Selling Books at the Compass Festival

     On October 2, 2018, Malcolm got my hopes up mentioning, then recanting, his notion of participating in the Compass Street Fair; the 10,000-$333 entry fee the expat organizers wanted for a booth turned us off. I replied to him that I boycotted that commercial magazine. I suggested we do a newsboy, out of satchel, book sale, but he wasn't interested. In the end he wrote he would contact PJ's Pub and see if we could piggyback on them if they had a booth, but I doubted that he was participating. I  contacted George about sharing a booth with him selling his hummus and Mike's pulled pork; Brian Demarais didn't get back to me so that was out, and Pat Woods from TWG said they had nothing to offer. 
    Then Malcolm wrote back; he wondered when the event would be and, after telling me to Google it, looked it up himself and found it was happening that weekend. Furthermore, he revealed that the deadline for securing a booth was the previous evening, so it was all a little to late and no one cared, anyway. I would go but not alone; someone had to have my back if I got flack from one of the organizers for being there without paying a fee.

     On October 6th, I went by bike with my books and funny sales hat. I had gone to get out, ride the bike, sell some books, and meet George who brought his delicious hummus. I had a jar of borscht to give him; I had no intention of trading it for the hummus or getting 300 for a copy of Unnatural Beauty but that is what happened. I also sold a copy of Forgotten People of Taiwan to a man named Shaun walking with Max, my former colleague from American Eagle. Max asked me if I was going back to Eagle; I told him I only go forward, not back.  He didn't buy a copy of my book.

Friend, Jetta, Max, me, and Shaun

Shaun said he had bought Malcolm’s Jade Menagerie recently, I made friends with him, the president of Haxstrong Charity, Jetta, the head for a woman’s aid organization, and a few other friends. George is well connected and introduced me to a number of friends I had met at his winter festivus and Mike's pulled pork promotion. It was no place to hawk books but I had fun sitting for a few hours before Max and Shaun happened by; George came later. I hadn’t seen any of the booths and wasn’t aware Finga’s was there until George told me. I walked over with him and ordered a rye bread. Later, I spoke with the owner and his baker.

“Max” reminds me of my son in his delivery, egotism, and chutzpah; they are the same age. But he is an expat media hound with no principles. I had unfriended him a year ago when I realized at American Eagle that he wasn't what he seemed. He could have become my friend until I saw the schmaltzy interviews he did with undeserving guests. At Compass event, he requested friendship on Facebook again, on my tamer davidtempleFDR page.  I moved to add him to the progressive page, johnnyshortwave, but in looking him up, I saw an interview he did of Blackhearse, from the American expat clique; an administrator of Taichung Info Exchange. I changed my mind and didn't add him.

Compass organizer (left) and Michael (right) 

     While I was sitting selling books, who walked over but Michael, the expat "shock jock" that insulted me a few years ago when I posted an article on Blackhearse's Facebook news page. He was with a Compass organizer. He sauntered over and asked what I was doing there. When I told him I was selling copies of books I'd written with poetry and stories about Taiwan he nodded approvingly and said it was cool, but he didn't know who I was and didn't buy a book. At least Shaun and George bought copies of my book. I guess I should be glad he didn't tell me to vacate or pay my fee. 
     I had fun at the Compass event thanks to George whose friends I hung out with. I ended up selling two books; $20 that I would invest in Kiva; Loans for Life . I didn't stay to listen to the entertainment, but got on my bike and rode home. I am happy I do not schmooze with the expat community. I enjoy being part of the Taiwanese community.