Jane Lockwood (Forbidden Shores) and Colette Gale (Unmasqued) are reading from their books tonight at Virgins’ Night at the In the Flesh Reading Series hosted by Racher Kramer Bussell. It’s free! There will be free books (Colette’s) and cupcakes and all sorts of good naughty stuff:
8 PM
Happy Ending Lounge, 302 Broome St., NYC
But, but … wait a minute. Virgins‘ Night?
Yes. It’s for debut erotica writers reading their stuff aloud for the first time.
Jane and Colette, plus the other writers, will each have ten minutes to read aloud their hot stuff. Jane reports that she’s too busy to even be nervous, but she’s sure she will be when it comes down to it.
I’ve read parts of my books aloud–it’s actually something I quite like when I’ve got over the oh my god how could I write such a clunky sentence feeling and just enjoy the sensation of performing, and gauging the audience’s reaction.
What about you? Do you enjoy listening to authors read their work? How about books on tape or CD? If you’re a writer, do you like to read your work aloud and who have you read it to (pets excluded)?
I don’t really enjoy books on tape or CD because I’m more of a visual person, and I like to have the words in front of me, to feel the book in my hand, the whole experience of reading. However, I’ve enjoyed going to readings around the city. I was in a workshop for 2 years run by a published author and we were required to read 7 pages every week. It was nerve-wracking but very good for finding out and getting rid of the clunky bits. Can’t wait to hear you and Colette read tonight. I’m undecided yet whether to go for wine or a martini!
Elizabeth, I have to agree that there is just something about feeling that book in your hands that is magic. I DO, however, read my work aloud quite often just to see if it “Sings” or not, for lack of a better term. I especially like to read the dialogue aloud to make sure it works. There are some authors, however, that are phenomenal readers. I have listened to Stephen King read several of his novels on tape. He just has the perfect voice for it. I have also been fortunate enough to hear Vincent Price read Edgar Allen Poe and Oscar Wilde in person. Magnificent.
Janet, I wish I was in NY to hear you read! I bet it will be great. Plus, I would go anywhere there are cupcakes. 🙂
I sometimes read bits of dialogue aloud, to see if it flows naturally. I love hearing other people read aloud, but for some reason have never been able to focus on books on tape.
I find books-on-tape difficult to pay attention to. They move at a steady pace, whereas I don’t read like that. I speed up, slow down, go back and re-read. And then there’s the feel of holding the book, smelling it, seeing it, etc. sensual pleasure.
Like doglady though, I do read aloud parts of my work as I revise, to “listen for” clunkers, accents, period/non-period voice, etc.
See you gals tonight!
I usually don’t like readings, btw, but I will suck it up (ha!) and be there, drink in hand.
I’m not a books-on-tape/CD person, either. I tried it for awhile when I had a long commute, but it only worked for re-reading books I already knew well, because I’d get distracted and lose part of the plot. Outside of a car, I read so much faster than I listen that listening to a book would feel like a frustrating waste of time compared to just reading it. Also, I tend to be pulled out of the story by one voice doing all the voices. Don’t know why, because it’s not like I stop to imagine different voices and accents when I’m reading in the usual fashion.
However, I do enjoy hearing authors read their work at signings and workshops. Then it’s not so much about taking in the story as it is meeting the author and getting his/her perspective.
And I like how my in-person critique group reads each other’s work aloud. Hearing my work helps me spot awkwardly long sentences, Word of the Day Syndrome (same unusual word 5 times in 2 pages), and the like.
I like the idea of listening to Jane Austen on tape while I clean the house. In fact, several years ago, I bought several of Jane Austen’s books on tape for this very purpose. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to listen to them yet… 🙂
Cara
I’ve never tried books on tape but suspect the single voice might bother me. As I read, I do imagine different voices for the characters–I don’t mean I work at it, I just do.
I haven’t attended any readings except for a group booksigning at which others and I all read first chapters. I was inwardly cringing during my slot but afterwards everyone said I read well.
Anyway, hope it goes well and wish I were there!
I loved books on tape when I was commuting. I got more “reading” done that way! But if it was a bad reader, I couldn’t stand it!
Janet, I’m thinking of you and Collette tonight!!! I thought you might like to know…..Gerard Butler is in NYC, too. If he comes to your reading I may never get over it!
If GB shows up, Janet might never get over that either. 🙂
I find my mind drifts with non-fiction audiobooks. And I found some romances didn’t work because the female narrator just really didn’t work for me for men’s voices.
But the Nero Wolfe books read by Michael Prichard have been fabulous and generally keep my attention.
We read out loud on car trips, too. In fact I have this sudden memory of travelling with another couple and trading off the Jennifer Crusie HT we were reading — without warning him that a sex scene was coming up 🙂
Heather S. wrote:
We read out loud on car trips, too. In fact I have this sudden memory of travelling with another couple and trading off the Jennifer Crusie HT we were reading — without warning him that a sex scene was coming up 🙂
Oh yeah…that was Getting Rid of Bradley, right? 🙂
Good book.
Though there’s something to be said for reading E Nesbit in the car… 🙂
Cara
Cara wrote:
I like the idea of listening to Jane Austen on tape while I clean the house. In fact, several years ago, I bought several of Jane Austen’s books on tape for this very purpose. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to listen to them yet… 🙂
You know, about five years ago I bought a special mood candle to burn the next time I cleaned, but now I can’t find it under all the dust bunnies.
Todd-who-needs-a-mood-candle-for-finding-the-other-mood-candle
Heather wrote:
I have this sudden memory of travelling with another couple and trading off the Jennifer Crusie HT we were reading — without warning him that a sex scene was coming up
Cara wrote:
Though there’s something to be said for reading E Nesbit in the car…
Wait a minute! Are you telling me that the E. Nesbit we’re reading right now has a sex scene coming up??
Todd-who-didn’t-know-that-E.-Nesbit-was-That-Way
My mom read outloud to be me a lot when I was growing up (even after I read to myself), and at one point she got the tape recording her reading my favorite books so I could play them when she was at work, traveling, I was home sick, etc… It was wonderful (I haven’t been able to listen to them since she died, bu† I will some day, especially if I have children). These days I mostly like to read holding a book in my hands, but I have listened to books on tape/cd sometimes on long drives (I have some great Jane Austen recordings–abridged unfortunately–read by wonderful British actors and combined with period music). I love hearing authors do readings and I love do readings myself. Wish I could go to the reading tonight–it sounds wonderful!