Guy-Candy and the Moment of Truth

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I just returned from a short jaunt to Orlando. My day-job business requires me to go up there for a night every two months, but this time I spent two nights and mixed in a little pleasure. The Man came with me and we saw 30 Seconds to Mars at the House of Blues (I know, you’re jealous bwahahaha). I luuuuurve 30 Seconds to Mars – their music. I never really paid attention to the actual band and its members. I was very impressed. One of the best shows I’ve ever been to!

Jared Leto

What I didn’t realize is lead-singer Jared Leto is an actor. I was so impressed with his showmanship, I did a quick Google check today and without the pink Mohawk and make-up, his pretty-boy face was slightly familiar. I like him better as lead-singer. He rocked the show last night! The House of Blues is a small venue and he took advantage of it for crowd involvement. He even body-surfed right over to where I stood and I helped him up on the little platform right in front of me. Yeah, I feel like a giggly school girl.

Talking about school girls… We were among the oldest in the crowd. Most others even close to our age were there with their daughters. And there were lots of screaming girls. A girl behind me – she couldn’t have been more than 15 or 16 – kept yelling, “I love you, Jared!” Guess what I found out today? He’s MY age!!! So, that’s kind of gross for her. Does she realize he could be her father????

William Levy - Delish!

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a real crush on a celebrity. Recently, though, I discovered William Levy. Yeah…YUM!!! Now I may have to add Jared Leto. Watch out for him and 30 Seconds to Mars – with that kind of musical talent and the ability to work the crowd like that, they’ll be HUGE before long.

Our hotel room was just above the pool of a resort-style complex that Orlando is famous for (everybody is there on vacation). There were lots of people sitting by the pool and, of course, many were reading. I had the thought of how weird it would be to someday see someone reading my book.

A little while later, I received an email from an FWA friend and she mentioned another self-pubbed author whose wife was recently at the doctor’s office and saw a guy reading her husband’s book. And my friend said, “How cool would that be?!”

So I started thinking about it even harder and a couple different scenarios played out in my head.

Scenario #1

Me: Hey, is that a good book?
Reader: Yeah, it’s awesome! I can’t put it down.
Me: Do you know the author?
Reader: No. She’s new.
Me (holding out hand): Well, now you do.

And we proceed to talk about how great my book is and I sign it.

Scenario #2

Me: Are you enjoying the book?
Reader (making a face): No, it’s crap. Terrible writing, no plot and the characters are boring. I don’t even know if I can finish it.
Me: Bolts out of there before the dam of tears bursts.

I’m such a baby. I’d really want to know more specifics. Maybe that person doesn’t read my genre. Maybe they were expecting something else. Maybe they don’t read English. Or maybe I could glean useful feedback to improve my writing. But no, I would run, hide and cry.

For all you writers, imagine that you see someone at the doctor’s office or by the pool reading your book. Do you strike up a conversation? Acknowledge it only with a little smile to yourself? Hide behind a magazine and hope they don’t look at the author’s photo? What would you do if/when that moment of truth comes around?