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The One Where Nobody Ordered the Books | Beth McMullen & Lisa Schmid

Lisa Schmid shares a cautionary tale from the Sacramento Book Festival, where a series of logistical failures turned what should have been an exciting milestone — her first book festival — into a comedy of errors. A week before the event she discovered the bookseller had never ordered any books, resulting in last-minute scrambling, one copy secured, and Lisa packing 20 of her own into her son’s little blue racing-sticker suitcase. She then had to park seven blocks away and roll it through the crowds just to get in the door.

The takeaway from both hosts: never assume logistics are handled — confirm book orders, ask who’s responsible for what, and follow up all the way through. Beth admitted she’s largely stopped accepting event invitations after too many similar experiences. On a positive note, Lisa previews an upcoming signing at Old Haunts Bookshop in Granite Bay — a model of how it should be done. Next week: guest Kolby Sharp, booked as a “palate cleanse” and described as a breath of fresh air for book lovers.

Key Takeaways

• Confirm your books have been ordered — don’t assume
• Ask who’s handling logistics and follow up close to the event
• Bring your own copies as backup if you can
• Check the organizer’s track record before you commit
• One person’s decision can have a major ripple effect on authors, organizers, and readers

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