Ahh, booksignings -- the very essence of the glamorous life of an author... NOT! Nicola Furlong has a very frustrating story to share:

My first mystery, Teed Off!, has a pro golfer/coroner as protagonist and women's professional golf as the backdrop. Being a shameless self-promoter, I attended a number of trade shows (golf and women's) to flog my swinging whodunit.

Picture this, me smiling at my booth, supported from behind by a huge, colourful banner which reads "New Murder-Mystery Novel" plus a few juicy quotes and in front by a table laden with copies of the book and promo material. Time and time again, a visitor--sucked into the vortex of my pitch "Are you a mystery fan?"--would cautiously approach my booth, then stand, uncertainly, staring at the piles. Finally, gaining courage, she/he would touch then pick up a paperback only to exclaim "It's a book!" as if this were a revelation.

"Of course," I'd reply, hiding my dismay and warming them up with a catch-all speil "It's like Agatha Christie meets the Ladies Professional Golf Association." To which, many would reply "Who?" or slicing even deeper into an writer's heart, "Oh...I thought it was a game." Or "What a great idea!" In every instance, the book is gingerly replaced followed by "Sorry, I don't read."

It's enough to make you wanna take a five iron to your keyboard.

Nicola Furlong (new email: nf@crimepays.bc.ca)
Author of: A Hemorrhaging of Souls (fall 1998) & Teed Off! (1997)

March 1, 1999