The Dog and Pony Show

One of the most time-consuming parts of being a writer (besides the actual writing bit, of course) is the marketing involved in spreading the word about your book. Unless you're a big name like Stephen King or Dennis Lehane, a lot of the leg work can fall to you. Getting press kits out, lining up appearances, developing an interesting "talk"--not to mention all the follow-up involved--eats up a lot of time. Even then you don't know how many people, if any, will show up to see you. Kind of scary.

When I started down this road, I thought I'd hate this part of being published--the lining everything up, the actual showing up and putting myself on the emotional line. Strangely, though, I don't. I find I like it--a lot. I've developed a kind of "dog and pony" show wherein I incorporate readings from Hunter Huntress into a presentation about the writing process itself, how initial generative ideas become incorporated in narrative, how dreams feed creativity, the responsibility of the writer to conduct thorough research and manuscript vetting to ensure accuracy and authenticity--stuff like that.

So if you're in the Durham, NH area on Wednesday, May 25th, come give me a listen at the Durham Public Library beginning at 7:00. The dog and pony will be raring to go!

Home Again, Home Again...Tickety-Boo

Just back from Florida where I made time for a few very cool book events--the first, a "Tea with the Author" get together in the sleepy town of Welaka, where I read and discussed the book for about two hours. Lovely well-read ladies all, and I'm going to skype in to their book club meeting probably next month. Next day it was over to Jacksonville for a meeting of two book clubs--this one lasted almost three hours as so many people wanted more info about this writing business.

I've given this talk about Hunter Huntress so often now, I've pretty much got a handle on what people want to hear. Every meeting/reading is unique, of course, but in addition to hearing about the book, most are also intrigued about where I get my ideas and about the writing process itself, as well as all the crazy changes taking place in publishing. Now THERE'S a topic I could natter on about for hours!

So I'm taking my dog-and-pony show on the road again. Next up is a reading and signing February 11 at the York Maine Public Library beginning at 7:00. Hope to see some of you there!

Upcoming Events

Always tough settling back in after vacation. Upside is the wonderful flow of creative energy that follows a break from routine. I've got my ending to Reese's Leap now, along with a final plot twist. I'll get all that in place next week and then begin a very thorough tweaking, shifting and editing of the first draft. I'm even considering dropping one of the characters I originally felt was central to the plot but now seems quite superfluous. If you're new to my work, this book is the sequel to my manusript of Matinicus, a few chapters of which you can find on my web site: http://www.darcyscott.net/.

I've also been busy scheduling some fall and winter readings/signings as well as a few book club appearances. Monday night, September 20th at 7:00, I'll be reading at RiverRun Bookstore in downtown Portsmouth. That Saturday, the 25th, I've been invited to "Skype in" to a book club meeting outside Chicago. What fun! Hoping that one works out, cause it would be a great way to "appear" without the cost of flight. Friday evening, October 15th, I'll attend a book club meeting up in Kennebunk ,Maine, and Wednesday, October 27th at 7:00, I'll be reading at the Barrington Town Library. That's it for the fall, so far. I'll keep you posted!