walked away with a page-turning rollercoaster of a book…Across the Silent Sea
I was fortunate to be one of the writers participating at a book fayre organised by Babs Stevenson last Friday afternoon at the St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall. It gave me an opportunity to sell some books and catch up with other local writers, which was a great pleasure. Rather like migrating whales there is a lot of solitary swimming as a writer and meeting a fellow member of the pod is a moment that brings great heart.
It was also a chance to meet readers. I would not call them ‘my’ readers. Just readers. People whole love words and the action they have on the mind. It is a joy to witness writers meeting readers, to hear their conversations. To know who reads kindle, who is interested in what genre, why a particular book was written, where the paper comes from in beautiful handcrafted notebooks… I found pleasure both in listening, and in talking about books.
Life is a time of stories, a memory.
The book fayre is a good memory for me, a reconnection to my hopes for writing and producing more books that will one day have an action one another’s mind, and perhaps heart. Next year, my new collection of short stories Orkney and Outwith and new novel Archipelago will find their way in the world.
Grateful thanks to Babs for all her organisation. Beautiful tables adorned with books for sale were presented by:
Barbara Stevenson – Also writing as BK Bryce
Gabrielle Barnby – Also writing as Helena Cooke
Orkney Vibes Handcrafted Books
Gabrielle Barnby
10/12/24
