How about I fly down and pretend I'm your ventriloquist dummy for the eve?
It could be billed as a kind of 'fireside chat' between old chums- and each time I burst into song, or vanish a card, you threaten to cut off my queso rations...
I’d appreciate hearing a reading, of course, and then a list of other specific things you’re NOT good at, like going down stairs, with an invitation to people there to claim things they’re not good at. I really think we don’t talk about that enough. For example, I don’t make good potato salad. As someone who grew up in Oklahoma and lived ten years in Arkansas, I would have found this skill handy for multiple potlucks. But any type I’ve tried just doesn’t work, and I now own it proudly.
What a lovely post. Elizabeth! We saw Hal Holbrook playing Samuel Clemens several years ago and managed to get this clip of his take on on Man and Religion. It has been quipped that Hal played Mark Twain longer than Clemens did. https://youtu.be/L5CFOEsQje8?si=wZqQ3ikin9z5_Wvq
Having a few of these days myself, travelling with a new book and I keep getting the time zones upside down and turning up two hours early or late (also muddle-headed, lost keys, reviewing from the next room as I say fatuous things to students and readers). Glad to have company.
You, EMcC, are a certified -- okay, probably uncertified -- national treasure, and I firmly believe you are capable of doing just about anything on stage. And I, for one, would like to see you as Mark Twain.
You are brave. Tell a story. About swimming, perhaps. The joys and scary and funny bits. You'll be terrific. Wish I could be there. Alas, Vermont is too far to swim.
I can't believe you brought up Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain. When I was in 8th grade at the Lab School in Chicago he came and performed for the children as (and this is how I remember it) a kind of warm-up before taking "Mark Twain Tonight" onto the stage.
Ahhhhh. Have been out of town for a busy work week and just catching up on past reads. How was the event last night? Would have advised you to just be your beautiful you which I’m sure you were.
It is safe to assume the folks who show up at the bookstore to hear you will be there because they've read something you wrote and liked it. Or because there's nothing they want to watch on TV that night.
The best author talks I've heard involved them telling funny stories about themselves or someone they knew. Carl Hiaasen is particularly adept at this, as is Randy Wayne White. While you are unlikely to have any animals other than dinner in your freezer or to have dropped tourists off at an island where their clothes washed out to sea before you returned, there is surely some amusing story in your past.
The audience is already inclined to like you. They will treasure whatever you say and be pleased they got to meet you. Wish Austin were not so far away or I'd be there too.
Unfortunately, I can't be in Austen, but I would say that at all of the best author events I've been to (Elizabeth Strout, Barbara Kingsolver, Anna Quindlen, Roz Chast and Patricia Marx, Ann Patchett and Jacqueline Woodson), the authors simply talked (as opposed to reading very much) and responded apparently honestly and forthrightly to (intelligent) audience questions. Just be yourself -- it'll be great.
(And I'm certain I'm either going to die in the garden by tripping over a hose or in the house by tripping over a dog or two.)
I just left the rental car running in Iowa while at lunch. No key and I forgot to push the button for off. It was so quiet I didn’t hear it running. Your lipstick shtick worked pretty well in Brooklyn. Just sayin.
Question: would you be free some time in next week for me to interview you for my podcast Kurt Vonnegut Radio, to celebrate yr paperback release?
I'd love to have you on the show. (podcast is also hosted on this website.)
Since I last interviewed you, I've learned how to make entire episode myself & can have finished episode posted within few days after our interview. Also I'd love to talk to you abt some of yr more recent Barton Springs reports.
Anyway, pls feel no need to answer here in comments. I will send you email w invite shortly. Cheers.
How about I fly down and pretend I'm your ventriloquist dummy for the eve?
It could be billed as a kind of 'fireside chat' between old chums- and each time I burst into song, or vanish a card, you threaten to cut off my queso rations...
That would be an absolute dream!
I’d appreciate hearing a reading, of course, and then a list of other specific things you’re NOT good at, like going down stairs, with an invitation to people there to claim things they’re not good at. I really think we don’t talk about that enough. For example, I don’t make good potato salad. As someone who grew up in Oklahoma and lived ten years in Arkansas, I would have found this skill handy for multiple potlucks. But any type I’ve tried just doesn’t work, and I now own it proudly.
What a lovely post. Elizabeth! We saw Hal Holbrook playing Samuel Clemens several years ago and managed to get this clip of his take on on Man and Religion. It has been quipped that Hal played Mark Twain longer than Clemens did. https://youtu.be/L5CFOEsQje8?si=wZqQ3ikin9z5_Wvq
Having a few of these days myself, travelling with a new book and I keep getting the time zones upside down and turning up two hours early or late (also muddle-headed, lost keys, reviewing from the next room as I say fatuous things to students and readers). Glad to have company.
You, EMcC, are a certified -- okay, probably uncertified -- national treasure, and I firmly believe you are capable of doing just about anything on stage. And I, for one, would like to see you as Mark Twain.
You are brave. Tell a story. About swimming, perhaps. The joys and scary and funny bits. You'll be terrific. Wish I could be there. Alas, Vermont is too far to swim.
I can't believe you brought up Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain. When I was in 8th grade at the Lab School in Chicago he came and performed for the children as (and this is how I remember it) a kind of warm-up before taking "Mark Twain Tonight" onto the stage.
Ahhhhh. Have been out of town for a busy work week and just catching up on past reads. How was the event last night? Would have advised you to just be your beautiful you which I’m sure you were.
It is safe to assume the folks who show up at the bookstore to hear you will be there because they've read something you wrote and liked it. Or because there's nothing they want to watch on TV that night.
The best author talks I've heard involved them telling funny stories about themselves or someone they knew. Carl Hiaasen is particularly adept at this, as is Randy Wayne White. While you are unlikely to have any animals other than dinner in your freezer or to have dropped tourists off at an island where their clothes washed out to sea before you returned, there is surely some amusing story in your past.
The audience is already inclined to like you. They will treasure whatever you say and be pleased they got to meet you. Wish Austin were not so far away or I'd be there too.
Unfortunately, I can't be in Austen, but I would say that at all of the best author events I've been to (Elizabeth Strout, Barbara Kingsolver, Anna Quindlen, Roz Chast and Patricia Marx, Ann Patchett and Jacqueline Woodson), the authors simply talked (as opposed to reading very much) and responded apparently honestly and forthrightly to (intelligent) audience questions. Just be yourself -- it'll be great.
(And I'm certain I'm either going to die in the garden by tripping over a hose or in the house by tripping over a dog or two.)
I just left the rental car running in Iowa while at lunch. No key and I forgot to push the button for off. It was so quiet I didn’t hear it running. Your lipstick shtick worked pretty well in Brooklyn. Just sayin.
Elizabeth, big congrats on paperback launch.
Question: would you be free some time in next week for me to interview you for my podcast Kurt Vonnegut Radio, to celebrate yr paperback release?
I'd love to have you on the show. (podcast is also hosted on this website.)
Since I last interviewed you, I've learned how to make entire episode myself & can have finished episode posted within few days after our interview. Also I'd love to talk to you abt some of yr more recent Barton Springs reports.
Anyway, pls feel no need to answer here in comments. I will send you email w invite shortly. Cheers.