First public speaking

Posted on June 23, 2009 (Subscribe to Blog)

Today I conquered a minor fear and spoke about my book, Island of Fog, in front of 75 people at the Walker County Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon. I'm a member of the Chamber primarily for business purposes... and yet here I am promoting my hobby instead of my business!

I had the usual butterflies in my stomach (that'll teach me for eating caterpillars earlier) but I think I did okay considering it was my first "public speaking" since my best man speech a decade ago. Dare I say I enjoyed it, despite having a couple of blank moments when I had to study my cheat-sheet. Did the members of the audience enjoy it? You'd have to ask them.

The ordeal -- sorry, the talk -- lasted half an hour, and then, when it was finished, I sold fifteen books in what seemed like two minutes flat. Talk about a whirlwind! I didn't know how many I'd sold until I counted the dosh. I didn't even get a chance to properly thank the very nice lady who helped me. I'll thank her properly when I see her next.

So anyway, a pretty good day. Maybe I can get the hang of this public speaking thing after all. In August I have other things lined up including talks at local libraries and an interview on a local cable TV show! I have to say, though, that this is a bizarre experience. This just isn't me. I'm used to sitting at a computer all day, keeping to myself, working on websites. This business of speaking in public is completely foreign to me!

But then, I am a foreigner here in Georgia, USA. I think the audience was more interested in my British accent than what I had to say! :-)

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