You know those license plate holders enclosing your license plate? Most of them say the name of the car dealer where you bought the car. Mine says “Pen on Fire” along the top, and along the bottom is says, “www.penonfire.com.”

I bought it before my book came out with the hopes that it might have some effect.

Yesterday morning I pulled into Albertson’s Market and parked. The white SUV behind me parked, too. I walked up the ramp to the store behind the woman from the SUV, who had damp hair and looked dressed for a corporate job, turned around and said, “What is pen on fire?”

I told her it was a book I had written and she said, “Is it a novel?”

“It’s a quirky book about writing,” I said.

She nodded and smiled.

In the checkout line, she was before me. As she picked up her bag to go, she turned to me and said, “I’m going to buy Pen on Fire.”

I thanked her and wondered how many other people have wondered what “pen on fire” was and if it prompted them to visit my Web site or buy my book.

A license plate holder is space to be used. Don’t let it be free advertising for a car dealer.