Yesterday I sat through my second book-signing at a Borders bookstore here in Houston. Being an unknown author, I certainly didn’t have people lining up to see me. If fact, no one I knew came, and despite some media attention for the event, no one even seemed to know that I’d be there, or faced with me, what I was doing.

I found the last bit particularly odd as I was sitting at a table with a table-top poster of my name and cover, surrounded by the very book that was gracing the poster. But I still had people coming curiously up to me saying, “And what are you doing?” or “Is this your book?”, and even one, “Do you work here?” Still, I was happy to have people to talk to. The first fifteen or so minutes had passed uneventfully, and the bookstore seemed uncharacteristically quiet and empty for a Saturday afternoon. For a few horrifying moments, I actually wondered if I’d manage to sell a single book.

But after that I had visitors: literally perfect strangers. When I revealed that I was a local author, signing my first book, these people were genuinely excited for me. They asked questions and shared anecdotes of their own, wished me luck, and offered advice on how I might make more sales. I didn’t sell a whole lot of books, but I have to admit I had fun. I was delighted to meet each and every person I did, and I hope that some of them will write me an email to let me know what they think of the book.

I remain optimistic for future signings, which is lucky since I have two in Tucson next weekend.

Just recently I read the most perfect description of a kiss that I have read in a very long time—maybe ever. And it was totally unexpected—I wasn’t even reading a romance novel. I was reading the ever popular, beautifully inventive Book 6 of the Harry Potter series. I have included it below:

“After several moments—or it might have been half and hour—or possibly several sunlit days—they broke apart.”

— J.K. Rowling from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

It is succinct but evocative, not to mention emotionally charged. As a reader of predominantly romance, I have been waiting through Books 1-5 for Harry to develop some sort of crush or romantic interest. And he did, I believe, in Book 4, but that’s long over, and Harry’s seventeen now (or almost), so really, I imagined that there should be something. I was not disappointed. I await Book 7 with the thrill of romantic possibility.

I dislike the term “women’s fiction”, but I have to admit, I do like “chick-lit”. The new-fangled genre descriptor sounds fun, light, and upbeat, all characteristics I look for in a book. Sadly, the term “chick-lit” also now carries the stigma of being fun, light, upbeat “women’s fiction”, and thus not for serious-minded, self-proclaimed sensitive intellectuals. As a reader, I could care less, and as an author, I’m not too concerned either. But really it’s the principle of it all. Fun reads can have equally as much impact on a person, and they can make you smile, maybe even laugh. So, if you remember that little tidbit of information you learned in elementary school, a chick-lit read is a better work-out. (tallying the muscles used for each)

Apparently “fun, light, and upbeat” wasn’t nearly descriptive enough, so now the hip “lit” add-on is being slapped on mini genres right and left. The publishing world has been totally compartmentalized so that a naïve or indiscriminate shopper won’t accidentally step outside the lines of his or her preferred genre. Today there is chick-lit, hen-lit (for slightly older hipsters), mommy-lit (for hip new mommies), lad-lit (for men who want their chance at hip too), lady-lit (for sophisticated but still hip readers?) and on and on ad nauseum. Do any of these hip guys and chicks out there browsing through the bookstores or the discount stores actually know about these distinctions? Or are they for authors and publishers only? Soon (if this is not already the case), these books will be organized, not according to author, but according to reader type, and there will be a little sliver of bookcase for divorcee lit, single-mom lit, gay best-friend lit (male, of course, separated from female), college coed lit, and, well, you get the picture.

Here’s an idea: Maybe people should just browse around, branch out, try other genres. If you like funny, try funny in every genre. If you like dark, try dark in different genres. YOU JUST MIGHT LIKE IT. Better to be well-read and aware of your preferences than biased and prejudiced against an entire genre. Only think what you might be missing…