Barnes and Noble Stamp of Approval

So I was at the Barnes and Noble on Fifth Avenue a few blocks from Rockefellar Center the other day, the very Barnes and Noble that minted me a Benjamin. Well, not literally, but I found it splat on the floor by the checkout roughyl this time last year. Not a bad reason to go bookstore hopping.

Anyway, I was lollygagging through the second floor fiction section when I stumbled upon-- Shades of Luz of all things. Now, I know my book has almost been in print for a year and I know it is available through obscure locations like Amazon UK, Amazon India, St. Marks Bookshop, the stacks of Strand and a few other nifty spots.


If it sticks out of the bookcase it must be legitimate.

I guess my immediate reaction was surprise. It's been almost a year since it's been in print and I have walked into independent bookshops and have seen it loafing on a shelf. But it's a horse of a different color seeing your book in a Barnes and Noble. No, I don't think I've arrived. Still, not to get the word about my writing, but it was a nice moment. Let's leave it at that.

For now, Girma Dali is taking up much of my time.I'd love that to be my follow-up, but we will have to see.

Shades of Luz on its Run Toward Best Seller

For a brief moment yesterday we cracked 1200. Shades of Luz was ranked as high as 1134 on Amazon before it dropped back to 1737 by day end.

Overnight I woke up to find out it had dipped down to 2443 on the chart. Had to shuffle over to a BNI meeting. My buddy Erik is the president of the Midtown Manhattan chapter. I have to say they were a super impressive group of individuals. They all seemed so focused and dedicated to their respective professions.

I had the great opportunity to deliver two 40 second commercials, one for buddy's A-1 First Class Moving company and the other for my book. Truthfully, I think my book spiel sucked, but I gave a stellar commercial for Erik.

I'm going to change my format of this blog a smidgens by giving an update everyday, at least for as long as "Shades of Luz" is on its run to become a best seller. God knows how long it will last. But, I know there a re a lot of folks pulling for me.