So it’s not just us poor, unknown writers who sneak into bookstores to see if our books are on the shelf.
Of course, unlike Stephen King in this article, I expect very few of us travel to foreign countries to do it or are so apologised to after being called a book vandal.
Just when I’m settling back into home life it would appear time to pack up the suitcase again. Good job the family are so self-sufficient (and that I managed not to catch the dreaded lurgy that has had them all coughing, sneezing and overheating for the past fortnight).
This week I’m off to the Corrigin Young Writers’ Festival. For those unfamiliar to WA that’s about 3 hours south-east of Perth, into the wheatbelt area that Sally Murphy (children’s author) recently quoted as ‘not good at doing green’.
Along with me doing workshops is Scot Gardner, a young adult’s writer from the east coast. I’m also told that the afore mentioned Sally (quiet and retiring, yeh right!) will be around to introduce and stir. Ah now here’s a question, is it a prerequisite for all residents of Corrigin to stir, or is it just the little enclave that I’ve met?
Anyway, while most of the workshops are during class time on Friday at the High School, I’m also talking on writing true-life short stories at the Senior Citz Hall Friday morning and doing individual coaching sessions on Saturday morning before heading back to Perth (and hopefully to a house free of flu bugs). So if you’re passing, or fancy a drive, feel free to drop in. Just don’t ask me about entry fees, because that I’m not sure of.
Hmmm, now is it a good sign to make your radio interviewer cry on air? Not sure, but I guess we’ll find out.
Today on ABC’s Family Matters we read a story and had Bernadette Young in tears. Shortly after an SMS came in from a listener who had been driving and had had to pull over because she was crying too much to drive. I’m so grateful to Mary who phoned in with the funny story about her mum who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Maybe next time we should focus on the humorous stories.
It’s weeks like this one that could really go to a writer’s head. Good job I’m the modest kind.
First, Pam and I were overrun by people driven by the need to buy our book, ‘Stolen Moments’, at the Alzheimer’s Conference 2007. Then, just when we had confirmed Sue and Harvey’s kind invitation to be interviewed on 6PR’s Sunday Brunch, ABC radio phoned to ask if we could talk about ‘Stolen Moments’ this Wednesday (tomorrow) at 1.30pm during Family Matters.
Like I said, good job I am modest.
I’ve just come back from the Alzheimer’s Conference 2007, here in Perth. What an awesome event that was. There were over 880 delegates from over 20 countries, endless workshops and talks, and no end of chatting. I met some fantastic people. carers, professionals, researchers, and those who have been diagnosed with the disease.
As you can tell my mind is still reeling, and of course my feet as still throbbing. How do people who are on their feet all day manage it? Pam and I manned our Life’s Inspirational Moments table for 10 - 12 hours a day, I had my comfy shoes on (Pam had heels on) but …. If anybody has tips on standing all day PLEASE let me know.
Also, another question, if they spent so much money of building our ‘you beaut’ Convention Centre (where the conference was held) why didn’t they include enough parking ? All the bays had gone by 7 most mornings! Great function centre though, loved the views and the idea of having a hotel attached, to say nothing of the food. Off to sort all the stuff I bought back now, and perhaps put my feet up again.
When it comes to selling your books or writing goods at a festival or display there are obviously, to make the best of the opportunity, a bundle of things you have to bear in mind. Here are a few things that the past weekend reminded us.
Just a few thoughts which I hope will help, although if you’re seasoned seller there are probably more that you follow. If so, I would love to hear them.
During my time I’ve had my fair share of radio ‘on air’ time, both as interviewer and interviewee. The last few weeks have been kind of fun in that regard.
Last Thursday I was finally interviewed with Pam (Life’s Inspirational Moments) on Curtin Radio, one of Perth’s bigger smaller radio stations. I say finally because actually getting in the building was an event in itself. We were first invited there a month ago, but then there was the first power blackout in the station’s living memory, then the double booking, then the misunderstanding over dates, but finally we made it for our 10 minutes of fame. But it did make me wonder how people in cities larger than Perth handle driving across town for the promise of 15 minutes of fame.
Easter Monday I was invited to talk about audiobooks on 6PR, one of Perth’s bigger radio stations. This time a phone interview, probably because it was a talkback programme, but I wasn’t going to knock that especially since the interview time they had chosen was well into the dark hours – with or without daylight saving. (For those interested we got the invite following a press release I sent to the local community paper, which much to my delight led to articles appearing across Perth not simply in MY community.)
Monday though, was also our only family day out over the Easter break. So after much chocolate (yes, I found where the Easter Bilby had hidden it), wine, frivolity, and me being taught how to hit a golf ball (they never taught me the technical name for it), I positioned myself in front of the phone at 11 o’clock in the evening not quite sure what was going to happen.
Thankfully both interviews ended up fine, no awkward silences, no inane questions that I couldn’t answer, no embarrassing word slips, and even the occasional laugh.
But it led me think about how many people I know writers and otherwise who panic at the mere thought of using radio to promote what they do. So I’ve written a list of Secrets to a successful radio interview that I always try to follow. Let me know if they help or if you have any more that you think I should add.
