The hustle and bustle that accompanies the preparation is
intense. We go from moment to moment wondering what the next productive move
will be and then we lunge for it. The frenzy picks up, as books are ordered,
plans are etched in stone (then scraped off and re-imprinted). The mind races, and then slows to a tortoise’s
crawl; only to ramp up just before the event. Questions come in and out of
focus. Prayers are recited, Hail Mary’s are offered up and fingers are crossed.
“Please let the reader turnout be great.” We begin to hope that the movie quote
is true, in this instance, “If you build it, they will come.”
Haven’t we built it? The weeks, months and sometimes years
of time spent on our work, should account for something. The dedication and
precious moments missed with family and friends should speak to our dedication
to the craft. The money spent, the hairs lost, and the deprivation of sleep is
the foundation for a Book Fair. We pack up the car, book the plane tickets and
hotel rooms (or call dibbs on our brother’s sofa bed) in hopes of being appreciated
by the one group of people that mean more to us than … (well, you decide).
Haven’t we built it? We allow our imaginations to run wild
or open up the secret vaults of our lives for the reader. We paint pictures
with our words and have other people critique it in hopes to produce a work
that is worthy of their time. Our fingers are steadily tapping away at the keyboards
and our pens are running out of ink as we create a ‘masterpiece.’ Surely, we
have built it, right?
The day arrives and we are excited. We lug boxes, cases and
duffle bags filled with the cement blocks that are to be used to build this
Book Fair; our books. The hosts of the fair walk anxiously about, silently
praying they have done enough advertising and marketing. They see our faces.
They can sense our expectation. It mimics their own. They, too, want this to be
a success. Their name is on the line. It is their reputation that is at stake
with the authors in attendance. Surely, they have built it …
Authors and Book Fair hosts need the reader. We need them to
come out and support what we have built over time, over our lives. We need them
to understand the sacrifice it takes to please them – the intimacies shared and
the testimonials given and the creative channeling that takes place in order to
entertain, inspire and motivate them.
Ubawa Annual Book Fair (c)
