What I Learned at the Book Signing Table

The Questions We Ask Our Families

AI generated 1950’s dysfunctional family

Why I Wrote My Book

Several of my subscribers have already read my novel, Ona’s Tears, which launched on November 1, 2025. Since then, many of you have shared your thoughts with me, and May has been a whirlwind of book signings. I’ve met so many wonderful people—some bought the book, some took my card, but everyone started a conversation.

The question I hear most often is simple: “Tell me why you wrote this book.”

My answer usually depends on who is asking, but at its core, my motivation was to understand how my family became dysfunctional. (I know there are at least two of you reading this who came from perfectly functional families—I would love to read your reactions to this in the comments!)

Depending on what catches a reader’s eye at my table, the story behind the book changes:

• The Culturally Curious: Some people come up just to get a better look at my Lithuanian amber necklace, ring, and earrings. Many pick up the book simply because of the cover, which features flax flowers on a background of linen. I often display a traditional Lithuanian linen cloth and explain just how vital flax was to the Lithuanian economy.

• The History Buffs: For those interested in historical fiction, I explain the deep research required to uncover a story my grandparents were too afraid to tell. Most of our anecdotal family stories, passed down during holidays and funerals, are sprinkled throughout the book—alongside traditional Lithuanian dishes you can easily look up for recipes.

• The Baltimore Locals: My grandparents lived on Herkimer Street in Pigtown. This fact always grabs the locals. These readers can follow my characters down familiar streets and see the landmarks in their minds. For instance, Old Major, on the corner of S. Carey and Herkimer, is the bar my father frequented when we visited my widowed grandmother on Friday nights. I never thought my dad’s favorite haunt would become my favorite bar! Last Saturday, someone told me that Dad is probably sitting on the stool next to me. I like to believe my chaperone will hang around until he’s no longer needed, just as our folklore dictates.

Patrons of the Lithuanian Hall on Hollins Street have thanked me for putting this history into words, and my most recent buyer was actually from the Embassy in D.C.

As an author, you can feel incredibly naked because you are exposing yourself to the world. Everyone who reads a book forms their own unique impression. It feels a lot like giving birth to a child—or an idea. Like a new mother, I found myself remembering Chris Argyris’s book, Reasoning, Learning, and Action: Individual and Organizational, which I used to teach an Organizational Behavior course back in the 1980s. Ideas and books truly take on a life of their own.

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How to Find Ona’s Tears

Because I am a self-published author, there isn’t a massive publishing company stocking my books in major brick-and-mortar stores (though you can absolutely walk in and ask them to special order a copy).

If you prefer ordering online, searching my name or the book title will bring it up on major platforms. You might even find it on a certain convenient, free-shipping site if you have a membership—though it has been a bit of a roller-coaster lately! Last week, a relative called to tell me the “great news” that my book was sold out there. That certainly explained why my April sales numbers looked so strange.

I looked into why this happens, and it turns out that certain dominant online vendors heavily favor books printed through their own Direct Publishing system. They sometimes show artificial stock delays to encourage publishers to switch over from other Print-on-Demand (POD) sources like IngramSpark.

The good news? It is widely available across formats:

• Kindle: At a recent signing, a new mother was delighted to find it on Kindle. Her husband had bought it for her so she could read on the go, and I highly recommend this budget-friendly, handy option.

• IngramSpark: This is the best option for shipping Ona’s Tears directly to you in a timely fashion.

• Local Libraries: I am incredibly proud to share that the Baltimore County Public Library has accepted my book for their shelves. I am already planning an upcoming local author event with them!

• Your Local Library: You can always ask them to add Ona’s Tears to their shelf.

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Last, But Not Least...

Whether I sell eleven books or two books at a signing, the absolute best part of this journey is meeting people. I have had so many beautiful conversations where readers have shared their own heritage and family stories. I love hearing, “My mother would love this!” from people looking for the perfect meaningful gift.

Right now, I am about one-third of the way through my follow-up novel—Rooted in Baltimore is the working title. Because of that, I am always anxious for feedback on Ona’s Tears. Most of your comments have been deeply complimentary, but as an author, it’s just as important to know where the hiccups are.

If you leave a comment below, let’s keep it spoiler-free for those who haven’t finished, but feel free to leave a plug about why others should read it! I would also love to answer any questions you have about the background of the story.

Happy Reading!