Thursday, 25 April 2013

Book Reading at CCP

On World Book Night, 23 April, I did my first book reading. You may be aware of this, I might have mentioned it. Okay, I mentioned it a lot, because I was so petrified. I was asked to read at my old workplace, the library at City College Plymouth. It seemed like such a good idea at the time...

Reading

Having a drink before hand
Spilling my drink - good start!





Me, John van der Kiste
and Matt Sharp
It was a very busy day in the end, because Hubby was doing 24gigs in 24hours (the link takes you to his fundraising page - charities benefiting are the Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulances, donations still accepted for a couple more weeks!) so I was rushing to get to a couple of those, plus fitting in my reading.

I read The Walking Dead from That Sadie Thing, although I found myself editing as I was going along, which is perhaps not the best way to read aloud.

It was a small turn out, because I was there so early, but it meant I knew almost everyone, so I volunteered to read first just in case any strangers turned up! In hindsight it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be, so if anyone wants me to read my books, I'm ready for it... (just give me some warning, and a glass of wine!)

John read Death of an Artist 1905 from his book Devon Murders and Matt read his story Robot Hunter Squad which was published in Riptide 8.



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51 comments:

  1. Anonymous25 April 2013 at 17:17

    Pleased you enjoyed your time, as did everyone else.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:40

      Ready for the next one now! Well, you know... maybe :-)

      Delete
  2. Suzanne Furness25 April 2013 at 17:23

    Glad it went well - apart from spilling your drink!

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:40

      Luckily it was just water - milkshake would have produced a different reaction!

      Delete
  3. Alex J. Cavanaugh25 April 2013 at 18:10

    Even with the spilled drink it sounds like you did great!

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:46

      Hmm, but I'm worried I might have to spill water every time now... #howsuperstitionsdevelop :-) (Couldn't resist the hash tag!)

      Delete
  4. Madeline Mora-Summonte25 April 2013 at 18:14

    Good for you! And by spilling your drink, you've now added a comical angle for when you tell the story of your first reading at your next reading. :)

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  5. Julie Flanders25 April 2013 at 18:48

    I had to laugh about the spilled drink. That is so like something I would do!
    Congrats on a successful reading, sounds like it was great. :)

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:50

      Thanks Julie. It was great as soon as I'd finished :-)

      Delete
  6. Gina Gao25 April 2013 at 18:50

    I guess spilling your drink had more of a comic effect. It sounds as if you had a great time.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:51

      It was much easier than I thought it would be, Gina.

      Delete
  7. Livia Peterson25 April 2013 at 20:46

    So glad you had fun Annalisa! I may have to vacation in England, just to attend one of your readings and meet you in person! ;) Love the photos as well!

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:51

      We need to tie up all the people who want to visit England and have a huge bloggie conference!

      Delete
  8. L. Diane Wolfe25 April 2013 at 21:33

    I did fine at book signings but was never crazy about readings. A glass of wine would've helped.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:52

      Unfortunately, I don't have books to sign yet... Hopefully soon though :-)

      Delete
  9. M Pax25 April 2013 at 22:09

    You look like you did great and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I practice a lot in front of my cats. If I'm being boring they go to sleep, so they're fairly judgy that way.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 17:57

      I'm not sure I could handle rejection by my cat in that manner!

      Delete
  10. Elizabeth Seckman26 April 2013 at 02:16

    You look beautiful and you are very brave. I was asked to do a reading and refused. I would stutter...I just know it.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 18:00

      Aw thanks Liz :-) I did consider saying no, but I'm glad I've got the first time out of the way.

      Delete
  11. Neurotic Workaholic26 April 2013 at 05:42

    Good for you for doing the reading, because a lot of people couldn't do it (I've never done a reading in front of anyone, except in writing classes). And it helps when you know the people in the audience, because that can make you feel more comfortable.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 18:01

      I'm sure writing classes would be even more scary for me, because the people listening would be doing so from a more technical point of view.

