So you've written a book.

Your book is actually published, you're holding it in your hands. A few friends and acquaintances buy copies. You give some away to others. Now you wait, hungry for response. Soon you get a few calls, they love your book. Some want you to come to their homes to discuss it. Some send you Emails praising your work. You receive letters and handwritten notes. Still others comment face to face, letting you know what they felt to be the more powerful aspects of your story, telling you the things that moved them, or how your story has captured the same feelings and perspectives that they have. You're contacted by the local book clubs. You're buoyed, the anxieties that you have been experiencing are somewhat alleviated. Your confidence is elevated. After all, you tell yourself, you lay yourself on the line when you write a book.

Then comes the second gradation of response: "I read your book, it was nice." Or "it was interesting," or, "I really liked this part." "I liked this character." "I liked the way you use short sentences," "Have you always enjoyed writing?" The comments are guarded, courteous, meant to spare your feelings. So now the anxieties once again begin to assert themselves. Confidence wanes.

The final gradation of response is silence, no response, other than maybe, "I read your book." This is probably the most psychologically disconcerting. You try to piece together what you think you know about the unresponsive person, their background, their expertise, their judgment, their biases. Were there parts of the story that offended them? Did they not like the story overall, or maybe the writing style, or both? Did something in the story conflict with their values or beliefs, or some subject upon which they feel they are experts? You search and search. Wonder why they won't at least say something, even if it is negative, surmising that they know you well enough to know that you can deal with it. So you ponder what is it that prevents them from giving you a response. Why no response? Why no response, you ask yourself? When...all the while, you know in your heart that no response is a response.

In sum, I believe all of us have a story or two to tell. We should not fear taking pen in hand and telling them, but with an understanding that the responses we receive will not always be even or measured.

Lou Jones

Amid the homegrown goodies

By Joan Ungerleider

We Lake Country Authors were novice vendors as we awkwardly set up a tent at the Harmony Crossing Farmer's Market and advertised ourselves as "Homegrown Authors." Little did we anticipate what fun we would have among the fruit and vegetable people.

Cheryl Taylor dropped by and offered a sip of carrot juice she purchased from a man in a nearby tent. The concoction was sweet and satisfying.

Toni Jones, wife of novelist-poet Lou Jones, enthusiastically displayed her purchase, a fennel plant with a live caterpillar crawling among the fronds. She bought it from the Tapestry greenhouse folks. "It will turn into a monarch," she explained. It was an appropriate purchase: her husband's debut novel is called And Then the Monarchs Flew Away. It's clear to me that Lou knows butterflies.

Andrea Wuori stopped by with Kathy Scott. Andrea is an adventuresome and educated cook and I consult her to help me locate the best produce when I shop. Another market regular, Teresa Walczyk, chatted with us, her familiar basket on the crook of her arm.

We authors petted poodles who pranced up to our booth, and we admired some friendly retrievers, all on leashes as required. We chuckled to see one stout canine muscle his bearded master halfway across the green.

Good tastes and good people abound at the outdoor market as I've discovered on previous visits. It's easy to become addicted to the Saturday morning event.

I like to spend time with Cheryl Dye -- the "pickle lady." I've never canned a thing in my life, and Cheryl is the expert I'm hoping will give me a lesson some day. Her pickles, relishes and jams are irresistible. I bought a jar of pickled squash that I'm eager to toss in my next pasta salad.

I can count on Clay from Ripe Thing to choose a luscious ripe-and-ready cantaloupe for my Sunday breakfast. Other sellers, too, generously offer advice on storing and preparing their produce.

I'm always tempted at Tabitha's booth. Tabitha is an enterprising young woman who recently fulfilled her life dream by opening a bakery in Milledgeville. Every week I try something new that she has made. Her cheese Danish is divine, her pies ooze with sweet juices, but my all-time favorite is her Portuguese sweet bread.

My newest pal at the market is Nina, the "apron lady." She searches yard sales and flea markets for vintage fabrics and transforms them into appealing aprons like our moms used to wear.

I'll go back next week. I've got a craving for the savory tomato pie I spotted Saturday, and I need to get some of that carrot juice to take home.

Thanks to all who stopped by our authors' booth and bought our books. We'll be back again some day, but in the meantime, I'll see you there shopping.

Your friend, The Cherry Tomato Lady

LCA at Harmony Crossing Farmer's Market

by Gail Vail

     Saturday, July 9 from 8 a.m. to noon, The Harmony Crossing Farmer’s Market provided the venue for newly formed “Lake Country Authors” group to showcase its wares.  Members of the group belong to the Greensboro Arts Alliance and most belong to the Greensboro Writers Guild, the literary arm of GAA.

     Five of the newly formed group’s authors (Davis Temple, Don Adams, Lou Jones, Joan Ungerleider, and Gail Vail) were on hand to display, sell, and autograph their various works.

     Books from the authors ranged from full length novels, cookbooks, books of poetry, a children’s book, and the beautiful coffee table book:  SEASONS ON LAKE OCONEE, a collaborative work of 40 local artists and writers. 

 Pictured: Don Adams, Joan Ungerleider, Davis Temple, Gail Vail and Lou Jones. George Heiring was unavailable.