How is it that people can be darn lazy when their livelihoods depend on it?
There's an Events Coordinator at a local bookstore, who I got on the phone while trying to set up an in-store event. She was resistant to the idea:
"But it's not just for me," I told her. I know a bunch of writers who would love to have the event with me - so it would be more likely to get people in the store. "And I'm going to be on local radio, doing interviews so that I can talk about the event to drife traffic."
"We're not planning any local-authors nights any time soon."
"Well, Halloween is coming up. Maybe you could have an event around that - and have the authors there, which would sell books for you and produce more floor-traffic.
"We're not going to have an event around your book."
"But it's not about my book. It's about Halloween. My book just happens to be a good fit for that time of year. And we can have other authors be part of it. And I'll promote it when I do my intereviews on the radio and on the web," I said. "You already have the books in the store - I will do all the work! I'll get the authors together, I'll promote the event - I just need a space for a couple of us to sit, have a table and sign."
"But Mr. Valentine, you don't understand. I'm a lazy bonehead whose job title might be events coordinator, but my real job is to come up with reasons why we can't have any events in the store. I mean, it's not like we're a bookseller who's trying to sell books or anything."
Aye aye aye.
OK, I understand that I'm more invested in this because it's my book we're talking about. But it would be good for her, too, wouldn't it - to sell some books? Get some people in the store? A little extra publicity - and all for a minimal investment of work on her part?
Isn't success difficult enough? Why make it harder through apathy and laziness?