Speed dating for authors

Speed dating--as opposed to its tweaker cousin, "dating on speed"I seem to begin a lot of blog postings with: “I live in a small town.” But, it seems to be a truism that I can’t escape. I live in a county where there are more cows than people. Where the big rumor is that we’re getting…wait for it…an IHOP. Yes, who needs economic development? Who needs job creation and a boost to the educational infrastructure, when we already have three—count them––three Dairy Queens!

But, lest I get peppered with emails from my local chamber of commerce saying, “Dude, why you hatin’?” I should point out that we do have a few notable authors here in town—diamonds in the rough. Namely, Pete Fromm, who is a two-time Pacific Northwest Bookseller Association (PNBA) Book of the Year winner.

The PNBA is a group that encompasses Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Yes, Montana––we’re actually included in something that doesn’t involve a most wanted list.

It’s that same PNBA that recently invited me to attend their Feast of Authors in Portland this September—where I’ll flit from table to table, 20 minutes at a time, discussing my book and answering questions, while attendees eat. In the end I’ll have met 120 booksellers. (Table-dances cost extra).

It’s a beautifully conceived idea. And as one of 20 authors invited, I’m thrilled to attend. Past attendees have included Sherman Alexie, Garth Stein and even R.L. Stine. But it really does feel like speed dating, doesn’t it? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m sure that big-city social phenomenon will eventually catch up to my sleepy adopted hometown out here on the hinterlands. Who knows––they’ll probably have it at the IHOP.

Comments

[Jaye Wells]

I'm attending Conestoga next weekend, and we're doing a similar event. I think it's more like five or ten per table though. It's a great idea.

[K]

A REAL speed dating event with authors would be tremendous. Nothing like a man with a vocabulary! :P

[jamie]

That would be like "Read Dating," or something like that.

[Eric]

"Screed Dating," maybe?

[Jamie]

Lol. I'll wear my Unibomber hoodie for that one.

[Pink Ink]

I live in a small town, too, and I love it. Thanks to the internet, I don't feel like I have to miss out much on the writer world out there. And I don't care that we don't have IHOP :-)

The feast sounds fabulous. Enjoy!

[Roberta Beach Jacobson]

Little time for small talk, eh? The plan sounds efficient, though tiring!