In my last post, I stated that today I would be sharing some news, making a big announcement, something like that. And I am. It's just...I feel as though I should preface the big announcement by saying that it's a big announcement for me. For anyone else, it probably wouldn't be. It'd be more of an "Oh, by the way" afterthought, or something, but for me, it's a Big Deal. In large part due to the fact that what I am about to tell you terrifies the living daylights out of me. The dead daylights, too. (If there is such a thing.) All the daylights are terrified out of me.
But it's happening anyway.
Because as my good friend, Eleanor Roosevelt, once said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
What is this terrifying thing, you may be asking yourself. Well, I'll tell you. It's this:
Recognize that name in the middle? (You may recognize other names, as well. I don't know.) You know what it means?
This Saturday, I will be making a public appearance.
You know, as an author. Not just me going out to buy groceries or anything like that (which is terrifying in a completely different kind of way...). Neither is this public appearance one of those events like the signings I've done in the past where I can blend in with other authors and only make eye contact with the people who actually approach the table under which I'm hiding. No, this event will require me to stand up in front of an unknown number of persons, and actually talk to them. About myself. And my work.
And I am terrified.
You, of all people, should know how terrible I am at talking about myself. Or, I could have just stopped after 'talking,' couldn't I? Because, really, unless I'm talking about my love for the collective works of Joss Whedon, or Gilmore Girls, I am about on par with Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel. Only, not nearly as articulate. And when I am talking about my love for the collective works of Joss Whedon, or Gilmore Girls, I become an incoherent fangirl who sounds like she's trying to communicate with dolphins.
And I cannot do either of those things on Saturday. (At least I don't think so. Right?)
Hence, the terror.
To the best of my knowledge, I will have approximately fifteen minutes to fill. After which time (provided I haven't already fainted), I will take questions. That I will be expected to answer. And do all of this in a way that won't make me sound just...really stupid.
Not sure how I will pull any of this off, but I imagine that it will involve me spending mucho time practicing in the mirror, the shower, the car, and probably other locations, too, over the next five days.
Just as soon as I figure out what to talk about.
Any advice?
Thanks for stopping by today! See y'all next time...