The Chisholm Trail Book Festival
This coming weekend I’ll be participating in the Chisholm Trail Book Festival in Duncan, Oklahoma. I’ll attend an author dinner on Friday night and then on Saturday I will present an hour-long workshop entitled “Clues to Writing a Mystery.” That afternoon, I’m doing a 20-minute reading from Murder Off the Books by Evelyn David.
Guess which part I’m the most nervous about? Yep, the reading aloud part.
I like hearing other people read short excerpts to me, but don’t enjoy the process myself. My mind tends to drift while I’m reading, wondering if anyone is listening, fearful if I’ll start coughing, worrying if I’ll butcher my own writing.
Teaching the workshop? Piece of cake! No, really. (Note to self – try to work in the title of the second Evelyn David book, Murder Takes the Cake.) I love talking about the process of writing, probably because it still seems like such a wonder to me. To start with a blank page and create people, places, and events that had only existed in my mind before, is such an emotional high. My plan is to cover the different types of mysteries: cozy, police procedural, romantic suspense, traditional, detective, etc. I’m also going to talk about plotting the mystery and creating characters.
Between now and Friday, I’ll be drafting some materials for the workshop and finding an excerpt from Murder Off the Books to read. I’m guessing about ten minutes of reading max and then leave the rest for discussion. Or maybe I’ll do a five-minute read, some discussion, then another short excerpt, then another round of questions to close it off.
I’ll have a 6-foot table to decorate. I feel a trip to Hobby Lobby in my immediate future. Wonder what I can come up with for a Murder Mystery theme?
If you’re near Duncan, Oklahoma on Saturday, stop by. I’ll put you to work manning my author table while I present my workshop.
Chisholm Trail Book Festival
September 18, 2010
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Simmons Center
800 Chisholm Trail Parkway
Duncan, OK.
Rhonda
aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David
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Interested in purchasing the mysteries I’ll be discussing?
New 2nd Edition Murder Off the Books trade paperback version available at The Digital Bookstore.
Need an E-Book version for your Apple iPad? Both books are available at the Apple iStore.
Murder Off the Books
Murder Takes the Cake
Murder Off the Books – Buy Kindle version of 2nd Edition
Murder Takes the Cake – Buy Kindle version of 2nd Edition
How far is Duncan from the Texas border? We live along the chisolm trail in North Texas!
Sounds like fun. I haven't been to Oklahoma yet, maybe this weekend!
I don't like to read excerpts either, and I think that's a long time to have to do it. Good luck!
I always decorate my tables at these kind of events with crime scene tape. Really interests folks.
Marilyn
Hi Misa and Marilyn,
I haven't been to Duncan before either – but it's close to Lawton, if you know where that is. About a 3 hours drive north and west from Dallas.
Crimescene tape would have been a good idea – don't know anywhere locally I can get it. I'll watch for police crime reports this week. Just kidding.
Ordered a poster of the bookcover this morning from local printer. Hope to have that and 200 flyers by tomorrow.
Rhonda
aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David
Rhonda, I have a roll of crime scene tape I ordered years ago from a place that supplies police and fire departments. You can even order it from Amazon now (with free super-saver shipping!):
http://www.amazon.com/Crime-Scene-Tape/dp/B00152R7IK
Have fun at the conference. I'm sure you'll do fab!
Thanks Susan. I'll check out Amazon link.
Rhonda
aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David
I've ordered crime scene tape from Amazon. Hopefully I'll get it on Wednesday. If my new bookcover poster doesn't look good, I'll drape it with the tape.
Now I need a black tablecloth, a basket of candy, and well … a body would be nice to hang off the edge of the table. Sigh. Haven't gotten any volunteers yet. I ask you Stiletto readers, just what are brothers for if not to pretend to be a bloody corpse at a book festival?
Rhonda
aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David
Awesome, Rhonda! I hope it arrives in time, too. Hey, Halloween decorations are out in a lot of places. Maybe you can find the other stuff on your list at your local grocery store (well, except the bloody corpse)!