Tom Swift Writer’s Notebook

At the moment I am an author trying to persuade busy people to take time out of their lives to come to my readings. But usually I am on the other side — a reader in the audience. So often after an author speaks he or she offers to answer questions and everyone sits on their hands. In an effort to avoid that awkward stretch of silence at my own readings I came up with an idea: bribe people.

But with what? Ten-dollar bills would be good, except I don’t have many of those. Ah — candy! Who doesn’t like candy?

The thoughtful person in my marriage and I decided not just to give away any old piece of molded sugar but rather old-time candy, the kind you might have sucked on while watching Charles Bender pitch. I mean this stuff is so authentic you can’t find it anywhere except at a roadside Cracker Barrel.

So on Saturday, during the event at River City Books, I told folks that if they asked a question about Chief Bender’s Burden they could dig their fingers into the goodie basket. Except, the kickback wasn’t needed. Folks were firing questions at me — terrific questions — and many of them didn’t even take a piece in exchange.

It was the best part of the event. We talked about Bender’s family, the American Indian boarding school experience, the overlooked prejudice, the racism, the writing process. I am sincerely grateful because the questions allowed me to say a few words about matters I skipped over in my formal remarks. The readers turned the reading into a useful conversation.

Can’t wait for the next one. And I still have candy to offer.

This post was added on Sunday, April 06, 2008 by Tom Swift at 12:34 and is filed under Events.