There's hope that comes with a book, not just writing for the sake of writing. There's hope that others will read our words, that the words will reach people at a gut level and leave a lasting impression. Writing nonfiction is something I do to make a difference. I attack each project with enthusiasm and some trepidation (I'm writing a BOOK! All those pages to fill on deadline....) and the hope, yes hope, that it will sell well. What good is writing a book that no one reads? What sense does it make to put out useful information if no one sees it? We each develop our own following but what about those new readers who have yet to find us, the ones who could, just could, buy our books?

Going into each project, I don't expect to land on a bestseller list but there is always that twinge of hope, that wish for really great sales figures.

June 2007 I was fortunate enough to have my publisher for "Rover, Get Off Her Leg!" H.C.I. (http://www.hci-online.com/p-3442-rover-get-off-her-leg.aspx), invite me to sign books at Book Expo America. I had wanted to attend but to be invited to sign, well, that was just incredible. Okay, so I sound a little naive here, especially to those who have had multiple books on the New York Times' Bestseller List. But BEA is special and for someone as jaded as I am, I was rather surprised by my own reaction to the invitation. I was excited. I hadn't felt that excited since I signed my first book contract. BEA. Wow. (http://darlenearden.com/rover-bea.htm) The event filled the entire Jacob Javits Center in NYC. I looked at that sea of humanity, every one involved in books in some capacity and was blown away. I stood and stared, trying to get my bearings. I wandered from booth to booth. I stood online for a signed copy of Jeffery Deaver's new book with others when I had a pass that would have allowed me to cut the line and I enjoyed meeting book buyers who were in line. They were a little startled to find that I wasn't a book buyer but an author signing a few hours later.

As I wandered through each floor, stopped at each booth, occasionally running into colleagues I've known for years, I was struck by the realization of exactly how many new books are released each year. Suddenly I was facing reality. I knew the number was large but until I saw the massive amount of varied books displayed, some booths with authors happily signing their new books, more authors signing on the main floor, knowing each shared that same hope, I was a tad overcome. The bestseller is, for the midlist author, like grabbing the Brass Ring.

Am I likely to catch the ring? If I had the answer to that, I'd run out and buy a lottery ticket. Or maybe, with each book, I already have....