I am by nature shy and withdrawn, so, when I did my first book signing, I was nervous and tense. I couldn't imagine speaking up and trying to draw those passing customers over my way; they were obviously busy with something else.

But the refrain of a song kept running through my head: "Feel the fear and do it anyway." I took it as my motto. Before I knew it, I was greeting everyone who walked in with a smile, and asking everyone who looked at me if I could tell them about my book. Some smiled back and said no. Some stopped. Some listened. Sometimes they talked (not always about my book). Sometimes they bought a book, sometimes they didn't.

But suddenly I was leaving booksignings feeling good, whether I sold any books or not. And I started looking forward to the next the same way I look forward to social events.

Bring them on!

Where Have I Been?

Anyone who by chance is trying to follow my blog undoubtedly wonders where I've been for the last three months. Wondering what to write on my blog, that's where. I can't pretend to be expert enough to teach any aspect of writing or publishing or blogging. And some of the instructions I've read about blogging tell me that I have to have a "theme" or something readers of the blog come to expect so they won't be disappointed and stop reading. Well, sorry folks, I've given up on coming up with that. I'm going back to "Meandering" about anything and everything; then maybe I'll get something of interest in here every now and then. Lately all the buzz is telling me that now I need to "twitter". One more thing to worry about! Oh, my.