Surviving ICRS

I went. I saw.

I came home with blistered feet.

I’m talking about my first ICRS, the International Christian Retail Show, formerly known as CBA. I went this year because it was in Atlanta, about an hour’s drive from my house. How could I NOT go? I commuted, saving the cost of transportation and hotel.

The event is still in progress right now, ending later this afternoon, but I didn’t want to push my luck with generous babysitting grandparents. So I’m home and slowly beginning to process all that I learned.

I did not wear comfortable shoes. Which I regretted the night I ate dinner out with friends in the Writer’s View group and got lost trying to find my car — as darkness descended on the CNN Center and I also discovered my cell phone was dead.

After walking in circles for a while, trying to ignore the pain from wearing strappy heels, I finally sucked in my pride and asked a police officer how to find my way back to the World Congress Center parking deck.

“Go back through the building you just came from,” he told me. “Look for an Arby’s. Look for a door to the left. Then look up once you get back outside. You’ll see it.”

I would never have thought to go back through the building! He’d saved me at least 20 minutes of misery.

Later, I realized that’s what being an author is all about. It’s not something you attempt to do alone. You can’t publish a book without a little help from your friends — fellow bloggers, your critique group partners (if you’re so blessed), your agent (if you have one), your editor, your sales team — and then of course your faithful friends who offer to read your book, host you on a blog tour, lift you up when you’re feeling down.

I went to ICRS alone, but once there, I was surrounded by hundreds of like-minded professionals in the Christian publishing industry — all helping and encouraging each other. I quickly learned how to navigate the floor and to create a schedule that would ensure I saw as many highlights as possible.

I didn’t plan on bringing any signed books home; after all, the publishers want their authors to give away books to retailers, who may choose to order more in cases. But I wanted to meet some of the authors whose books I reviewed last year: Tracey Bateman, Karen Kingsbury, Dandi Daley Mackall, Melody Carlson, Lisa Whelchel, and others. And so I stood in line to meet them, shook their hands, and thanked them for writing books that inspire me.

I was very careful about what I brought home — only those books I plan to buzz about in some way. I also picked up a lot of great marketing ideas. People handed me bookmarks, postcards, pens, packs of tissues, etc. But my absolute favorite freebie was a set of wooden chopsticks from Camy Tang, engraved with the name of her debut novel, SUSHI FOR ONE. And yes! I’m already buzzing! Camy’s book is going in my picnic basket today as I head to the lake with my kids!

For a newbie, my first ICRS was a bit overwhelming, with thousands of book titles all competing for shelf space in this circus environment. But it comforts me knowing that God’s message is behind each of the books, each of the authors. And if He wants to use me as His messenger someday to reach a specific reader I can reach best, then I know He will.

In the same way I had to submit my pride to ask the police officer how to find my car, I know that publishing requires humility, courage, and persistent determination. We’ll eventually get where we need to go — if we aren’t afraid to ask those who know the way.

And if you find yourself needing to walk a few streets on your road to publication, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to wear a comfortable pair of shoes … or at least bring the Band-Aids!