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Jerry W. Engler

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A Fair Love Affair
by Jerry W. Engler   
Rated "G" by the Author.
     
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This is part of the "how come I do so well at fairs," and maybe it can help another author. When autumn came in Topeka, I was always ready for the fair.

Yes, I love the fairs. It's been a life-time love affair.
When other writers or interested fans ask me why I do so well signing books for people at fairs, I can only come up with two or three reasons, depending on how your count my reasoning.
And, that just loving the fairs could be my number one reason.  I was taught to despite all their crowding, shuffle, hawking and dirt. For most of my early life, the old Kansas Free Fair at Topeka, which later had a name change to the Mid-America Fair, was our family vacation off the farm. I looked forward to it as much or more than Christmas or my birthday.
It affected my sociological and politcal outlooks. When it was the Free Fair, we referred to it as so, and it was like our fair. It was evidence that we lived in a place where the government was of the people, that it looked out for us, and cared about us even to the extent of our daily affairs and entertainment. When a gate charge came with the name change of the fair, it was only referred to thereafter as the fair, and somehow government had become mean and petty, more interested in gouging us than being there for us. Ah, the attitudes gained in sweet childhood, and how they stick.
That love of the Topeka fair stuck as a love for the Kansas State Fair at Hutchinson where I am the record holder for the most books sold by a single author for Book Kansas, 424 of them now, 146 as the annual record.
I guess people can tell that I love the fair because up and down the aisles of the South Sunflower Building where I appear, the vendors know my name.
I enjoy meeting, and talking to the thousands of people who walk by the booth, too, although if you're there many days of the 10-day fair, it is tiring with a fatigue that presses the neck and shoulders.
The enjoyment of the fair for me extends to smaller county fairs when I go, and, again, I never fail to send some books home with people.

The biggest single reason I succeed in signing and selling books is that I always try to talk to as many of the people who go by as I can. I am amazed at other authors I see who sit like bumps on logs, and somehow just expect the people to come to them. They can only get away with that if they are an extremely well-known name, and for most writers, public recognition of who they are isn't that good.
When I do get recognition, nothing is sweeter. There was the man last year who stopped in the middle of the aisle at the fair, and hollered there's Burford! He was calling me by the name of a dog in one of my stories that he happened to love.
Then there was the woman who had me sign my three titles, only to stop to tell me she already had them for herself, and that these were for a gift. "You need to write more, Honey," she said. "I've already read them all twice."

Yessir, Honey, I says to myself, you can't beat the fair.


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Reviewed by Regis Auffray
Reviewed on August 18, 2010
It is good that you reap the benefits of your gifts, Jerry. Thank you for sharing. Love and peace to you,

Regis

Reviewed by Cryssa C
Reviewed on March 19, 2010
I can only imagine you visiting with everyone that walks by...and maybe even doing some peddling on foot as well. :~) The picture brings a smile to my face. I am sure that anyone who talks with you or begins to read one of your stories gets hooked pretty quickly! You are one of those people that is a friend to all he meets. But... then... I have a real soft spot for you in my heart.

Cryssa :~)

Reviewed by Elizabeth Price
Reviewed on February 16, 2010
With your talent and gift of gab y ou are a sure winner. Your easy style in writing and I guess in person just sets a person to want to kick back and pause and read a great read. Love it. Liz

Reviewed on February 15, 2010
There is a fair bit of truth to what you say, but of course it helps to be a good writer such as yourself, and that the stories are relevant to your potential and admiring readers. You have a wonderful way of observation and the admirable skill to verbalize them, and as you do, in your surroundings aged in historic events, and popular communality, you add to this the poeples history and lifes, a wonderful gift for all. Blessings! Jasmin Horst

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