The reading last night went well. Really well. It was the first time that the novel went out into the world outside of the safety of workshop, and it was encouraging to see how well it was received. People I didn’t know kept coming up to me and telling me how much they’d enjoyed it, asking when the book was coming out, drawing all kinds of connections from what I’d read…
In workshop people read to find what’s wrong, what can be made stronger. That’s great–it’s necessary. But when people go to a reading they’re looking for what works–they want to like it. And so that immediate response you get from the audience…well, it feels really good. I think I could get used to it.
Thanks to all my friends who came to hear me, and to fellow readers and MFA’rs (and good friends) Philip and Emily. And the knitbloggers were there! Em, Jackie, and Regina (included in the friends category, of course, but I want to single them out especially since you know them) sat at the table right smack in front of the podium and whipped out their knitting. Gotta love knitters. It was fantastic to look up while reading and see those three smiling at me.
Congrats on what sounds like an awesome reading! I wish I could’ve been there.
Posted by: Carrie
Congrats on what sounds like an awesome reading! I wish I could’ve been there.
Posted by: Carrie
Five seconds before I took the stage before my first reading, someone told me not to lock my knees because I’d pass out. So I swayed back and forth back and forth the whole reading. I don’t even remember it – but the feeling afterward was so powerful I felt like I could leap tall buildings. What a rush!
Congratulations on getting your novel out there?
May I ask, which MFA program are you in? I graduated from NYU in ’01 and am teaching fiction in NYC for Gotham. Always love to hear about local successes! Thanks.
Posted by: Cara
By the way, that should be an exclamation point not a question mark after the congrats. I need an editor! 😉
Posted by: Cara
I’m so, so glad it went well, and so, so sorry I missed it! I was thinking of you around 8ish, since I was doing a reading of my own. Of course, it was a reading of “Goodnight Moon” to a much smaller audience.
Sounds like it was just wonderful. Congrats, chica.
Posted by: mindy
Congratulations! I’d complain about being jealous if I weren’t so happy for you!
Posted by: Deb
So glad your reading went well, I’m sorry I missed it. Positive feedback is good for the soul.
Posted by: Faith
So glad it went well. Wish I coulda been there. Soo, do us faraway fans get some sort of a hint about the book?
Posted by: Vicki
CONGRATULATIONS, Cari! What a great feeling to get that kind of positive feedback. I’m so happy for you. Can’t wait to meet you on the 6th.
Posted by: Norma
Congratulations, Cari!
I’m glad the evening went well, and I’m so sorry I missed your debut.
May this be the start of more wonderful things to come.
Posted by: Irene
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it!
Posted by: monica
Five seconds before I took the stage before my first reading, someone told me not to lock my knees because I’d pass out. So I swayed back and forth back and forth the whole reading. I don’t even remember it – but the feeling afterward was so powerful I felt like I could leap tall buildings. What a rush!
Congratulations on getting your novel out there?
May I ask, which MFA program are you in? I graduated from NYU in ’01 and am teaching fiction in NYC for Gotham. Always love to hear about local successes! Thanks.
Posted by: Cara
By the way, that should be an exclamation point not a question mark after the congrats. I need an editor! 😉
Posted by: Cara
I’m so, so glad it went well, and so, so sorry I missed it! I was thinking of you around 8ish, since I was doing a reading of my own. Of course, it was a reading of “Goodnight Moon” to a much smaller audience.
Sounds like it was just wonderful. Congrats, chica.
Posted by: mindy
Congratulations! I’d complain about being jealous if I weren’t so happy for you!
Posted by: Deb
So glad your reading went well, I’m sorry I missed it. Positive feedback is good for the soul.
Posted by: Faith
So glad it went well. Wish I coulda been there. Soo, do us faraway fans get some sort of a hint about the book?
Posted by: Vicki
CONGRATULATIONS, Cari! What a great feeling to get that kind of positive feedback. I’m so happy for you. Can’t wait to meet you on the 6th.
Posted by: Norma
Congratulations, Cari!
I’m glad the evening went well, and I’m so sorry I missed your debut.
May this be the start of more wonderful things to come.
Posted by: Irene
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it!
Posted by: monica
You rock.
Posted by: claudia
Congratulations, lady! I wish I could have been there!
Posted by: Jenn
I’m so happy it went well. I wish I could have been there. I promise I won’t miss your book launch for the world, OK?
Posted by: alison
All these people wish they coulda been there, and I WAS there. Nyah nyah! And you better get used to that feeling, l’il missy. It’s really a book I could devour.
Hmmmmm…I predict a Cari-along (get it? GET IT? It’s been a long day) in the future.
Posted by: Em
Just reading about you working on your novel and now sharing it is very inspiring to me. I find it strengthening just knowing Someone is putting themselves out there. Like maybe I can too. Thanks!
Posted by: Elizabeth
Congratulations! When can we start pe-ordering your book from Amazon? 😉 I’m looking forward to it!
Posted by: spaazlicious
Yay! Good for you! You’re right, workshops are excellent, but sometimes we need to hear what’s right with the writing, not what’s wrong. Wish I lived nearby and could have been there.
Posted by: Amy
yeah!!!!!!!!!! so glad it went well (was there ever any doubt?!)
🙂
Posted by: Rebecca
You rock.
Posted by: claudia
Congratulations, lady! I wish I could have been there!
Posted by: Jenn
I’m so happy it went well. I wish I could have been there. I promise I won’t miss your book launch for the world, OK?
Posted by: alison
All these people wish they coulda been there, and I WAS there. Nyah nyah! And you better get used to that feeling, l’il missy. It’s really a book I could devour.
Hmmmmm…I predict a Cari-along (get it? GET IT? It’s been a long day) in the future.
Posted by: Em
Just reading about you working on your novel and now sharing it is very inspiring to me. I find it strengthening just knowing Someone is putting themselves out there. Like maybe I can too. Thanks!
Posted by: Elizabeth
Congratulations! When can we start pe-ordering your book from Amazon? 😉 I’m looking forward to it!
Posted by: spaazlicious
Yay! Good for you! You’re right, workshops are excellent, but sometimes we need to hear what’s right with the writing, not what’s wrong. Wish I lived nearby and could have been there.
Posted by: Amy
yeah!!!!!!!!!! so glad it went well (was there ever any doubt?!)
🙂
Posted by: Rebecca
Congratulations, Cari! Like most of the others, I wish I could have been there. I’m a big reader, majored in English lit, and have never been privy to watching the novel creation process unfold as with you. I cannot wait to read it! The title piques my curiousity enough.
Posted by: kaarin
As i told you the other night after you read, I am so proud and happy to know you, and so blown away by what you read! I can’t wait to read the rest of it. Wowee.
xox,
r
Posted by: regina
Congratulations, Cari! Like most of the others, I wish I could have been there. I’m a big reader, majored in English lit, and have never been privy to watching the novel creation process unfold as with you. I cannot wait to read it! The title piques my curiousity enough.
Posted by: kaarin
As i told you the other night after you read, I am so proud and happy to know you, and so blown away by what you read! I can’t wait to read the rest of it. Wowee.
xox,
r
Posted by: regina