When I set out to learn about my mother's bridge club, the Jewish octogenarians behind the matching outfits and accessories, I never expected to fall in love with them. This is the story of the ladies, their game, their gen, and the ragged path that led me back to my mother.Gave a reading tonight in a small town in Massachusetts. When I pulled into the parking lot, there were three cars. Heart sank. Getting out of the car, I told myself that I’m a professional. Doesn’t matter if there are three or three hundred people; it’s a job. A Bridge Club of twelve women showed up. By 6:00 pm there were 30- 40 people. I was never so happy to see faces. After the reading, I went to the bathroom and discovered that my part had gone haywire and there was loop of hair that looked like the cyclone on the top of my head.
Embarrassing moments in the fields of publishing? Please share and make me feel better.
Filed under: Uncategorized |
Betsy Lerner 
Ha! Haven’t had enough yet – but I might have a story or two when I get back from MS. Headed out now…got three events. Although I just remembered one…it has to do with the lip – ya know – when you’re lip starts twitching b/c your so nervous? I had to stand about one foot away from the interviewer for 90 sec social media thing…lip twitch. I KNOW he could see it!
I was running down the hallway of Fox News national in NYC to be interviewed by Martha MaCallum. (That’s when when I considered Fox palidable.) Anyway, as I’m running from the green room to the studio my kneehighs slipped down my legs until they came out the bottom of my slacks over the top of my shoes. As the tech wired me up inside the back of my jacket I tried to bend and tug. Everybody watched, I was mortified.
I was 22, the only bookstore staff at the reading. The poet was super quiet even miked. That’s when I realized the speakers were facing the wrong way. I skulked up behind him with my hair beyond haywire and in a baggy flannel shirt, and turned the speakers around. Beyond awkward.
1. 6 people showed up for a bookstore reading. the clerk commented that was a good turnout.
2. i curse a lot in my writing and read, “fucking figures” just as two little kids (under age 5) walked in the event room. the words reverberated around the room. i was on the mic. the parents shot me a look that i’ll never forget.
3. i forget people’s names at the best of time, especially when i’m nervous so i could go on and on about embarrassing myself on a stage, by forgetting my writing friends names.
i could talk about the time i tucked my skirt into my pantyhose, and walked around work for 10 fucking minutes AND NO ONE TOLD ME until Mike pulled me aside. but i won’t.
rea
Finding a copy of my book in a used bookstore. Discovering it’s a copy that I’d inscribed for a friend.
I planned to go to that reading!! I live in Rhode Island but it was close enough to make the ride. Then a work event got rescheduled and I couldn’t get out of it. I would have sat in the back and pointed to my hair and your hair and made faces so you could have casually smoothed over the cyclone. But I also might have tried to hug you or teared up when you signed my book or done something else much more embarrassing than having unruly hair. Bottom line, your fans are probably as (if not more) nervous and afraid of looking ridiculous, as you are!
No embarrassing moments in publishing. Because I haven’t published a book. Just wanted to say I just finished reading your book, The Forest for the Trees and really liked it. It was just so down to earth and put everything into perspective. Thank you. Guess, I’m a little behind and will now have to read The Bridge Ladies. Happy about that.