Friday, September 7, 2007

Shtick . . . or Shtuck?

























MAI TAI to MURDER has barely hit the bookshelves, and I'm already penciling in dates on my calendar--well into 2008--for promotional events. Since this is my third book, I'm no longer surprised that the majority of these functions (ladies club luncheons, sorority meetings, book clubs, library events, churches and book fairs) will include invitations to SPEAK. This is based on the assumption, of course, that if one can write, then one can speak; that microphones, podiums, Power Point presentations, and stapled-together-handouts are natural extensions of the computer and keyboard. It's almost as if the publishing contract becomes a magic wand, tapping our heads (or goading our butts out of our office chairs), and then wham--like Pinocchio becoming a real boy--we are changed. We're no longer solitary creatures in baggy sweats, sucking down coffee and mumbling to our muses; we're donning a blazer over our very best sweats, popping Altoids, fumbling with index cards, and "test, test-ing" microphones . . . .

In my former life, as an ER nurse, I was required to do some public speaking--whenever I lost at the nurses' frantic game of paper-scissors-rock, and had to grit my teeth and wade out into the crowded waiting room. To explain to (extremely hostile) would-be patients (for the umpteenth time in 12 hours), that "due to unforseen circumstances, there will be a delay in getting you to the the treatment area . . . " I also got pretty good at dodging the resultant flurry of wadded up and hurled MacDonalds' bags, greasy airborne french fries, colorful curses, and . . . spit.

So for me, while I'm no polished pro, speaking at book events isn't so bad. Or too stressful, since I write comic mystery and people expect me to be more of a goofball rather than some intellectual literary type. Plus--so far--no one's pelted me with french fries. All good.

I know that a few of us "Inkers" have backgrounds that must make these book events a cinch, like Joanna Campbell Slan, who is actually a professional public speaker and wrote a book on the subject; Nina Wright who has a theatre background as do Chuck Zito and Susan Goodwill. Hey, maybe I'm the only one who's a rookie here.

So, how about it folks? Speaking events as book promotion: love them, dread them? Do you have a shtick or do you just feel shtuck?

6 comments:

Nina Wright said...

Candy--I can't imagine you ever being schtuck! Natural ebullience is a winning ingredient in any public speaking situation, and you got it, girl!

That being said, I've done enough acting and public speaking to have survived just about every category of potential embarrassment--from brain and body malfunctions to wardrobe malfunctions. I've never pulled a Janet Jackson, but I did have a zipper break on a skirt once upon a time. The key to getting through anything that goes wrong? Acknowledge what's happening, and tell the audience you're going to deal with it. They love to be on your side!

Deb Baker said...

I used to be terrified when it came to public speaking! But like you, I write humor and my audience wants to be entertained. I've learned that I'm a better story teller than writing coach so I stay away from the writing conferences. I've even started a little improvising as I go and am finally, after a year of pain and suffering, really getting into it. Next week, I'm speaking at an event arranged by my local library. I've agreed to expose the real people behind my characters and the whole town is going to show up. I must have been pounding them back when I agreed to that!

Candy Calvert said...

Nina, I'm laughing about the zipper--omigosh!
But I know what you mean about being enthusiastic; it's hard not to kind of bubble over when you get to share some of craziness of this writing journey.
As long as I don't have talk politics, or . . . how to find the US on a world map. ;-)

Candy Calvert said...

Deb--I totally LOVE the image of your entire town crowding around to see WHO they are in your books!

Interestingly, a pair of my neighbors actually appear as themselves in MAI TAI to MURDER: I offered a "cameo" appearnce as a charity auction item, and they bid very generously. It was a cool win-win all around.

Felicia Donovan said...

Candy, best of luck with Mai Tai to Murder!

When I chair meetings, most of the attendees are usually carrying weapons. Regular audiences are pretty easy after that...

Candy Calvert said...

Felicia--ack!
That definitely puts things into perspective; french fries rarely even leave a grease spot. ;-)