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11/13/2005: "**First Blog - Bizarrely Yours**"
I'll kick off my first blog entry by telling you about a recent bizarre experience of mine.
I was asked to take part in a writing event. No, that wasn't the bizarre experience (well, not as such); it was more where this event was held and what courage I gained from it. It was in a basement cafe (sorry, but I don't seem able to do accents in this system) in Jarrold's in Norwich, as part of their store-y-line event. This was in conjunction with East Anglia's New Writing Partnership. My part in this event happened on 24 October 2005 and required me to read aloud from Love Lies Bleeding, my eleventh novel and the eighth in my humorous Rafferty & Llewellyn crime series.
Jarrold's had writers reading their books all over their store. As I said, I was in the basement cafe (this was my suggestion (!) because we were adjacent to the sharp knives, one sharp knife having featured in my latest crime novel.). I had to stand and read from my latest book, surrounded on all sides by these weary souls who had only come in for a bap, a cup of coffee, a bit of peace, and a rest for their weary shoppers' legs. As a plus (or a minus, I suppose, depending on how weary a shopper you were) they also got me: reading aloud from said latest book amidst the clatter of dishes and the screams of fretful toddlers.
Pretty bizarre. My husband came along; as bag-carrier, general factotum and to offer moral support. He said he was proud of me. That he couldn't have done it. That he'd rather have had all his teeth extracted. Without anaesthetic. (Doesn't actually count. 'Cos he already has had all his teeth extracted). But I knew what he meant. Usually, I would have felt the same. Only this experience was so surrreal, that, even more bizarrely, I didn't feel a bit nervous. A first for me.
At this point, I would like to offer a big 'Thank You', to the ladies who were seated at the table to my immediate right. You were so kind with all your encouraging smiles. Even better: you didn't lob a bun (stale or otherwise) at me once, for which I'm very thankful. So thankful, that I've taken encouragement from your restraint to do the whole thing again on 14 November at Cafe Writers in Norwich (sorry - no accent again). Hopefully, they will also lack buns, particularly those of the hard and stale variety...
An even bigger 'Thank You' to Jarrold's and all at the New Writing Partnership in East Anglia for organising such a novel, non-nerve-wracking experience. Perhaps next I should try drinking immoderately, taking off all my clothes and doing a streak at Lords?! Might get on the telly...! Maybe not.
Next blog, I'll perhaps tell you how I'm getting on at the Speakers' Club I've recently joined. And - who polishes the cups I've won (it 'aint me, ladies!). If you want to read anything more about me, try my website: www.geraldineevans.com.
Geraldine Evans on Sunday, November 13th 2005 @ 04:58 PM GMT [link]