Debbie Bennett is reading Cover2Cover
Last month I went to an author event in my local town of Northwich. It was held at our new local bookshop Cover2Cover, which sells an eclectic mix of new and second-hand books, including an impressive array of classic science fiction and fantasy. Think Forbidden Planet in the late 1980s with all the American import paperbacks that you couldn't get anywhere else - remember we were pre-internet back then.
So who was there? This was hosted by the very talented speculative short fiction writer Nemma Wollenfang. I've known Nemma for several years and her stories are superb - I can't wait to read her first novel.
The weather was appalling. Strong November wind and rain and I was remembering when I ran an sf writing workshop in Oldham several years ago in similar weather, and despite the tickets being sold out, only one person braved the elements to actually turn up! Always remember that the value of a 'free' ticket is precisely nothing. He did get lucky though, in that I'd sweet-talked Gollancz to send me some free paperbacks from their Science Fiction Masterworks list. And Oldham library paid me regardless, so it was a win-win-win.
I'd have gone to listen to Nemma anyway, but I made an extra effort to turn up as I know how soul-destroying it can be when people just don't turn up. In the end there were eight of us, which was a good number in small and cosy shop. But I confess, I did hesitate before going on my own, not knowing who else might be there.
Why was that? I don't really know, except to say that I've lost so much confidence over the past few years. I used to be able to go anywhere and talk to anybody about anything, but now the Imposter Syndrome is strong and I have so much less faith in my own abilities and talent. Maybe because I haven't written anything meaningful in so long and I sometimes feel like I'm being left behind these days - just one more post-menopausal late-middle-aged woman who used to be good at writing.
Or perhaps it's down to having retired six months ago. We had such a good summer and I treated myself to a new little red Mazda MX5 sports car, so we went away several times. Clare got married and they've just bought a house, so there is lots to do there too. And despite Andy being convinced I'm bored, I'm really not. I'm enjoying not constantly doing, and just being. But I had a bit of a health scare recently and that's also got me realising I'm 62 in January and I still haven't made my mark on the literary world - or any world really.
So I need a kick up the backside. I'm going to go into the bookshop and see if I can add my name to the list to host an evening myself. I'm going to make an effort to actually open up some of my many WIPs, on the basis that I can't write if the file isn't open. I might even get around to making paperbacks of my YA fantasy ebook and my short story collection.
Feel free to make any other suggestions. Answers on a postcode, please ...
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