Last week I was the featured author at two book events, and the audience size was just right for the space: not too few or too many people. The events marked the first time I got to sit in front of people and talk to them about the writing journey with my own published book in hand. I had done it several times before, reading from unpublished works. At these two recent events, I was nervous but ready.
The first event was at a local college in the Cultural Awareness Center with faculty and students present to comment and ask questions. "What do you want people to take with them after reading your book?" Good question. It required me to sharpen my short pitch speech--something I've had trouble doing--( Admittedly, I am wordy). I believe I passed the brevity test though, giving my answer in fewer than twenty-five words, and the young lady who asked seemed pleased.
The second event was at a popular bookstore in town and almost forty people came, sat, and stayed to listen to me. It was an older audience of close friends, acquaintances, book lovers, and aspiring writers there to hear how I made it across the finish line with this first book.
I left both feeling good. Feeling affirmed. Feeling glad that the inaugural book signings that launched Coming Forth by Day gave me something sweet to muse over and write about.
I became involved in the conference as a participant the same year I received my MFA from Goddard College and was actively looking for a local writing community to connect with. I was overjoyed when my good friend and colleague, Heather Hutcheson, sent the announcement me to me about the conference. That was in 2010, and I've been involved ever since, first as a participant, then as a workshop leader, and now, as a standing member of the planning committee. This year, I served as the mistress of ceremony, which I thoroughly enjoyed and hope to do more of.
Thanks to Wesley's vision and determination, the conference is now a local institution. And although the focus is on senior citizens getting the word out about their personal back stories, rich experiences, and insights, the conference attracts a good number of young, aspiring writers, and there is indeed a cross-generational meeting of the minds.
Sacramento has a vibrant literary persona, and the "Our Life Stories Conference" is just part of a bigger picture. Perhaps the best kept secret of Sacramento is that it is home to several literary writing conferences, local book fairs, poetry gatherings—even has a poetry center and a poet laureate. For writers, it is a good place to find a village to link with. I am glad to be here. Now, time to get busy on my next project. What's on my schedule? The Second Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair. But more about that in my next blog.