Post-McCarthyism

Last night's soirée at the back of the library was very pleasant. I sat among an audience of about 30 in a clear area just next to children's science. Serve-yourself coffee and biscuits added an extra touch of informality. It certainly was not a fan-club-adulation-sign-my-book-please session. Most of the attendees would have been thirties-plus and silver hair was easy to find. McCarthy spoke about and read from her book "When you wake and find me gone". She also told us about her current novel and the difficulties it is giving her.

Question time provided the opportunity to hear some more of what I wanted to hear: How did you become a writer? The first answer didn't satisfy the audience. She spoke about how she was encouraged to rewrite her tv series scripts into short novels. The success of these had the publisher begging for more. A few questions later the subject of how she got to write scripts was raised. Had she really thought her first answer would satisfy? Didn't she understand that people wanted to know how to make that first faltering step from obscurity? I think she did, but avoided telling that part of her story until pushed. With a few smiles we heard that she got her chance to write scripts for a tv production when she developed a relationship with a guy who was making tv series. I guess it's not a very satisfying answer for the aspiring writer. The story is the same in most of the entertainment industry. You need talent but that's only a part of the equation. You also need to know the right people.

I shall book myself in for the next author spotlight evening. This time I'll have time to hang around and chat afterwards rather than rush off to a school information night. Maybe I'll get to know some of the right people. ;)