My First Bookstore Reading

My very first reading at a bookstore occurred August 6th, so I’m a little late in posting. Lauren C. Teffeau was kind enough to double with me on the affair, since I’m an unknown and the Books on the Bosque event coordinator requested someone with more fame to bring in more bodies.

The bodies were not in attendance as the start time arrived, 5:30. Only four seats were occupied. I knew there was an accident on Coors, the major westside artery that serves the Albuquerque bookstore, and even I needed to dodge the mess  through a residential neighborhood. Several friends texted and said they were running late.

We started at 5:45, and by six, a couple dozen people had filed in. Such a relief. How embarrassing it would be to have such a scanty showing! Books on the Bosque would never have me back.

Lauren started as the opening act, reading from A Hunger with No Name. I read from Skies of Fire and Smoke. First, a passage from chapter one, Lieutenant Johann Fischer facing a dragon with his Fokker triplane, and then from chapter two, Cardinal Lanzo Cellucci facing an inept pope.

At the end, I sold quite a few books. Afterward, Lauren and I and several friends headed to the Thai place just a couple of blocks from the bookstore. The post-performance is always the best part. Public speaking is a bit stressful for me, and I probably wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel it was necessary. But I’m always glad I do.