SOS…I need help….
In less than a week, I’ll travel with my beautiful wife to Austin, Texas to meet up with some of my fellow authors at Affinity e-Book Press, as well as some other amazing authors at the 8th Annual Lonestar Lesfic Festival. Like some other readers, I’m doing my own fan girl squeal. Here’s the line-up in case you haven’t heard: Radclyffe, Barbara Wright, Mavis Applewater, Ali Vali, Ali Spooner, Lacey Schmidt, Carsen Taite, Julie Cannon, Renee MacKenzie, Del Robertson, D Jackson Leigh, JM Dragon, Erin O’Reilly, Laydin Michaels, Melissa Brayden, Stacy Reynolds, MJ Williamz, Karis Walsh, Taylor James, Robin Alexander, and Carrie Carr (these authors are in no particular order).
Link to Lonestar Lesfic Website
Last year I was a Con Virgin at the GCLS Conference in New Orleans. Since I was a brand, spanking (no, not that kind of spanking) new author—completely wet behind the ears, I did not sign up to sit on any panels or do any readings. After all who’d want to hear from the likes of me?
I was so honored that Lonestar invited me to participate and when asked, I offered to do whatever they needed. Initially they signed me up for a panel titled, “Hidden Themes in Lesbian Fiction.” Right after lunch, I’m scheduled to do a reading. Post lunch time slots—yeah that’s a good time to put someone to sleep—maybe I can tell a really good bedtime story. Wink wink.
A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from the organizer stating that some last minute emergencies created openings in the schedule and was I willing to help out. “Sure,” I promptly e-mailed back. So now I’m scheduled for the, “Talk Show: Getting To Know You.”
For those of you who know me, I often provide too much information (TMI—see my earlier blog). Nothing and I mean nothing is sacred, much to the chagrin of my very private wife. Thus, I can do that talk show in my sleep.
What has me shaking in my boots is the reading. I am convinced I’ll sound like a blubbering idiot and what passage do I chose? This is where you need to scroll down to the end of this blog and type in that little comment box all your helpful suggestions. Be specific please!
The other panel is also causing a fair amount of angst. Are they expecting me to spew a bunch of profound statements, versus my normal amount of verbal diarrhea? Did they see something worthy in my books and thought I was leaving hidden messages? What are they looking for?
Here’s what I plan to do….I’m going to keep my big mouth shut until another more intelligent and prolific author chimes in and then I’ll nod my head, agree, and try to pluck something out of my works that sounds remotely interesting. Once again, I am instructing you to scroll on down and take a few moments to provide your insightful feedback regarding what you’ve picked up from one of my books related to “hidden themes.” Please. Pretty please with yummy sticky sugar on top. I’m hoping that I inadvertently wrote something that someone interpreted as profound. I’ll just smile and nod and pretend that it was entirely by design. Maybe my mentor, Erin O’Reilly will bale me out. She’s on the same panel.
Of course I could be completely imagining everything and they did some random drawing to determine who they put on what panel and the obtuse nature of “Hidden Themes” is just the luck of the draw.
For those of you who haven’t read my books and can’t help me out, quick hurry up and get on it so you can provide me with some essential pointers to keep me from fainting on the spot and making a total a#$ out of myself.
Affinity Author Page Amazon Author Page
