Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Which would you recommend?

Picture the following. There I am, standing behind my book table during a conference break at a large church. I am a little tired, not only from being on my feet for some time but also from having to explain to one person after another that I am the author of those books in front of me and then having to answer their questions. Now another lady approaches. Once again, I point out my non-fiction book and briefly talk about my novels. She seems to listen well but then fires a question at me.

‘Which one would you recommend?’

For a moment, I am dumbfounded. Did I hear what I thought I heard? Did she really ask me which of my own books I would recommend? Does that mean she thinks I would waste my time writing and selling books I would not recommend?

I take a deep breath and try to calm down. She didn’t think about what she was asking, I tell myself. But how can I best respond? Perhaps I need to ask her a few questions to see what sort of book she’s looking for. I try that, but the only further light she sheds is that she would like something her eighteen year old daughter might want to read. I decide to recommend my novel featuring my youngest heroine—perhaps that might connect the best. The lady peruses it, then moves on to my other books. In the end, she does buy one, although now I don’t remember which.

How would you have responded? I have been asked before which of my books I like best—and even that’s a hard one to answer. I love them all for different reasons. Granted, my earlier novels are not my best writing. And yes, my memoir Soul Friend holds a special place in my heart because I share my true self in those pages. But I can’t honestly say which one I like best. Perhaps that is the question this lady was actually asking, I realise now.

Just a few days earlier, as I sold my books after speaking at a secular women’s club, I was asked a different and much more heart-warming question. There I was on this occasion, wondering if I would sell any books, when a lady came up to me with tears in her eyes.

‘I need that book of yours you mentioned about forgiveness,’ she told me straight up. ‘Which one would that be?’

Again, I was a little dumbfounded. Several of my novels include something about forgiveness—which one had I mentioned in my talk? Then I suddenly remembered explaining that my latest novel explores the theme of holding onto anger and bitterness and the trouble that can come as a result. She quickly agreed that was the one and bought it. And as I signed her copy with my usual ‘God bless’, I prayed in my heart that she would truly be blessed as she read it and set free from whatever was troubling her.

I know I need to answer any questions thrown at me at my book table with patience and grace—and I continue to ask God to enable me to do that. Still, I’d much rather be asked which of my books talks about forgiveness than which one I would recommend!

How about you? Have you perhaps asked or been asked some interesting questions at book tables too?

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com or www.soulfriend.com.au.

10 comments:

  1. Jo-Anne, what a difficult question! It's kind of like asking which pet is your favourite, when you love all your pets for different reasons. I'm glad she bought a book in the end, and I hope her daughter liked it :)

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    1. Yes, I hope her daughter did too! And hopefully this lady read it herself as well. You've given me another idea in what you wrote though, Narelle--perhaps a good thing to say would be that I love all my books for different reasons. Oh well, next time!

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  2. I would have compared it to asking which of your children you liked best. But you answered well by steering her to her need. Sort of like figuring out which of your children would have most in common with this reader before setting up a playdate. Just said a prayer for the woman who wanted to read about forgiveness.

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    1. Love your analogy re choosing a book and organising a play date for our children! Yes, usually when people ask me which I like best, I tell them I can't answer that because it's like choosing a favourite child, but I guess being asked which one I would recommend threw me a little. It inferred to me that there might be some of my books I WOULDN'T recommend, which would be a bit strange!

      And thanks so much, LeAnne for praying for the lady who bought my book featuring the theme of forgiveness. I'm praying God will really touch her heart as she reads and meet her need.

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  3. Good on the spot thinking, Jo. After one lady read the back cover copy she asked, "Is this about you?" It was a historical. I could only say as an author there is always something of us in our stories, but then took time to give her a short run-down and that seemed to satisfy.

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    1. Thanks, Rita! I laughed at your example with your own book--I guess people don't think in the heat of the moment that it couldn't possibly be about you if it was set in the early years of the colony here! I've been asked the same question re my first novel 'Helena'--I couldn't possibly have been twenty or so at the beginning of WW2 and still running around selling books! At least, I don't THINK so!

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    2. If you ARE, we want to know where your secret fountain of youth is hidden!

      Lovely and thought provoking post, Jo-Anne. I'm praying the lady who knew she needed the forgiveness story was truly blessed by reading it.

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    3. Thanks, Autumn - and thanks for your prayer too on behalf of my lovely lady who bought my forgiveness story.

      And no, I can't say I have any secret fountain of youth stashed away here in Sydney! I know that for sure when I'm trying to keep up with my grandchildren even now!

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  4. I asked an author once what he recommended. He wrote a variety of books. Some romance, some thriller and some YA. He asked me what kinds of books I likee to read. He then selected the perfect one for me. I loved it.
    I'm glad he helped because I later read an e-book of his that I didn't like. But that was in a different genre I rearely read. I saw the value in his selcting for me because it showed he listened to his readers. I didn't lose respect for him as an author but knew he had other books I would like in a more familiar genre.

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  5. That's really valuable feedback--thanks so much! Sounds like this author did the same as I did and asked you to narrow the field down by asking what books you prefer to read. I had already explained the general drift of all my novels to this lady, however, and it seemed to me she was asking which one was worth buying and which wasn't! Next time, I will ask more questions, just as the author did in your case.

    And yes, I have had that experience of giving a customer just the right book in the past, and that is so satisfying for the author as well. So important to have your readers continue to respect you, as you mention.

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