      Delete
  12. Unknown26 April 2013 at 08:32

    Volunteering to go first, great idea! I hate performing in front of strangers.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 18:05

      I've decided that actors must be very strange people indeed, they do it all the time!!

      Delete
  13. Linda King26 April 2013 at 15:51

    Editing as you read, LOL! Perfectionist or what?! Great photos and I really love your jumper!

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 18:07

      I'm definitely a perfectionist when it comes to my writing. I love my jumper too :-)

      Delete
  14. Allison26 April 2013 at 16:19

    Woo! Way to go! I'd be so nervous.

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 18:08

      Head down, Allison, and don't stop until the end... but remember to breath. There - reading out loud in three easy steps.

      Delete
  15. Ermie26 April 2013 at 19:25

    Yay! Well done! I used to love reading to my students, but reading your own work to a room full of adults is a whole different thing. I'm glad it went well and that you enjoyed it. :-)
    p.s. I can't hold my drink either. ;-)

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  16. Christine Rains26 April 2013 at 21:23

    Woo-hoo! Glad to hear it went so well. Enjoy your weekend. :)

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  17. Cynthia27 April 2013 at 10:22

    Yay, you did it! And it was bold of you to volunteer to go first. I passed out books on WBN- it was lots of fun.

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  18. Misha Gerrick27 April 2013 at 11:02

    Good on you for getting it done and done well. :-D

    Love the top you're wearing.

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  19. Trisha27 April 2013 at 14:31

    I would have gone first as well, just to get it over with and be safe amongst those I knew. ;) Good on you for doing it! I would've been petrified too.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 18:13

      The friend I was with did a great job keeping me calm :-)

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  20. Anonymous27 April 2013 at 18:35

    I also find speaking engagements not as bad as I thought they'd be. You look happy and confident.

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 19:40

      As long as I look confident, that's all that matters. Fear is usually etched on my face, and it worries the people I'm with! And I was happy, because I was back where I worked for 15 years, it was like going home.

      Delete
  21. Hilary Melton-Butcher27 April 2013 at 18:53

    Hi Annalisa .. so pleased you were able to read your passage .. and that you feel you accomplished what you set out to do .. to do the first one .. I'm sure next time you'll settle in very easily. Well done .. I have my Kindle set up - now need to find out what to do! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Annalisa Crawford27 April 2013 at 19:41

      Thanks Hilary, I'm sure next time will be much easier. Enjoy your Kindle - there are so many great books out there, you'll fill it up with your blog friends in no time!

      Delete
  22. Unknown28 April 2013 at 23:02

    I knew you'd do great! It was really brave to go first. I'd have been petrified and waited until last. Congrats on your accomplishment! :-)

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    1. Annalisa Crawford29 April 2013 at 08:07

      Oh no - there might have been loads more people at the end! Thank you :-)

      Delete
  23. Joanne28 April 2013 at 23:43

    I've had trouble with my internet and reading blogs, but I finally can comment. Congrats - no longer a reading virgin. It gets easier and no, you shouldn't edit as you read. I bet it went great!!! Sign up for another read soon. The more you do, the easier it gets. Stay on that bicycle.
    (and folks HAVE to love That Sadie Thing - so good!)

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    1. Annalisa Crawford29 April 2013 at 08:08

      Thanks Joanne! I'll definitely be reading at Kyra Lennon's book signing in June - she won't be able to stop me, I've got the bug now :-)

      Delete
  24. Optimistic Existentialist29 April 2013 at 15:22

    Congrats on your first book reading Annalisa!!

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  25. Ruth Schiffmann29 April 2013 at 23:03

    Congratulations! So glad this was a positive experience =D

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  26. Anonymous30 April 2013 at 06:36

    It sounds like you had a good evening. I'm glad it went well x

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  27. nutschell30 April 2013 at 18:36

    Congrats! It looks like you had a great time. Love the pictures!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  28. liz young1 May 2013 at 09:01

    laxk of confidence would let me down too - unless someone presses the right buttons of my enthusiasms I can be almost tongue tied,

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