Last night, I did my first public reading from THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LOST AND FOUND! And despite a few butterflies in my stomach, it went really well. I got a good audience response to the excerpt I read, I didn't talk too fast or sound weird (always a worry when it comes to public speaking), and I met some really cool authors. A successful night! So what, exactly, went down? The reading was hosted by At The Inkwell at NYC's KGB Bar, a Lower East Side space that's been hosting literary gatherings and readings since the mid-'90s. I shared the stage (or rather, alternated the podium…) with authors Danielle Paige (DOROTHY MUST DIE, coming April 2014), Matthew Cody (WILL IN SCARLET and others), and Lee Bacon (the JOSHUA DREAD series). I went last, so I had the pleasure of listening to everyone else's work—all books I need to go out and pick up, ASAP—before it was my turn. And when it was my turn, as I said above, I was really pleased with how it went! Here's me, very focused on reading:
It's been a few years since I did a reading, and while this wasn't the biggest crowd I've ever read in front of—that honor goes to my MFA thesis reading at The New School—it was a little nerve-wracking to be putting something from this book, the one that is actually on its way to being published, out into the world. But my fellow authors were so friendly and generous, and the atmosphere at KGB Bar was very chill. Plus, I had my support system in the audience—shout-out to Ben, Suzanna, Michael, Julia, Chris, Melissa, and of course, Justin, for showing up to cheer me on. :)
So what's next for THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LOST AND FOUND? I'm waiting on my copyedits, and I'm hoping—fingers crossed—to see rough cover designs in the next few months. In the meantime, I'm still hard at work on my new project; I emailed several chapters to my agent to read on Tuesday, and I'm waiting (with bated breath) to hear what she thinks.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, re: my post on hibernation from Friday…it's snowing again. Sigh. At least I don't have to leave the apartment today. Pajamas and slippers and blankets, ahoy!
~Kathryn