Everywhere I go I visit a bookshop. Not because I need books, cause I have plenty, but just to be in their company, to browse, to see what is there. Inevitably I always buy something.
This week I had the good fortune to visit a Spanish book store called Casa Del Libro. I browsed and I browsed testing my better half’s patience who was waiting for me, and then finally I was ready to go pay.
On my way to the cashier I pass by a table set up with books and from behind a woman quickly gets up and asks me if I read. My Spanish is not great but it is understandable. Usually I do not engage with people asking me random things but in a book store I always tend to be easier to approach.
The woman was clearly a bit out of her comfort zone but was doing her best. I told her I do read, she asked me what, I tried to explain my varied interests with my limited words and she lights up picking up a book from the table.
That is when I understand it is her book.
She confirms it when I ask her and she points to the others on the table telling me they are also hers.
As you can imagine I am a big supporter of struggling writers and I really felt for her, sitting all alone at the table covered in her books, with potential readers passing her by without giving her the time of day.
I said I will buy the book and determined she proceeded to sign it for me. I spelled out my name a few times, but I saw that when she wrote it is was incorrect.
I told her and she wanted to replace the book, ‘No, no!’ I protested, ‘I like the error.’ I wrote my name on a small notebook she had and then she proceeded to continue on the same book. The image attached to the post is the dedication she wrote.
The little palm is a stamp she put and I chose from a collection of stamps which she told me her readers send her. When she stamped the book the ink got on her hand and she smudged the book sign that she wanted to give me. I said it is fine, I do not mind, but she insisted to replace it.
She laughed at her mistakes and me, being cheeky, I said ‘I hope at least the book is good!’, she laughed, phew, some people might not have found that funny. I thanked her and went away.
I went to the cashier and I paid. On my way out I passed her again. She told me she will remember me.
Outside I told him about it.
‘Nice, you should write about it and tag her!’
Sadly, she confessed that she only has Instagram and I do not, so I cannot tag her, but who knows, maybe some day Laura Delgado will have a Substack and somebody will show her my post.
I leafed through her book but did not read it. I will try it though.
I really do hope it is good!