This guy kept an eye on Dorian while she presented
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| Bookish skeleton at Murder on the Beach Bookstore in Delray, FL |
In two hours, Dorian shared information, handouts, juicy industry tidbits and a few jokes. She even gave each participant one of her novels.
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| I loved this book! |
She gave us a handout of great beginnings, like this one from the hilarious Absolutely, Positively Not by Sid Fleischman Award winner, David LaRochelle: "Everybody has at least one ugly secret, and mine is as ugly as they come. I square dance. With my mother."
She suggested books, like this one and Web sites, like this one that has a great character worksheet.
Dorian's workshop was informative and inspiring. It hit all the right notes.
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| Dorian Cirrone and Donna |
Everything about it was perfect, except . . .
A woman sat front row center, but she didn't face Dorian. She faced the rest of the audience. I soon discovered why. Every time Dorian made a point, this woman loudly offered her opinion/experience/thought/etc. to the rest of us.
I wanted to scream, "I paid to hear Dorian, not you, lady!" I wanted to tell Dorian, "Tell everyone to hold questions until the end." Although it seemed nothing would quiet this rude woman. When she began organizing a crinkly pile of store receipts from her pocketbook and answered a cell phone call, I wanted to hit her with a book.
I didn't.
I did what every good writer would. I took mental notes because I will include her in an upcoming novel. I will give her unsightly acne and a grapefruit-sized wart on her nose. Then I will make her suffer a literary death of which Stephen King would be proud.
Yeah. Being a writer is awesome.
