A Petersham woman is fast becoming the suburbs foremost self publishing superstar this week, as her book “How To Hack Your Way To Success” fast becomes the talk of the town.
Victoria Bishop had the bold idea to replace all of the books in her local street library with copies of her own book, when her niece “wouldn’t shut up about it” she says. Ms Bishop’s 4 year old niece, of course, is referring to the public initiative wherein members of the public are able to trade books in makeshift mini libraries, with the understanding that those who take a book must leave a book first.
“My sister’s kid wouldn’t stop going on about the ‘little library’ all the time. Eventually, I gave in and asked her Mum what she was talking about. My sister told me all about it, and I figured I’d be stupid to not take advantage of it myself.” Ms Bishop explained. “Rules aren’t meant to be broken, they’re meant to be interpreted to how you see fit. Every book I took was replaced with something that I’d say, is actually worth reading.”
While some are hailing her a marketing genius, she is not without her critics. Petersham local Kenny Swift is upset, saying “Who in their right mind would ruin such an innocent public institution? It’s not even a good book! It’s horribly written, goes on long tangents about where most people go wrong when printing their own money, AND half the E’s have been drawn in by hand?”
Her own sister Yvette has also shared concern, complaining that she now has to drive 15 minutes to get to the next street library for some variety for her daughter. She says “Look don’t tell her I said this but… from a business perspective it’s a horrible idea! She’s given away 53 books so far, a large amount of which I heard are either being used by the local teens as rolling papers, or as a level for the furniture at that cafe with all the wonky tables!”
When asked about increase in sales outside of the street library, she was unable to give a straight answer. “Well look, it’s about the long game isn’t it? It’s in the zeitgeist now, money comes with that like, inherently? Plus, people are talking about it now just in time for the release of my second book “Ignore Them, You’re Right!”