Prospects for Civil Rights Journey

When you sit down to write a book, you follow your instincts and try your best to communicate a story or message that, if you are lucky, will be read by others. And if you are really lucky, they will be moved—or enlightened—by what you have written. The problem is that it is often years between the time a writer sets out to tell a story and the time the reading public gets to cast its verdict. The verdict is still out for Civil Rights Journey. I started work on the book over two years ago, and it is just starting to be read.

But I did get one early hint that maybe I was on the right track.

For all the copying of the manuscript—to send out to early reviewers, agents, and publishers—I made numerous copies at a local printing company. I don’t know how many versions I actually gave them, but there must have been at least a dozen. Finally when I felt I had made the last edit, I picked up the printed manuscript and told the person at the counter that I would not be coming in anymore because at last the book was finished.

“Hey,” she said, “This is a terrific book! You are going to sell a lot of copies.”

A bit puzzled, I asked. “You mean you have actually have read it?”

With a broad smile, she exclaimed, “We all have,” and at that moment, four beaming employees came out of the back room. One of them extended his hand and looking me right in the eye said, “I just wanted to shake your hand.” The others all did the same.

I was speechless. I hesitated to think about when they read the book or how they pulled it off. I gave them the benefit of a doubt that it could have been during their lunch hours.