Tim Garrity's Blog - Posts Tagged "werewolf"
Award Winning Experience
Being a self published author is a bit like being an unwanted child or a nerd in high school. You feel left out in the cold, unable to get into the party. The only reprieve from this lonely existence is at book award shows. For one night at least, independent writers are allowed to feel like a king. I attended a rather nice one last May in Manhattan thrown by Independent Publishing Magazine during BookExpo America replete with a great spread, an open bar and a huge crowd.
This wasn’t the case however, at my first show hosted by the New England Book Festival last January at the Omni Parker House. Having lived in Boston for nearly nine years I can honestly say that I had never stepped foot inside the historic hotel and it seemed like a great way to sell books. I was instantly assured that it was going to be great night when I entered the hotel. The lobby is just like those of hotels you see in movies from Hollywood’s golden age, with high, arched ceilings, decorative ferns and a bank style reception desk. It’s almost like walking back in time, not at all like the lobbies of your local motel. Directed towards a second floor ballroom, I prepared myself for my first taste of greatness.
Ascending the stairs I prepared myself for a momentous sight, a truly glorious gathering of like minded individuals; totally ready to rub elbows with the local literati. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath and entered the room…only to find it virtually empty except for a brunette woman arranging chairs and a small, Asian man strumming a guitar. Eventually the “crowd” filtered in, no more than twenty individuals. There was a small bar, which helped and small plate of hors d’oeuvres. It was nice, just not what I had expected, but after a few beers I felt remarkably at ease and was enjoying the night…until the speeches started.
I had believed that the presentations would be something akin to the award shows you see on television, the winner would be announced, followed by the presentation of some plaque and a few simple words from the winner. Imagine my surprise however when the first recipient approached the podium and launched into a twenty minute diatribe on her writing process and life experiences that went into her book. As she left the podium I assured myself that she was just a little long-winded, a lonely woman who needed to speak to somebody, anybody and had chosen to do so in front of this crowd; surely not everyone had prepared some type of speech…had they? My greatest fears were confirmed when the second winner, a ruggedly handsome man in his fifties, launched into his own speech. He was witty and insightful, describing his past experiences as a trial attorney and his newfound success as an author. I had nothing these people wanted to hear. I began to sweat and feel nauseous, akin to when your grade school teacher declares there is a pop quiz that day.
When my name was called I approached the podium, a sweaty mess, mumbled something profoundly useless, accepted my plaque in front of the silent crowd and shuffled away with my head down. That day was certainly not my day. My new book hit Tuesday, April 19th, give it a look and who knows, maybe I can embarrass myself at many more book shows to come.
This wasn’t the case however, at my first show hosted by the New England Book Festival last January at the Omni Parker House. Having lived in Boston for nearly nine years I can honestly say that I had never stepped foot inside the historic hotel and it seemed like a great way to sell books. I was instantly assured that it was going to be great night when I entered the hotel. The lobby is just like those of hotels you see in movies from Hollywood’s golden age, with high, arched ceilings, decorative ferns and a bank style reception desk. It’s almost like walking back in time, not at all like the lobbies of your local motel. Directed towards a second floor ballroom, I prepared myself for my first taste of greatness.
Ascending the stairs I prepared myself for a momentous sight, a truly glorious gathering of like minded individuals; totally ready to rub elbows with the local literati. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath and entered the room…only to find it virtually empty except for a brunette woman arranging chairs and a small, Asian man strumming a guitar. Eventually the “crowd” filtered in, no more than twenty individuals. There was a small bar, which helped and small plate of hors d’oeuvres. It was nice, just not what I had expected, but after a few beers I felt remarkably at ease and was enjoying the night…until the speeches started.
I had believed that the presentations would be something akin to the award shows you see on television, the winner would be announced, followed by the presentation of some plaque and a few simple words from the winner. Imagine my surprise however when the first recipient approached the podium and launched into a twenty minute diatribe on her writing process and life experiences that went into her book. As she left the podium I assured myself that she was just a little long-winded, a lonely woman who needed to speak to somebody, anybody and had chosen to do so in front of this crowd; surely not everyone had prepared some type of speech…had they? My greatest fears were confirmed when the second winner, a ruggedly handsome man in his fifties, launched into his own speech. He was witty and insightful, describing his past experiences as a trial attorney and his newfound success as an author. I had nothing these people wanted to hear. I began to sweat and feel nauseous, akin to when your grade school teacher declares there is a pop quiz that day.
When my name was called I approached the podium, a sweaty mess, mumbled something profoundly useless, accepted my plaque in front of the silent crowd and shuffled away with my head down. That day was certainly not my day. My new book hit Tuesday, April 19th, give it a look and who knows, maybe I can embarrass myself at many more book shows to come.
