Tomorrow is the big day. The day when authors from near and far gather to showcase their literary masterpieces, engage with eager readers, and bask in the glory of their own written words. It’s the Festival of the Book in front of the Oil City Library, and I will be there… with a grand total of (drumroll, please) a tiny handful of books. Yes, you read that right, Don’t let the image above fool you. I have a TINY handful. As in, I could probably carry them all in one arm while simultaneously sipping coffee and waving at passersby with the other.
Now, you might be wondering, “But Rafi, didn’t you order your books in advance like a responsible author?” Ah, yes, my inquisitive reader, I did! I placed that precious order a week before the fair, full of hope and confidence that the literary gods would smile upon me and deliver my bounty in time. But alas, as the universe often likes to remind me, things don’t always go according to plan. Especially when books typically take a month to arrive.
The funny thing is, my original plan was nothing short of epic. I was going to stroll into this book fair like a champion, with a mountain of books at my side and my shiny new book Dear Artist, Letters From A Rogue fresh off the press. I had visions of readers clamoring for copies, a line of eager fans snaking around the block, and me standing there, basking in the glow of my own literary brilliance. But as fate would have it, deadlines got pushed back, life happened, and before I knew it, the festival was upon us.
Since 2017, I’ve worn the badge of “published author” with pride, and at one glorious point, my book even soared to the number one spot on Amazon books. You’d think by now I’d have this whole “promote your book” thing down to a science, right? After all, I’ve built a successful art career from scratch, clawing my way up through the ranks of the creative world. But here’s the kicker: not all creativity is created equal.
When it comes to my art, I’m like a shameless peacock strutting my stuff for the world to see. I can promote my paintings, sculptures, and wild ideas without breaking a sweat. But writing? Oh, writing is a whole different beast. And music? Don’t even get me started. The thought of putting myself out there as a writer or musician sends shivers down my spine, making me question every life decision that led me to this point.
So here I am, on the eve of the book fair, with a scant collection of books and a heart full of trepidation. You might think this would be the perfect opportunity to wallow in self-pity, curse my poor planning skills, and maybe even consider pulling a disappearing act tomorrow. But no, that’s not how we roll at Rafi and Klee Studios.
Instead, I’m choosing to embrace the situation with a sense of humor and a whole lot of resilience. Because here’s the truth: whether you’re playing music, sharing your books, or showing off your art, you have to work with what you’ve got and not wait around for perfection to magically fall into your lap. Life is messy, unpredictable, and often hilariously ironic. So why not lean into it?
Tomorrow, I’ll be out there in front of the Oil City Library, mingling with fellow authors who probably have more books than they know what to do with. I’ll be smiling, laughing, and sharing my words of wisdom (however questionable they may be) with anyone willing to listen. And I’ll be doing it all with my pathetically small stack of books in tow.
The lesson here? Don’t take it all so seriously. Have fun with it. Show up, do your best, and let the chips fall where they may. Perfection is overrated, and honestly, it’s way more fun to embrace the chaos. So if you’re in the area tomorrow between 10 AM and 2 PM, come on out to the Festival of the Book. Say “HOLA!” to your favorite (and possibly most underprepared) author, and let’s make the most of whatever this book fair throws our way.
I’ll be the guy with the ridiculously small stack of books and a big ol’ smile, next to a beautiful human, ready to turn lemons into lemonade… or at least enjoy the moment.
Where: In front of the Oil City Library
What: The Festival of the Book
When: Tomorrow 8/24/24, from 10 AM to 2 PM EST
Why: Because there will be so many other amazing authors with amazing books who are actually prepared! Come for the books, stay for the fun, and maybe even hear me say something wise (or at least amusing) into a microphone. Hope to see you there!
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You’ve got this Rafi 💪 and thanks for your words of wisdom, I really needed to hear this today.
Begone stupid perfectionism 🌻☀️💚
Thank you ❤️
Hope the book fair goes great. Just send them to the website to order what ever they want. Once they go and get the book, hope they will look at the art, t-shirts, jewelry, and get some more things.
Perfect!
Another thought, is to hand out business cards. To those that want to look at the website at a later time. And do not sell the physical books tell at the end so people can look at them and order online.