Unaccustomed as I am to Public Speaking

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Paul Whybrow

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Jun 20, 2015
Cornwall, UK
We're expected to be a one-man-band these days, even if we've secured a literary agent and a traditional publishing contract, the onus is on us to trumpet our own talents through blogging, vlogging, social media, book tours and organising interviews with local newspapers and radio and television stations

All of this made me wonder whether writers are good raconteurs? Can they remember and deliver jokes and humorous anecdotes? I guess that it helps if a writer is personable...that is, pleasant in appearance and personality. If you were at a social gathering would you be the wallflower, an average mingler or the life and soul of the party? If a writer was being cunning, they'd carefully target who to capture in conversation—such as a start-up literary agent seeking clients.

The days of the reclusive author are long past. Harper Lee, Emily Dickinson, H.P. Lovecraft, Thomas Pynchon, J.D. Salinger, Marcel Proust and Emily Brontë all hid away from the world, but all penned their stories when the written word was more powerful than the visual image. They could get away with not courting the public.

Georgette Heyer, the English historical romance and detective fiction novelist shunned the press. After her novel These Old Shades became popular despite its release during the General Strike of 1926, Heyer determined that publicity was not necessary for good sales. For the rest of her life, she refused to grant interviews, telling a friend: "My private life concerns no one but myself and my family."

Heyer's books were rarely reviewed, but she was wildly popular with readers, selling a million copies of her books every year, by the time of her death. Even today, 44 years after she died, there are annual worldwide sales of 100,000 copies of her many titles.

Such stand-offishness wouldn't work today. Word of mouth publicity is a rare phenomenon, at the best of times, meaning we have to conjure up some razzmatazz to attract readers' attention. That includes putting ourselves out there!

For my own part, cogitating on ways to publicise what will soon be five novels in my Cornish Detective series, I've been thinking on a local scale, as well as nationally. Despite being renowned worldwide for its art scene and famous authors, Cornwall is terribly served by the literary world. There are really only two book publishers, but they specialise in naval history and tourist guides. I've only found one Cornish-based literary agent, and she's semi-retired. I recently came across two local authors who appeared to be published by Cornish publishers, but they proved to be vanity operations.

I've been doing some lateral thinking, for my stories include references to naturism, paganism, the art colony at Saint Ives, supercars, motorcycles, cats, the Beast of Bodmin Moor, farming, PTSD and mental illness—so, I could seek publicity from groups interested in these things—as well as contacting mainstream media to do interviews.

I really don't want to do any of this! I've become very reclusive in the last eight years. However, I don't lack confidence, and could happily appear in front of a large audience. I've done some public performing as an actor, so am nerveless about being scrutinised.

In the 21st-century, an author is as much a part of the brand as their stories, and, I dare say, that many writers make more from public appearances at festivals and on television and radio, than they ever do from book sales!

How do you feel about becoming a media star?

As Andy Warhol predicted: "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes," so perhaps it's unavoidable. The internet has made us all nosy—we want to know everything about everybody—Facebook and national governments already do, so why can't we delve into the background of our favourite author?

I visited the library yesterday, and browsing novels to read, I found a couple that didn't have author photographs on the book cover flap. I couldn't help thinking, "What have they got to hide?"

Are you ready for your close-up?

Lights, camera, action!

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Such stand-offishness wouldn't work today.

Are you sure? Look at this "authors" website:

Bella Forrest

Bella Forrest makes an obscene amount of money and publishes an obscene number of books and until recently, you couldn't find a photo of "Bella Forrest" online.

Isn't there always a way and aren't there usually all kinds of different types of people writing in all kinds of different ways during every age?

Interesting about Georgette Heyer.... she does still have lots of fans.

In the 21st-century, an author is as much a part of the brand as their stories, and, I dare say, that many writers make more from public appearances at festivals and on television and radio, than they ever do from book sales!

Well. Then maybe writing is their hobby instead of their occupation.

How do you feel about becoming a media star?

Not interested.

Are you ready for your close-up?

No. Not my thing. If I need a head shot I'll try to convince my cat to stay still. She's smarter than me and tries to dodge me when I pull out my phone.
 
I'm not worrying, I can save that till if/as/when. I've not been an actor like you, Paul, but I like talking to people. Usually. Not if they're a twat of course, but usually I do. That's why I like writing. I've sung in public, local small- style back in the day but still it meant standing up and singing solo. I've done a live interview on BBC Radio for a museum I worked at. I've done a reading of one of my published short stories in front of an audience at a book fair. I didn't read it, I told it from memory, so as not to be looking at the page the whole time. I was once featured in a national circulation magazine about my Tarot readings, and observed how a journalist will put a 180 degree twist on something you said. Ah well, it made for a good story, that little spin of hers. I didn't much care for it, but it did no harm either, lesson learned. The phone went one day and someone wanted me to be in a TV programme Come Dine With Me.

No way to that one! NO way, Jose.

I was quite shy once upon a dinosaur age ago, but learned to turn my focus outwards, and then it wasn't a problem, because it wasn't anything to do with me.

I wouldn't enjoy sitting all day in a deserted library, though. That's for sure. You'd have to fix up a rentamob, wouldn't you? Have you watched any of Michelle Paver's live shows on FB? Q and As with Michelle about her books, organised by @AgentPete.
 
Even though I don't officially run the Bugmobile anymore, I was working in the library the other day when I heard a girl behind me whisper to her mum, "Is that the Bug Lady?" I happily turned around and assured her it was the Bug Lady, and then chatted briefly with her and her mum. It's not unusual for me to be recognised and accosted for my notoriety in that realm. I'd love it if someday the kids were whispering, "Is that the author of that awesome book?" As long as it's as low-key as my current level of celebrity, which, as it involves children under the age of 12, usually doesn't involve photographs, just a nice chat with a kid who loves bugs.
 
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