What do you want at an Author Event?

[[deleted user]]

I need some advice. What do you want to hear when an author speaks to a civic or other group that has not read the author's books? Some of these last 30-45 minutes.

[Frank]

Personally I like to hear about what went into the writing the book. Inspiration, influences, writing technique. If a book is a part of a series then some background on the earlier books. Mainly just talk about the book, rather than read from the book extensively. A Q&A session is good if the crowd is lively.

[[deleted user]]

Thank you Frank. I was afraid I'd have to develop a talk about literature or the history of writing. Your suggestions won't take as much preparation.

[Nancy]

I was a Realtor with absolutely no aspirations about writing until the market tanked, I "retired", got bored, and started writing mysteries as a puzzle solving game. I tell groups about that and about how the death of a friend persuaded me to do something with those books.
Audiences laugh in the right places, nod in the right places, and sigh in the right places. We connect that way.
Nancy Lynn Jarvis "The Death Contingency" and "Backyard Bones"

[[deleted user]]

Nancy, What a great story -- it includes events that everyone can relate to. Laugh, nod and sigh. Thank you.