Beyond Ink Christian Bookstore--I have a dream

      Apart from writing books, it’s been a dream of mine for a long time to open my own bookstore. There are plenty of indie authors like me who aren’t represented in traditional bookstores, but we still have really good books to offer. I wanted to have a place where we, as well as traditional authors, can be found.

      I started promoting this idea on my Facebook page, but then, randomly, everything just STOPPED. That was because I was hitting brick walls everywhere I turned. I honestly considered giving away all my books and closing. (Seriously, I even had names linked with each book so I’d be ready for the purge.)

      Then I remembered my 4G policy: Guts, Grit, Grime, and God. If you have courage, you can face your fears and insecurities anyway. If you hold on, you’ll make it through the hard times. If you work hard, you’ll reap the rewards. And God will do the rest.

      Well, I could either take that off my author bio or live up to it. Since I have a hard time swallowing my pride and admitting I’m a failure, I decided to live up to it. I pivoted.

      I think some people have it in their mind that a pivot is a little curve. It’s not. It’s a 180° turn. I pulled out of all the vendor malls and boutiques and compiled my inventory in one place. I thought, “I’m going to do events instead. If this is going to really work, I have to be more hands on. Books don’t sell themselves.”

      Have you ever tried doing an event in high humidity when 98% of your stock is paper related? How about wind gusts up to 20mph? Took all of three events to realize that wasn’t the right venue. Another pivot.

      Now, I’m starting to feel more like a dancer than the owner of a bookstore. I’m thinking, “You know, admitting I’m a failure really doesn’t sound all that hard. People do it all the time. It’s kind of expected.” Do not get me wrong: pride is undoubtedly a bad thing, but sometimes it can keep you from quitting. I turned back to that 4G policy.

      I needed a store. That was the only option. A place I could set up and leave, indoors, and get established. That didn’t happen. There was a mix-up with my employment. I ended up without a job. Now, that would seem the perfect time to start a store. I thought so too. But I kept hitting more brick walls. That dreaded pivot had come for me again. (And about now I’m wondering why I ever thought to make 4G my motto.)

      I was going to open an online shop.

      Everyone who knows me beyond Facebook-friend-accept-invite status knows that I have NO internet prowess. If I’ve accepted your friend request but never done anything after that, it’s because I can’t figure out how to find you again. True story. So this is going to be FUN! (I’m crying as I type that bold-faced lie.)

      But here’s the thing: A dream does not die until the dreamer cuts it down. I WANT that bookstore! So, I’m going to have to expand my horizons and tackle the internet. Am I planning on getting multiple viruses in the process? Probably. Could I hit the wrong key and accidently crash the whole internet? That’s not unheard of or at all out of the question. So if you’re in the middle of a riveting online drama, or in the middle of the biggest game in your life, or just scrolling through Facebook and the internet crashes, just wonder what I’m doing now and say a little prayer for me.

      I mean, that’s the only way you’ll have reliable internet again, right?