This is Not A Very Funny Book

An Interesting Story

A few weeks ago I went to Amazon to check on how Sam Seagull, a children’s book I wrote was selling.  I noticed on the site that there were a few new reviews that were pretty good.  I was happy about that.

I also noticed something else that surprised me.  There was a note on Amazon that I could actually buy the physical book in a store – Barnes and Nobel in Mission Valley.  What a hoot. I would have never expected my book to actually make it into a store.  That was pretty exciting, particularly considering that there really aren’t that many bookstores still around.

I thought to myself, “That would be a kick to go to the store and see my book on the shelf”.  So I made a mental note.  Next time I am in Mission Valley, I am going to go into the bookstore to see my book.

Today I was in Mission Valley, So I Decided To Go To Barnes and Nobel

As it would happen, I found myself in Mission Valley today.  I decided I would head into the bookstore and have a look. So I wandered around the store and then found myself in the children’s book section.  That seemed like a good place to look.

The clerk (a middle aged man) noticed that I was looking for something and asked me, “Can I help you find something”.  I didn’t want to seem dumb so I said, “No, I am ok”, and then continued walking up and down the aisles.

After 15 minutes I still couldn’t find it.  I pretty much looked on every shelf.  So I went back to the clerk, and I said, “Actually I am looking for something, I am looking for a childrens book.  Can you look it up on the computer?”

“Sure”,said the clerk, “Follow Me”

“What is the name of the book?” he asked, as we reached the computer.

I replied, “Sam Seagull”.  For some reason, I didn’t want to give him the whole name of the book.

He began typing it in, and then up popped two books.  Sam the Seagull (written by some lady) and Sam Seagull’s quite pooply written by me.

I said, “That’s it- Sam Seagull is Quite Pooply”

He quickly replied, “Oh yeah, we had that book.  But it was not a funny book I don’t recommend that book”

I was a little bit surprised. I thought isn’t this a sales guy trying to sell books?  And before I had a chance to ask why, he quickly volunteered up even more information.  He explains that he holds a story session every week and reads books to kids.  He had chosen that book for story time one week.

He then turns to me, looks me in the eye and says, “No One Laughed.  Not even a chuckle, Could you imagine that?”

So that was the end of Sam Seagull in the book store.  But hey, you can still buy it online! Check it out here –  Sam Seagull.