Connection and Conversation

It’s been a busy summer and I’ve been looking forward to the respite the fall gives us, a chance to relax, pick up on a couple neglected writing projects and generally breathe little easier. I did do more events this summer than I have been doing and, as always, I’m struck by the randomness of success. I guess the question is how to define success. I used to think an event was measured by the number of books I sold, but I’ve come to realize that what I value the most is the interactions with people, even those who don’t buy books.

In deep summer, I attended the Belgrade Book Bash, which was created and managed by our own Maureen Milliken. We had enormous crowds, dozens of writers, but more than the (not inconsiderable) book sales, I had many of the conversations that I value: not so much salesmanship and connections as exchanges of ideas and beliefs. Over books, over reading, over Maine and the glory of summer.

I’m feeling like more people seek that sort of connection these days. More than buying or selling, it feels like people want to communicate, to talk, to be listened to. Even in a busy chaotic event like the book festival, it’s satisfying to be able to make connections with readers.

Had a unique experience at Sherman’s in Damariscotta this month, where I met the first real live person who reads the Maine Crime Writer’s blog. (Shoutout to Dorrit!) I know you’re all out there, but we rarely connect in person. I’d value it if we could.

We are, all of us, independent, because that is what we tell ourselves we need to be to survive. We learned early to rely on ourselves and have been telling ourselves how important that is ever since. But connecting with each other, over books, over coffee, over ice cream, is the way we enrich those independent lives. We don’t like to admit it, perhaps, but we do need other people.