Ten Thousand Reflections
This weekend I achieved an amazing milestone
TEN THOUSAND books sold!!
If you're a fan of the PBS television show Antiques Roadshow, you're probably familiar with the typical reaction of people who find out that their $2 flea market find or a family heirloom stored in the attic for decades is actually worth thousands of dollars. They often say, "Wow, I had no idea!" Similarly, I'm amazed to announce that ten thousand books have been sold. Wow, I had no idea!
When I hit the publish button for my first book, 'Krokbragd: How to Design & Weave,' I hoped to sell 100 copies. That was a stretch goal! I SOLD a copy to my good friend, albeit at a discount, because I thought I would need that sale to come even close to my target.
As I reflect on this journey since first publishing on February 14, 2019, there are so many great stories, lessons learned, cherished moments, and new friends. I want to share just a portion of them with you. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
I'll start with the Ugly. Initially, I wasn't going to include the Ugly. Why give it any space? But the reality is that it is part of the journey.
The Ugly is precisely that, ugly. It's mean-spirited comments and rhetoric lack any redeeming quality.
In my six decades of life, I have learned the harsh lesson that if you choose to put yourself out there, you risk being criticized for it. Even though my mind understands this, it doesn't mean the Ugly can't still be hurtful.
Here’s a blog post about the Ugly (if you’re interested).
I recently came across this quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.
"It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena."
Enough said.
Next, the Bad. While we all would love to get everything right all the time, that's just not how life works. Even if you put your very best effort into producing something of value, there is always room for improvement.
The Bad is not the same as the Ugly. With the Ugly, there's no reasonable way to address the absurd other than to bear it until it passes. Not so with the Bad. It presents the opportunity to improve your offering. To see what you've presented in a different light. To make adjustments going forward.
Another relevant quote, this time from Winston Churchill:
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
I have read and often reread every comment and review sent to me or left on public spaces such as Amazon or Good Reads. I try to answer or clarify if the commenter is reachable. In my second book, 'Krogbragd Patterns,' I included explanations based on feedback from readers.
Sometimes, the Bad is outside my control. A good example is the actual printing of the book. My books are self-published, but that does not mean I have a small Gutenberg press in the barn where I carefully set the type for each book copy. The reality is that I use KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) for the distribution of my books worldwide. The books are print-on-demand, meaning your book order is fulfilled by a printer near you selected by KDP. I don't get to choose the printer. I don't even get to know who they are.
I want everybody to receive a high-quality book, and 99+% of the time, that happens. But just in case, please get in touch with me if you have ordered your book from my website. Or contact the retailer where you purchased it and tell them you received a misfit book. The book should be replaced because you deserve a perfect copy!
In future blog posts, I want to look at some of 'The Bad' and provide information and clarification to you. I want you to have everything you need to weave krokbragd successfully and to enjoy my books! Stay tuned.
Finally, the Good. I am overwhelmed and genuinely touched by all the beautiful comments and reviews that have been written. And there have been many!
‘Krokbragd: How to Design & Weave” has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon (301 ratings) and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads (41 ratings).
‘Krokbragd Patterns’ has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon (80 ratings).
Some of the Superstars of weaving have reviewed or featured my books.
Anita Osterhaug - Handwoven Magazine, November/December 2019
"Imagine the most perfect book ever to teach a weaving structure or technique. This is that book. Debby Greenlaw has taken her love of krokbragd, the colorful, weft-faced Scandinavian weave structure, and explored and explained it in the clearest, most thorough, and most inspiring way imaginable."
Kelly Casanova - Weaver, Teacher, Author - Book Review and Interview
Becky Ashenden - Vävstuga Weaving School - Video Book Review
Jane Stafford - Jane Stafford Textiles School of Weaving - Season 4, Episode 9.1 -Weft Faced Twills (starts at 42:05)
Felicia Lo - School of Sweet Georgia - Weaving Krokbragd added to their exceptional line-up of courses
In my world, this is like an actress discussing her next movie on the Late Show or receiving four thumbs up from Roger Ebert.
In addition, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people at in-person events such as courses and book signings and virtually on Zoom calls and online workshops and Guild presentations. I "spent" several months with an extraordinary group of ladies in 2021 who were the test weavers for 'Krokbragd Patterns.'
In closing, thank you! Thank you to everybody who purchased one of my books! Thank you to each of you who have written reviews and sent comments! Thank you for inviting me to speak at your Guilds and teach your Workshops!
