ICRS Atlanta
July 19, 2007 | calendar, interviews
ICRS is a national trade show, but it’s more than that for me. Each year I am reminded of why I love writing, and ministry.
This year was a hectic year. Two of my books were released. A discipleship book for teens, Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway? through Kregel Publishers, and The Woman I Am Becoming: Embracing the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny through Harvest House.
My days were crazy, running from the convention center to the CNN Omni to Westin and back. On Monday, the 9th, I signed books twice, interviewed with FamilyLife (Campus Crusade) radio, met with the Intercontinental News Service, and taped a broadcast with Atlanta TV station, WATC Channel 57.
At my first booksigning I was seated in a far corner of the convention center. If someone accidently came by, they would grab an autographed book.
My good friend, and author, Sarah Sumpolec had mercy on me. She and her husband, Jeff, rallied several people in the aisles and directed them to my little corner of the world.
I met some great people and passed out several copies of Making It Real. I also sang the song, “I’m so lonely” under my breath when no one was around.
The second signing was called a “Personality Party”, a massive chaotic gathering of retailers from all over the world who lined up to receive autographed books. There is food and fun and ambience.
I sat at a booth in the Murphey Ballroom at the Congress Center with three other Harvest House authors, Jill Savage (Hearts at Home), Mindy Starns Clark (mystery novel writer), and Pam Farrell (Fabulous After Forty).
There were several other authors in other booths. People were herded through, but I met hundreds of wonderful booksellers, an author’s team mate in this ministry.
This was amazing, and in stark contrast to my quiet, little corner earlier that day.
But the highlight was actually a moment that transpired in that isolated place.
“Are you Suzanne Eller?” a woman asked.
She stood in my non-existent line, and smiled, hesitant.
“Yes.” I waved her over to my table, glad to have someone hang out with me.
“Did you write The Mom I Want to Be?” she asked.
“I did.”
She ran up to me and hugged me. ”We are doing a Bible study on your book in our church, and it changed me. It’s really making a difference. When I saw your name I knew I had to find you and tell you.”
Wow.
You see, writing is a solitary profession. Most days we have no clue if someone is reading a book, or an article, or if what we are doing is even landing on a shelf somewhere. And sometimes it feels just like I did in the corner of the convention center. Very alone.
It would be nice if writing was the only part of this ministry or profession, but a great deal of energy is devoted to just trying to make sure that book gets on the shelf of a library or a bookstore. Most of the time we walk into stores and we see lots and lots of books, but not our own.
So it’s a faith walk. You work really hard. You pray. You write. And you hope.
That hug, that day, was a kiss from God. I met a new friend, and received a small glimpse of how God can take my meager offerings and bless them.
Suz
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