(I moved this over here from HarryAHistory.com because I feel like it fits better here.)
The reading of my book at Terminus was one of the best nights of my life. It immediately followed a live PotterCast - one which was two hours and one before which I drank far too much water. Even after all the normal melee that accompanies the end of a podcast, I had a trip to make. So I was very late. I also hadn't eaten in hours, and a miraculous Lizzie, reading my mind as usual, shoved a bag of pretzels in my hand. It was about then that Brian of Draco and the Malfoys noticed I was shaking and dropping things. He walked with me to the ladies' room, waited outside for me, all the while talking in this slow, calming voice as though talking a person off a ledge. When we finally got to the room to find it full, I started to walk to the front. Until I realized I didn't have my book. There was Lizzie again, handing it to me. And I dropped it. Someone gave me water and I dropped that; I handed off my bag to a waiting staffer, but not before I dropped it. It was a farce.
I knew I'd be nervous, just not crushingly so. Still, it got better once I got up there, and, well, the rest of it is on YouTube somewhere if you're interested (and don't mind a very fast-talking author; I swear I'll slow down in the future). In my head a brilliant response to the reading would have been some laughs and good applause when I was through; so, when I looked up from the last line to see the room rising, the crowd looking like a wave coming to crash at my feet, I got a physical check, an actual stagger. It's very good that I was already sitting.
(Also, thank you to the people who extended the flattery to an even higher level by hanging with me in the elevator lobby and talking; I wanted to extend the night as much as you guys did, and it was such a wonderful come-down, cool-off, to have most of my nerves expunged and have a nice, calm chat with awesome Potter fans. Thank you.)
I've just now listened to the Terminus reading on YouTube, and it sounds like the book will be fantastic. I am very much looking forward to reading it in November. Congratulations, Melissa, and best of luck.
I watched the reading on YouTube as soon as it was available. It was amazing. I can't wait until I can read the whole thing.
I hope everything else goes well. Good Luck!
Hi Melissa,
I have yet to watch the reading on youtube! But congrats for making it through it and I'm sure it was wonderful.
So this is a bit of a random comment - kind of a "Harry, a History" local spotting! My girlfriend works at an awesome little indie bookstore in a small town in RI. A couple of weeks ago, she was entering information for book ordering into the computer and we were super excited to see your book on the list! And not only that, but the bookstore ordered more copies than is usual for advance ordering - we are guessing because the owner is excited for the release too (maybe he is a secret pottercast fan and we didn't know?)
Anyway, it made me especially happy to see your book representing in a little small-town indie bookstore! I know a lot of fans will probably pre-order on Amazon, (and rightly so!) but I'm so happy that I get to buy mine locally and I will be on the lookout for other fandom folks reading it around town now.
I might just also be hanging around the bookstore to make sure it gets a good spot on the new release table!
Just wanted to share our excitement with you!
-bonnie
Wow! I can't wait for this book. :D I have the picture of the two of us at Nimbus somewhere... Yea yea yea!
That night was epic. The book was phenomenal, the response was nothing less than outstanding and deserved. The "chill" time by the elevators was a lot of fun, too. A very cool way to round out the evening.
*hugs*
As one of the various people hanging out in the elevator lobby with you after the reading, I wanted to say that there was no thanks needed. I think most of us would have been perfectly happy staying there talking with you for the rest of the night.
Fast? Hmm.. not for a New Yorker. I understood every part of it but, compared to Jo's Deathly Hallows reading you were sprinting while she jogged a marathon. Still it was fine with me and I'm so excited to laugh a little bit more at this book like I did last night. Overall you were fine and hid your nerves particularly well!! Hope that only gets easier,
Kevin
Love you Melissa. :) And I'm so incredibly proud of you. Your reading went beautifully, and it was so wonderful to see you up there. Can't wait to get my hands on the "real" book. :D
Hugs, Lizzie
The reading was great to watch on YouTube. I hope during your book tour you make it to Milwaukee (a much neglected corner of Potter fandom - and going to Chicago isn't the same). :)
I'm excited for the book!
Amy
I don't think I've ever been so in love with a piece of literature other than when I first began reading Harry Potter for the first time.
It was fabulous.
I cannot wait to read the entire thing. :)
Wow, Melissa! I just now watched your reading, grinning from ear to ear. When everyone stood up for you, I managed to smile even wider, while not being able to see clearly :]
At least we have one good thing to look forward to in November :]
our little group in the elevator lobby was awesome. it was great of you to hang out and talk with us.
Melissa,
Love the blog. I am a reporter for The Wall Street Journal that would love to interview you about the Harry Potter fan phenomenon. I think your voice would be great for a story Im working on -- please send me your number and a good time to reach you (Im sadly on a very urgent deadline). Thanks and sorry to contact you this way -- I couldnt find your email.
Lauren Schuker
The Wall Street Journal
lauren.schuker@wsj.com
My friend Ann and I were at the Terminus reading and I can say it was definitely one of the highlights not only of the evening, but of the entire conference. Your emotion was so overwhelming for all of us - I believe I started crying riiiiiight about the same time you did!
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the book! Congratulations and thank you for all you've done for the fans.
As MJ said... epic.
We were so scared we wouldn't get seats in the room... the line before was horrible. In fact, I was elected to go tell you that your staff might not make it, because we wanted other people to have the seats first. THANK GOODNESS there were enough for us.
It was amazing, and the response was... as you described... overwhelming. We were all bawling, so it was no surprise to see you overcome as well. And it made it that much more special, that much more wonderful, that much more... magical.
The best of wishes to you on this book, Melissa. I know how hard you worked, how long you debated, how much of your heart and soul are in that binding (any more and it might become a horocrux...wait. No it wouldn't. No deaths allowed!).
Enjoy it. Wallow in it. Revel in it. You deserve the joy and happiness that will come. I can't wait for November.
Love, hugs, and mucho mucho kisses.
I arrived here via TLC-which got me to harryahistory.com-which got me here. Circuitous route, but I'm glad I found your blog. You're a terrific writer. I kind of figured from PotterCast that you are a really cool person (loyal to your friends, live theatre fan, Joss Whedon love, fab taste in books and music) and the blupdates at penbitten just kind of prove it. And PenBitten-Edna St. Vincent Milay just sealed the deal. You may possibly be one of the coolest people alive.
I'll definitely be buying your book at my local B&N. Hope it sells a zillion copies and allows you to make "author" your day job. Good luck.
Hi Melissa! The reading was probably the highlight of Terminus for me. You did a fantastic job. And it was so nice of you to hang out with all of us Potter crazies afterward! I hope the book tour brings you close to Nashville! Either way I'll have my book bright and early on the 4th!
Hey Melissa! Bit of a delayed response, but I've been busy moving & have been internetless for a while =/
I just wanted to say that I watched your reading on YouTube and it excited me into a frenzy, I can't wait for the book to come out! Sorry that you got such bad nerves, but I'm glad everything went well =D You completely deserved a standing ovation!
I'm guessing that if your nerves were so bad for that, a book tour might sound as appealing as jumping off a cliff, but if/when you overcome the nerves, there are a LOT of people who'd love to hear you and meet you! =)
Best of luck with everything!
gnnYbZ gkrhcxhfsoas, [url=http://rbcjmgzphnak.com/]rbcjmgzphnak[/url], [link=http://klqigojlithl.com/]klqigojlithl[/link], http://akennocjpfot.com/