Every once in a while, it’s good to get out of your own head—and the Saturday, October 11 Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca was exactly that for me. Writing is such a solitary business that sometimes I forget how energizing it can be to actually talk with readers face-to-face, swap stories, and see the spark in someone’s eyes when a book cover catches their attention.
It was a day full of real-life eyeball testing (the kind you can’t get from online analytics). I watched which covers made people stop mid-step, which ones they ran their fingers over, and which ones they barely glanced at. To my delight—and slight surprise—Of Ash and Aether, Dirty Doll Ops, and even my billionaire romances drew steady interest. Every reaction, every passing glance, goes straight into the mental notebook for future business decisions.
Because while I’d love to say my days are filled solely with dreaming up impossible love stories and dark, twisty plotlines, the truth is that being a career author also means making business calls—pricing, branding, marketing, packaging. It’s not my favorite part of the job, but it’s necessary if I want to keep doing the part I love most: storytelling.
Still, the event reminded me why I do this. I handed out bookmarks, chatted with new readers, offered candies to browsers, and soaked in the joy of sharing stories in real time. It filled my creative well in a way that analytics never could.
And as a special bonus, I got to see my former news editor, Marg Jackson, being recognized for her tireless, incredible work as editor of multiple newspapers. Marg has always been one of those unsung heroes who quietly keep local journalism alive, and it was wonderful to see her get the applause she’s long deserved.
Now it’s back to the keyboard—armed with new insights, fresh motivation, and the reminder that even in the business of books, human connection is still what matters most.
Kim Van Meter is a former full-time reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News; she continues to provide a monthly column. She can be reached at kvanmeter@oakdaleleader.com.
