June’s question:
Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?
Most of you know I’ve been a professional speaker for many, many years. But what would surprise you is for the first 30+ years of my life, I was very shy. (And I had a terrible self-image, too.) I was okay around friends, but with strangers, I was quiet. Speaking in front of anyone would’ve terrified me. I could not have led two people in silent prayer.
So, if you are one of those shy people, there is hope!
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With live events cancelling, I’ve moved to online webinars. Based on the 3-hour seminar I’ve taught in person for 12+ years. And they are recorded! So if you miss one, I can send you the recording the next day.
Register here for PART 1 - JUNE 9 and here for PART 2 - JUNE 11.
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Dancing Lemur Press has a new release today!
Lost Helix by Scott Coon
Lost Helix is the key…
Stuck on an asteroid mining facility, DJ dreams of writing music. His dad is a corporate hacker and his best friend Paul intends to escape to become a settler in a planet-wide land rush, but neither interests DJ.
When his dad goes missing, DJ finds a file containing evidence of a secret war of industrial sabotage, a file encrypted by his dad using DJ's song Lost Helix. Caught in a crossfire of lies, DJ must find his father and the mother he never knew.
When the mining company sends Agent Coreman after DJ and his guitar, DJ and Paul escape the facility and make a run for civilization. Will DJ discover the truth before Coreman catches him?
Print ISBN 9781939844682
EBook ISBN 9781939844699
Science Fiction – Actions & Adventure/Mystery/ YA Sci-fi
Scott Coon has enjoyed success as a science fiction short story writer, winning accolades and publishing over a dozen works in various magazines. Formally a U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst and currently a software developer, Scott brings his technical experience into his work, along with a sense of spectacle.
75 comments:
So there is hope for shy people like me after all. Your online webinars sound like the perfect way to go. Huge congratulations to Scott and his new release.
Congratulations to Scott and hope the webinars go great.
Yes, there is hope!
Congrats to Scott! And I'm writing myself a note to sign up for the first seminar. Thanks for recording it!
Yes it is inspiration seeing and reading Scotts work, dude deserves top marks and with webinars youre really keeping the show must go on - vibe going, L Diane
Good for you. I don't think I'll ever be able to speak in front of anyone else lol.
I would have never thought of you as shy. Your persona is smart, confident and kind.
Thank you! Yes, it's easy to compress and send the next day. Glad I went for that feature.
Thank you. Oh, but I was once so shy and awkward. LOL
I know what you mean about being shy. If you had told 14-year-old me that I would be fine standing in front of a classroom one day... The webinars sound interesting.
So much more has moved online and it's not altogether a bad thing. I'm really enjoying teaching via Skype rather than traveling.
I used to be really shy too. Only in the last decade did I become bold and boisterous.
Stay safe and well, Diane.
Many people are shy Diane but go on to be very successful in life.
Great post to read.
Yvonne.
Lost Helix sounds good and I like the cover.
I'm looking forward to your webinar.
How did you gather the courage to become a speaker when being so shy? I like the book cover for the new release.
JQ Rose
I was extremely shy and awkward for years and years. Still shy but I've learned how to extrovert really well. Being a teacher really helped with that!
Good luck to Scott - the book sounds great!
Cool book recommendation. Congratulations on becoming a public speaker against the odds.
Not sure why, but I'm not surprised that you're shy. Maybe because it takes one to know one. You always look very sweet online, Diane. Kind and gentle too. Say hi to your mum.
I use to have a fear of speaking in front of people too. Speech class in college was a nightmare! I can do it now, but I might get nervous, it's been so long.
The new release sounds sooo good!
I think a lot of it will continue even once this mess is done.
Thank you for registering.
Small steps. And lots and lots of self-help books.
Thank you. The "gentle" part surprises me.
It is! This is one of those just fun ride kind of books. The characters make it.
Shy! I would have never guessed. ;-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
I think the worst part of being shy is that my daughters learned my behaviors from me. Why, oh why couldn't they take after their dad? He talks to everyone about everything and never seems awkward or uncomfortable around others. Sigh.
