Great column. I've done a few author events and agree with everything here.
The author event I most regret is when I worked with Gene Yang (of American Born Chinese). He was so nice and responsive and I was just starting out as a librarian. I promoted it like crazy (I remember at the schools there was some hostility to promoting a graphic novel book and author among the teachers, most people didn't seem to "get" the achievement of American Born Chinese) and still only a few people came, and a very nice lady asked some embarrassing questions about the book. Yang was awesome throughout and even inspired one of my nephews on his own career as an artist.
It was such an honor to have him at my library, I've always regretted not having an event that lived up to his work and his kindness.
Great column. I've done a few author events and agree with everything here.
The author event I most regret is when I worked with Gene Yang (of American Born Chinese). He was so nice and responsive and I was just starting out as a librarian. I promoted it like crazy (I remember at the schools there was some hostility to promoting a graphic novel book and author among the teachers, most people didn't seem to "get" the achievement of American Born Chinese) and still only a few people came, and a very nice lady asked some embarrassing questions about the book. Yang was awesome throughout and even inspired one of my nephews on his own career as an artist.
It was such an honor to have him at my library, I've always regretted not having an event that lived up to his work and his kindness.