[Current & Culture] Authors Who Answered the Invitation of a Local Bookstore

"Should I Come Now?"
Grateful for a Willing Response,
A Resolution to Live with a More Open Attitude in the New Year

At the small bookstore I run in Gangneung, we hold an event once a month where we invite an author. We take care of their accommodation and meals for 1 night and 2 days, have them stay at the bookstore for two days, and give their books to everyone who comes to meet them. We chat, get books signed, and take photos together. The books are not sponsored; the bookstore and the author each cover half of the retail price of the books. Authors who buy their own books to give away, and bookstore owners who buy others' books to share. This seemingly absurd event has continued since last summer when we invited author Kim Dongsik, followed by poet Kim Seungil, author Jo Gihyeon, author Heo Taejun, and author Kang Baeksu in succession.

We mainly invite good people who write good literature and whom I hope will do well. They usually come with two worries: 1) What if not a single person shows up? Not many people know me. 2) But what if too many people come? I might have to pay a lot of money. However, these two worries usually contradict each other. Each time the event is held, 50 to 200 people visit. There are people who come to the bookstore with the expectation of meeting a good author, no matter who the author is.

However, the amount the author bears is usually around 100,000 won. Some people say, “Thank you for giving the books,” and as they leave, they say, “I will pay for the amount for the next 10 people coming behind me.” Those like buyers, scholarship officers, and teachers, if they enjoyed the conversation, say they want to share the author's story with the youth of Gangneung and arrange lecture schedules.

However, it is not easy to readily recommend this event to authors. There is no separate lecture fee, and you have to tell them to spend their own money to come. In January, I wanted to invite an author and hesitated for a long time before contacting him. He was a senior researcher I had known since graduate school, but it seemed like it had been about a year since we last contacted each other.

“Buwon hyung, long time no see. I opened a bookstore and want to hold an event, so I was hoping to invite you...”

“Okay, Minseop, should I come now?”

At the moment he said, “Should I come now?” I felt truly grateful. Without properly explaining what it was, he said that the moment I called his name, without hesitation or second thoughts. My heart, which had been hesitant and shrinking in front of him, quickly recovered. This might be due to the trust and affection he has for me, but it is probably also a good attitude he inherently possesses. When I explained the event again, he sincerely said, “Okay, okay, I’ll come.”

I have also been invited by someone. Although I respond willingly, I have never said something like that. I usually ask, “Ah, what is the schedule? Where is the place? Who is the audience?” and only then say, “Then I will come.”

In the new year, I want to live with words that reflect more on my attitude. Are there not words that welcome someone who has shrunk with open arms, like “Should I come now?” From January 27 to 28, at Bookstore Dangsin in Gangneung, we will invite author Kang Buwon and hold an event called “We hope author Kang Buwon does well.” Please come to meet him as well.

Kim Minseop, Social and Cultural Critic

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.