Fear in Writing: Meeting authors at book events

Today in Literary History

Today in Literary History...December 14, 1907: Rudyard Kipling receives the Nobel prize for literature, the first English-language writer to do so.ud

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Meeting authors at book events

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The event was lots of fun.  Elizabeth Spann Craig and three other Berkley authors spoke in a panel forum for a group of people who, quite honestly, loved them.  At one point, a reader practically begged Elizabeth to write another Myrtle Clover book--the same woman who had copies of nearly every one of the authors' books in her oversize purse.

And let me tell you, Elizabeth is gorgeous!  She looks so serene and ballet-beautiful in her pictures, but in person she has these fabulous dimples and a life that takes over her face when she talks or smiles.  And she smiles a lot. :)  Her answers were the best of the group, short but direct, and I didn't see any of the shyness she touts.  Great job, Elizabeth.

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The other three authors were Jennifer Stanley (Ellery Adams), Avery Aames, and Krista Davis.  They each have unique, strong voices, and they played off of each other beautifully.  These ladies blog together at Killer Characters, and Avery, Krista, and Elizabeth blog on Mystery Lovers' Kitchen.

There was only one awkward moment, and I mention it only because I was sort of close to the situation and I think there's a lesson for any book events you all might hold.  Let me set it up...

For about an hour, the four authors answered questions posed to them by their media escort--a hard-working, dry-humored woman.  Everything was going fine, laughing audience members and all, but then they took questions from the audience.  There was one silly question (do you all use KGB-style killing methods in your writing?), but most of the inquiries were book-specific.  Near the end, the sweet, old lady next to me asked, "How did you find your first publisher?" and the media escort was all over her! 

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"That's one of my no-no questions," she countered.  "You'll have to ask that elsewhere (or 'later,' I don't remember the last word)."  And the woman deflated.  She looked at me with sad eyes and I immediately told her it was a great question.

This was NOT the fault of the authors, but it definitely insulted a potential buyer.  I believe she left right after the panel while others stuck around to buy books and have them signed.

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Here is the lesson: there is no wrong question at media events and never make someone feel bad for wanting to know something.  Once again, this was no fault of the authors, and I'm sure the media escort didn't mean to insult anyone either.  But a better response would have been, "That is a question that requires a long answer, and I'm sorry, we don't have time."

Have you ever had an awkward question posed to you at a book event?  How did you handle it?
-or, alternatively-
Have you ever met someone in person you knew only through blogging?  How did it go?

15 comments:

  1. Michele - Thanks for your perspective on what it's like to meet authors at events. I'm so glad you had a good experience overall : ).

    As far as awkward questions go, I have to say I think I'm lucky about that. I'm an educator, so I'm always getting all sorts of questions. Some of them are polite, interesting questions. Some of them...aren't. So when I started writing, I already had learned a little about handling "those" kinds of questions. The hardest questions for me to answer aren't those awkward ones. They're questions such as, "Where do you get your inspiration," which take a lot of time to answer, and which have nebulous answers. It's hard to give a focused, clear answer...

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  2. I've never been to a book event before. One time I walked into a B&N store and a man sat signing his book. I don't know if anyone was waiting for a copy or not. I can't remember but I think it would be nerve-wracking. I'm glad the event went fine. I think the question was a valid one and should have been allowed to answer. I hope the media person got a talking to.

    CD

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  3. Oh, I guess there are some questions I wouldn't answer. Things unrelated to my books. Such as: are you single? where do you live? how old are you? (unless it's how old were you went you started writing...?)

    CD

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  4. Sounds like it was a great event. Thanks for sharing. All four of those ladies are wonderful authors.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  5. I attended a book event with novelist Terry Kay and memoirist and humorist Lauretta Hannon when a similar situation arose. Both authors were frank and open about it. Terry Kay said he was tricked into writing a book and submitting it to Pat Conroy's publisher (an example of who you know helps and he was very clear about that) and Hannon talked about how she was approached by an agent after some of her pieces ran on NPR's Morning Edition.

    I have met other bloggers and my experience has been very positive.

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  6. I'd love to go road-tripping to meet my Blogging buddies! Even better if I could make it a book tour, but no luck yet, except a work-friend who took it up.

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  7. Sounds like a great event - awkward moment aside. I agree - there's usually a way to answer any question without upsetting anyone.

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  8. I've been blogging for eighteen months and have yet to meet anyone from the world of Blogdom. But I may meet Arlee Bird in L.A. later this year at a book signing in L.A.

    Stephen Tremp

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  9. Aren't you sweet! Thanks so much for your kind words about me. :) And I can say to everyone that Michele is just as charming and beautiful in person as she is on her blog.

    A book tour is a lot of fun, but there are bumps in the road sometimes. And, of course, sometimes everybody gets a little tired after days of appearances. I meant to mention to the writer after the event (but it was so busy afterward with book signing and then I didn't see her) that anyone is free to email me at any time to ask questions about writing or the publishing industry--I really do like connecting with other writers as we all learn about the ever-changing world of publishing. :)

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  10. That's great you got to meet Elizabeth.

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  11. Good subject and covered well, I must say. I have met a few people in person after a long "e-relationship". Surprisingly, each time was not surprising at all - they were what I expected them to be like.

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  12. Wow how exciting, Michele! I envy you having had the opportunity to meet Elizabeth! Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing!

    PS. I love how you would have handled the *question* posed by the lady next to you. So much more professional and...caring.

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  13. hahahahahhaha THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE - I just love those kitchen mysteries :))))

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  14. Sounds like a terrific event. Of course, with those four authors, it HAD to have been a lot of fun. BTW, I absolutely LOVE meeting my on-line friends in person--it's alwasy been great!

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  15. Michelle, thanks for your comments and your perspective. I meant to tell you that if you know the person who was interested in publishing questions being answered, I'm always willing to do so. She can contact me via Facebook or at woodgerb (at) averyaames (dot) com

    Dezmond...glad you like the title for the first Cheese Shop Mystery! :)

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