Janice MacDonald's Blog: Notes on writing - Posts Tagged "randy-craig-mysteries"

The easiest part of writing a book is actually writing the book. Once it has winged its way to the publisher, been edited back and forth several times, received a cover, been printed and sent to bookstores, you are suddenly required to become what most writers became writers to avoid in he first place: social.

Sometimes you are asked to read a passage from your book — which can be tricky for mystery writers, as you don't want to give too much away. Sometimes you appear on a panel that has marginal ties to the themes in your book, where you have to deliver expert opinions and vacillate between hoping you are not ignored by questions from the audience, and wondering if you actually can come up with any answers. Mostly, you are asked to appear and sign books, which can be very nice when you run across people who have liked your other books and are pleased at the chance to speak with you. When no one knows who you are, it is best to have an idea of where the self-help section in the bookstore is, and whether or not there is a public washroom, as those are the only questions you may be asked.

Whatever the case, public situations call for a great deal of thought and preparation. As my friend and mentor, Cora Taylor, once summed it up, "What to wear, what to wear, what to wear?" Although most of us schlub about in old university sweatpants and comfy, oversized flannel shirts when at home writing, the public assumes that we will appear exotic and interesting. Only some of us can pull that off with any sort of consistency.

Shirley, a poet friend of mine, has a great store of "writerly earrings" which I drool over. Cora, queen of Young Adult novels, sweeps in with various layers of silks and leathers. Candas, my speculative fiction-writing bestie, has a crazy mock fur coat that only she could pull off. Conni, the playwright, does scarves better than anyone I know. And me? Well, I guess you're just going to have to come out and see!

Please visit my official website for information about upcoming appearances and more details about my latest book, Hang Down Your Head: A Randy Craig Mystery.