I just wanted to stop by A Writer’s Life blog to share the story of the Author Event last night at University Book Store in Seattle. This was a dual-author event with Stacey R. Campbell, whose Young Adult novel, Hush, is not to be missed. Go pick it up and enjoy a book that will get you ready for summer. It’s a light and breezy addition to the boarding school/lost heir to a throne canon.
This photo of Stacey and I was taken about ten minutes before the reading started. Stacey’s extended family comes from the Seattle area and the room soon filled with radiant good will. Several friends dropped by. And the publisher, Green Darner Press, was well represented. Pink and white champagne, and royal tiara-shaped cookies lined the table—Stacey, the cookies were delicious.
Stacey began the reading with a tale of how she had to overcome childhood dyslexia to form a strong belief that she could become a writer, her one dream that began to take shape as her own three daughters began to attend boarding school: If I’m telling my daughters they can be anything they want to be, why did I let specters from my past try to stop me from trying to attain my own goals? Hush is the result. And her reading was lively and engaging.
Then, being the introverted writer who has avoided the spotlight and public speaking for most of my adult life, I approached the lectern with a growing confidence. The nerves will never go away. I used to take a failing grade in school and college when asked to give a speech, but maturing and growing as a creative writing teacher changed all of this. Now, I view speaking in front of a group as a worthy challenge and spoke about my initial fears first, and why I decided to share my writing. I do write darker tales, and following Stacey brought this opposition into focus. Light followed by darkness is okay as long as no one gets hurt and champagne can bring a cheerful catharsis. I read Sandcastle, the title story, because of its length—it’s the outlier story that has the most shock value—and because of the time constraints for the event, which still left 20 minutes for people to mingle, get a signed copy, and talk about writing. Loved every minute of it.
Best to you in approaching your own goals head on and please share your goals and the journey you are taking in the comments section below.
Ever,
Justin
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Wonderful photos and memories, Justin. So proud of you dear friend.
Tips hat, and throws a ball for Bollo — best to you across the pond, Jane. Thank you very much.
So fun to be there with you and share such a wonderful milestone together! You did a fantastic job. You should never avoid the spotlight, you always shine! 🙂
🙂 all the way to the top, Stacey!
So damn proud of you for taking the lectern by the ba*ls and reading to the crowd. You look so professorial in the picture too, and if you were nervous, it didn’t show.
Moving on up, sweetie. You certainly are and deservedly so.
xoxo
eden
I’m in a line of Professor Bogs—I remember sitting in on many lectures by my father. He would even come into the middle school and speak about Egyptians, Sumerians, the mummification process, and more of the unknown facts from ancient cultures that would make junior high kids wonder. It’s nice to be here in this moment. Will always love the memory. Thank you, eden, for all of your encouragement and support. xo
The more you do it, the easier it gets, and I know you have a lot of author events in your future 🙂
I hope so, M.E. — this last one went very well. I feel like I’m in a writing rehabilitation course: “Today’s topic? Shaking off the rust from public reading absences.” Can’t wait for the next event now, which is on May 31st up in Bellingham/Fairhaven at Village Books, one of the coolest bookstores in the country. It is a comfortable place to read, and it will be recorded for local radio.