It went really well at the Dulwich Reading Group at Dulwich Library last night.
Half an hour beforehand, there I was retching violently on my balcony. Will I ever get over that awful nerves thing when I have to do face-to-face stuff? Dunno, but I was assured that no one would have known from the outside what was going on inside ...
Anyway, it couldn't have gone better really - thanks to the following (trumpets, please):
Anna from the library, who not only organised the event but also baked a cake for my you-know-what day.
J & E - great friends and fellow members of the writers' group, who are so unstinting in their support.
Maxine - yes, folks THAT Maxine! My lovely virtual friend made oh-so-huggable flesh who trekked across London to be there.
The members of the reading group - knowing that reading groups thrive on criticism, I was prepared to be savaged. But they were all so nice! Really welcoming, interested and interesting, intelligent ... I'd been all ready to cry if need be and wail 'But it's my biiiiirthdaaay ...' but there was no need. Whether they were being kind to me - or genuinely enjoyed the evening, they made me feel great. And I even sold some books!
So - big thanks to all. Doesn't mean I won't be retching next time though ...
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14 comments:
You told Anna at the library that it was you you-know-what day but not us, your loyal blogosphere friends? Shame on you, woman!
Glad the evening went well. I did ask Richard if there was any chance of going to Dulwich for a the day but he shook his head. Too damned busy! I dunno... this work malarky's a pest, isn't it?
I'm blushing with that lovely comment, Debi, thank you! you are too kind. It was a fabulous evening and a great pleasure to meet you and hear what you say. And you are about 1000 megawatts more beautiful and glamorous than your serious scary pic!
You've managed to post before I have, Susan would be bereft if I didn't get her puzzle up the first moment I have for Petrona so have done that -- now for a garbled account of the evening.
Thank you again, for such a great experience and sharing with us all your writing habits and advice.
Glad to hear it went well Debi.
And good that you got some more books out there!
Glad you had a good night and got more books out there - more power to your elbow (hope it helped to round the day off for you on a high note).
But give yourself a good talking to for worrying about being savaged. People (me included) who go to author events go because we want to meet the people who give us pleasure in life. Never underestimate what a good book can do for people.
Know this is waffle, but I used to have a teacher at secondary school who used to say 'Bad nerves before the battle is the sign of a good General'. Hope this is of some help, when you do the next authors night.
So glad it went well Debi, just a little too far for me!!
Was it weird? I don't mean was it weird meeting Maxine, I just mean, well, how can I put it? Are your writing voices recognisable - these thoughts invade sometimes!!
Green with envy though, sometimes Cornwall is just a whole world away - from everything!
Kath's made a really good point there. I was once fortunate enough to go on a presentation skills course and the biggest message I took home with me was the one the teacher reiterated many a time during the course: the people are there because they want to be there and to hear what you have to say.
I don't think anyone goes to an author event under duress do they?
(But Debi, having read Nirvana Bites, I think you'd be the best person to find a way to put that one in a plot...)
Minx-- Debi and I are coming down there! She's buying her caravan already! Get the purple rinse brigade standing by.
Ahhhhh, running, running!
Thanks all!
Sharon - I intended to keep the you-know-what day info in reserve in case I needed it. I DIDN'T realize Anna was going to tell them all - and bake a cake!
Minx - meeting Maxine was weird and it was wonderful and it was exactly what I expected and it was simultaneously so much more than I expected ...
Maxine is even better in Real Life than out here in virtuality. Yet we never would have met if it wasn't for this medium. If there wasn't a single other benefit to come from All This, that alone would be so very worth having!
Can you believe I forgot to put a link to my books on this post??? Says it all really, doesn't it!
Did you know I met Richard through the Internet five years ago? Definitely a wonderful medium :)
I didn't know that, Sharon. More evidence of Minx's lightbulb effect - if you're right for each other, you'll get together somehow ...
I just read your lovely comment about me Debi (the 11.29 am ones), thank you so much -- I don't know what to say as my reaction is "why are you being so nice about me?" etc etc and I know what you will say about that, so I will just shut up, blush and say thank you!
And the feeling's mutual.
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