A writer's gotta write... and occasionally speak too...

I spoke at my local library tonight. It was fun.

For sure the most difficult part of this book business (for me anyway) is the promoting part. Selling myself isn't something that comes natural for me--at all!

But it's part of it.

A few months ago I was talking to our local library's managing staff and she asked me to speak as part of their summer adult reading program. I happily agreed--but knew actually doing it would be an entire other story. A nerve racking, frightening story.

I planned. I prepared. Let's be totally honest and give credit where it's due--I also prayed.

I'm pretty much no one, so first I hoped people would come...

So many people I knew would come out and support me are out of town this week... so I prayed anyone would come.

Guess what?

They did!!

And most I didn't know.

Two very kind friends came and their smiling faces were seriously so comforting to see! My darling husband was there--I love that man. And then a handful of men from the community that I'd never met were there. All writers. A few of them came with pen and paper in hand.

And again I prayed that I had something to say that would be worth taking notes on.

I'm glad I planned. I'm glad I prepared.

But mostly I'm glad I prayed.

I hadn't made it through much of my written notes, when I set them down all together. I knew what I wanted to say and the men who came had questions and those two things together worked really well. Much better than me checking my notes and lecturing.

I am not all knowing.

No one knows that better than me.

But I do know more than I did a few years ago and I'm so happy to share what knowledge I can.

That, and talking writing with people who like to talk writing is really pretty fun--and helpful on the nerves. :)

So thankful for the experience.