The number three is an important one in Christianity. After all, we have the three persons of the Trinity, the three wise men, the three apostles of Jesus’ inner circle, and so forth. And so it is with great pride that I announce that I stand squarely within this tradition of three, for that is exactly how many people showed up for my book signing. O.K. Maybe pride is not the appropriate word. Disappointed is probably a more apt description.
I had my book signing at the Episcopal church’s general convention in Columbus today. They had me set up at a table in the Morehouse / Church Publishing booth for an hour. Unfortunately, that hour was during major sessions for both the house of deputies and the house of bishops, which meant most people had to be in meetings. But I won’t attribute the lack of people completely to that. I was also due to the fact that I am a scholar who is just starting out. This is only the second book I have published, so I couldn’t imaging that people would be flocking to get my autograph. I pointed this out to the publisher when they first asked me to do the signing, but they said we should do it anyway.
I did increase sales, because two of the people who bought books for me to sign were friends of mine. One is the former director of missionaries for the Episcopal church (i.e., my former boss) and the other is the canon missioner for the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. I had met her in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Istanbul, Turkey, so this was the first time for us to meet on US soil. She is the one pictured with me below.
On June 18th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
Don’t be sad. First, there’s no reason to think that there were “three wise men” so the number three isn’t all that important.
Second, it’s not how many come to your signing, its how many read your book! I’ve done two book signings (one at the local bookstore and one at another location) and never had more than 30 people show up to get theirs signed. Actually, I was a bit relieved at the low turnout because it meant I could be less gregarious….
Enjoy your conference.
On June 19th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Kevin, maybe you should have become a NT scholar. Or written sweet and fluffy stuff like, say Max Lucado. He gets three thousand people at his book signings.
No, seriously, I am sorry that not many folk were interested in the book, but I know for myself that before I came to Duke, I could have almost been a disciple of Marcion. Well, maybe not quite, but I realized that I had not heard anybody preach or teach OT in the church, and sadly, I am not an exception. OK, somebody might have studied the book of Ruth in Sunday Schoolor read Isaiah during Advent. I think you need to start touring churches and talking about the importance of the OT for understanding NT. And please start with the Methodists.
On June 19th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
Actually, when I was living in the US, I did a lot of speaking at different churches, doing a five week survey of the OT and several other OT related lectures.
Just ask Feruza what happens if you bring a pocket NT to my class!
I am not upset that more people didn’t come. I didn’t expect that many people. But I did have a good time at the convention, although I left the day before they elected the first female Presiding Bishop.
On July 1st, 2006 at 1:57 pm
[…] THREE is as important as three thousand to Kevin Wilson. […]