My Reading in Beavercreek
Posted on August 3, 2014 Posted by John Scalzi 9 Comments
Me at my August 2, 2014 reading/signing at the Beavercreek B&N. Photo by Howye.
It went pretty well, I thought. It was nicely attended, which is always a good thing, especially when I’m doing an event that’s not on a tour or otherwise focused on a new release. Also, I got to do a test run on some material I’m thinking of using on the tour, seeing how it worked with an audience. It’s always nice to have that.
It was also a reminder that I actually do like doing readings and events. It’s fun to get up there and read stuff and answer questions and have people enjoy what you do, and be glad you’re there — or at least I think it is, which I suppose it the relevant metric here. This is important, as I’m just over three weeks away from a book tour that has me on the road for four weeks straight. If I stopped liking this particular aspect of my life, I would have a very grim month ahead of me.
I’ve made the comment before that somewhere in the recent past I stopped being a professional writer and have become a professional traveler who also, occasionally, writes; if I wanted to, I could be gone from my house for nearly every weekend of the year at some convention or event. I don’t want that (I actually like my family and want to spend time with them) and I prefer to be a writer, not a traveler. What makes the travel worthwhile is the getting to meet and be in front of people. I think when that happens, we all have fun together. And that’s not a bad thing.
Thank you, sir. I hope that we (your readers and fans) continue to make your life fun, as you make ours.
I can tell you that your enjoyment comes across clearly when you’re in front of an audience. That’s a large part of what makes it so fun for us too. Also, in my experience, the folks you attract to your readings tend to be interesting, friendly and fun to talk to in an autograph line. I hope we can help keep it fun for you.
In a few years, when Athena is off to college (or the circus or whatever she chooses), would you and Krissy consider a long, tax-deductible tour of the U.S.?
My wife and I talk often about seeing the country by train and with a little luck we’ll be doing just that next year. It seems like a viable working vacation for a writer.
My slightly surreal experience for the day was that at the same time as your reading, I was at a school “professional development” session–sitting in the exact same spot in the exact same store where each of the past few years I’ve sat at one of your events, while this time you were a few miles down the road at a different store. Sort of kept expecting you to pop up from behind one of the shelves. On the positive side, I crossed off another 4 hours from the 180 required during my 5-year license cycle–on the negative side, I didn’t get a signed book. Oh well.
I actually like my family and want to spend time with them
Weirdo.
Isn’t it time to ask ourselves if the present Ebola outbreak is really Ebola . . . Or is it something more insidious? Could Scalzi and his cabal of conspiring marketeers have released a nasty pathogen to benefit Locked In? Forget murder mystery, and begin an investigation into the corporate book world’s plans for genocide. Read our books or die!!!
Very clever dual marketing, sir! A “Red Shirt” while reading from Lock In. Well played!
I’d have loved to drive to Beavercreek and hear you… but the silly hospital objected to my leaving even for a few hours.
Dag!!! I only live a few miles from this place. *sigh* but I didn’t know….