Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 28810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
I vowed not to check the time until Benjamin returned, but when I caught sight of my watch, only fifteen minutes had passed.
“Screw this.” I stood up and headed to the elevator.
I’ll solve this problem myself…
I tossed my blazer into the trunk, loosened my tie, and slid a pair of shades over my eyes before walking to the end of the line.
And I didn’t appreciate that it was now two blocks long.
I waited until someone joined the line behind me, and then I cleared my throat.
“Remind me,” I said. “Why are we all standing in line?”
“Funny.” She held up a paper with a bright pink barcode. “It’s a pop-up event for Desirae Falls. If you didn’t print your pass, make sure you have the confirmation email on your phone.”
“Will do…” I didn’t want to reveal that I had no clue who Desirae Falls was, so I remained in place and pulled out my phone.
I logged into our digital inventory and searched for Desirae Falls, but her name didn’t appear under ‘new releases,’ ‘top romances,’ or ‘viral smashes.’
Her name wasn’t listed on any bestseller charts either.
“Can I ask you a question?” I looked at the woman behind me.
“Yes.” She smiled. “It’s a yes to going anywhere you want. It has to be after this event, though.”
“My question is about this event.” I pretended not to notice her rubbing my arm. “Who is Desirae Falls?”
“Oh, please! If you didn’t know her, you wouldn’t be here.” She squealed like a schoolgirl. “She’s one of my favorite authors, and I can’t believe I managed to get a ticket to finally meet her!”
“If she’s so popular,” I said, furrowing my brow, “why isn’t she on any bestseller lists?”
“Because she’s also a bit of a weirdo—in the best possible way.”
“What does that mean?”
“She takes the title ‘indie author’ a little too literally.” She lowered her voice. “She only sells print books through her website and small indie shops. You won’t find her in any of the big stores, but I’ll follow her anywhere.”
“Good to know,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Claire Jones is coming here tomorrow,” she said. “Want to make it a date?”
“No, you’ve told me everything I need. Thank you.”
“That’s it?” she asked. “What about going somewhere after this?”
“I’m taken.” I smiled and gently moved her hand off my arm. “I apologize for the miscommunication.”
“Does she swallow you every night?” She stepped closer. “You deserve someone who can do that for you…”
I turned away before she could say anything else.
Returning across the street, I rushed to my office and pulled up Desirae Falls’s website.
I clicked on her ‘contact me about events’ page, ready to invite her to sign at my store this week, but a pop-up message stopped me dead in my tracks.
Before You Message Me
Please know that I only work with independent bookstores and family-owned coffee shops.
If you’re a corporate chain … Get the f*ck off my page.
Love the rest of you!
Desirae Falls
I searched “Claire Jones indie author” and discovered a similar statement on her page, along with an even more rabid fanbase.
How the hell is this even possible?
“I’ve figured it all out, Mr. Sinclair!” Benjamin rushed into my office, out of breath. “I know why there’s going to be a huge line over there for the next two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” I glared at him. “I’m seeing two days at best…”
“Here.” He handed me a printout. “It’s a schedule of sold-out events Miss Connors is hosting over there.”
“Sold out?”
“Yeah...Looks like she contacted some of the biggest indie authors—like, superrr indie—and asked them to help save her store. They all jumped aboard.”
“Let me guess.” I sighed, glancing at a long list of names I didn’t recognize. “None of them work with corporate bookstores?”
“Correct.”
“And there’s no way they’d ever consider signing here with me?”
“No way in hell, sir.”
“Thank you.” I crumpled the sheet and closed my blinds.
Okay, Summer Connors.
You won this round. Just this one…
THE INDIE
SUMMER
My savings account actually had a comma in its balance.
A real-life, there’s-a-couple-thousand-dollars-in-here-now comma.
My “Two Weeks of Ultimate Indies” were the most profitable weeks I’d had at my store since I opened, and I was kicking myself for not doing it sooner.
“To be honest, Miss Connors, I’m shocked you’ve been able to stay in the book business this long…”
I brushed away the thought of Adrian’s words as I pulled into my parking spot. I’d scheduled a team strategy meeting for ten o’clock today, and I wanted to get a head start on drafting ideas for our next event.
I slipped inside the store and hit the lights, noticing a crowd of people outside my front windows.
What the…
“Did someone schedule another event without telling me?” I muttered.
I walked over and opened the door, quickly realizing they weren’t lined up for me.
They were lined up for Sinclair Street.
It’s not even open yet.
“Excuse me.” I looked at the guy blocking my door. “What’s going on over there today?”