And he did…

One of my characters said “Hello” to the world this evening as I read a couple of pages from my novel. The excitement from the crowd was infectious and gave me the energy that I needed to get up there and just be “casual Melanie” for a while as I explained my concept. And then, I let him in. He spoke and moved and engaged the audience and they all responded with such sincere accolades.

I don’t know what I was so afraid of really – well, failure of course. But, there I was, reading from something that not six months ago was just a slight glimmer in my imagination. The word that comes to mind over and over is “buzz.” I am “buzzing” with words and thoughts and where to go next. My novel will be written on the bus on the way to work and on Sunday afternoons, but it going to be written. It will be birthed and my characters will find readers who need to hear these voices and maybe inspire them to create things of their own.

I really prepared myself this evening by nurturing my artist’s soul. I listened and warmed up my voice by singing to Tori Amos, Dar Williams and the song that I am using for the introduction of the piece, Backward’s Town by The Grapes of Wrath. I read the piece a couple of times to get the rhythm and the timing perfectly and then left it. Whatever was going to happen, there was nothing I could do but go up there and read.

And you know what? It was a ton of fun. I am having a blast!