I just want to know your secret to overcoming that shyness. I'm still so terribly backward. I guess that could count as one of my secrets! :)
I managed to overcome terrible shyness. As I kid I was so quiet, always reading books rather than addressing people. I don't know how I got to where I am now, but the answer is, if I have to speak in front of a crowd, I do it well. I can meet new people and be fine. I spent years interviewing folks for a living. But deep down, that insecurity is still there and way down below, I'm still shy...
I don't know that shy so much as that crowds looking at me terrify me. Looking forward to your June webinars.
I was very shy as a kid too and I can still feel uncomfortable talking to new people, so I admire how you've overcome that. Although I acted in shows at school, it wasn't as "myself" - public speaking is still a bit of a fear!
I was shy, too, and I still have some shy moments. I'm thankful for some of the teachers I had who helped me overcome in drama, speech, and choir classes.
Congrats to Scott!
The new release looks interesting! Congrats. I wouldn't guessed about the shyness, but then, I'm always surprised when I meet a fellow closet introvert!
Looking forward to the June webinars.
I was very shy as a kid, but I outgrew that phase of my life. I can't believe it Diane, that you were shy for so many years, you always come across as a confident and bold person!
Congrats to Scott on his new publication.
I was pretty shy as a kid but I have no trouble with public speaking now. Looking forward to your webinars.
Lost Helix is SUCH a good book and fun ride. Big congrats to Scott!
Sounds like a great book! Congrats on the new publication. I was never shy as a kid, but I preferred smaller crowds to bigger ones. People irritated me!
I read a lot of self help books and joined a motivational training program that forced me out of my shell. Now I'm the fiery redhead I was meant to be.
Thanks for registering.
Thanks - these will be the fun ones.
Fake it til you make it.
It was a really fun story.
Congratulations to Scott!
~Jess
For the first 30+ years of my life, I was very shy. Me too, Diane. As a teen,I was painfully shy. It took a long time for me to break out of my shell. Along the way, teaching helped build my confidence.
I still don't like drawing attention to myself unnecessarily.
Public speaking? It still scares me a little.
Congrats to Scott.
I can do the public speaking and such, when I know I need to. But that's the only time. I always feel so out of place in any other circumstance.
Congrats to the new release!!!
Congratulations on finding the courage to speak to groups of people. Is there any one thing that inspired you become a professional speaker? Smart to record your seminars. Especially during these times of self isolation.
Lost Helix sound like an exciting read.
Lynn La Vita blog: Writers Supporting Writers
You're going great guns! Glad you're making a transition to online, whether temporary or permanent. Lost Helix sounds cool :)
Lost Helix sounds fascinating!
Michelle, you would do better than you think.
I was starting to train others, so I was speaking in front of groups. Then I published wrong (long story) and spoke as an author. Finally a friend talked me into do a seminar on publishing and promoting. I discovered I loved it and kept going.
I hope the webinars go well. I think I need to finish writing my darn books before I think about marketing. Grats to Scott and the new book!
I agree with Loni, I hope your webinars go well. I'm still working hard on my second draft of my novel, but when that's done, I'll hit the marketing :) Congratulations Scott. I wish you much success.
Having participated in your first webinar on publishing, I am especially looking forward to your second on book promotion, Diane. I like that I am able to experience your seminars through the internet. I hope you continue to share your expertise on line. "Lost Helix" sounds great. I've been reading IWSG member books and enjoying them. I still struggle with shyness ~ kind of ironic for someone who was a union leader. But when I'm passionate about something, it overcomes my shyness. The feeling of being able to move an audience with your words is exciting. Have a good one!
I've always been shy too, but when it comes to public speaking, I'm ok...which I've always found weird.
Good to know one can come out of their shell and speak away.
I never really think of myself as a sci-fi reader but this book sounds intriguing.
Someday I'll be able to say that too...I conducted a live session!
Sonia from https://soniadogra.com
Scott's book sounds interesting.
HI, L, Diane. I NEVER would have thought you were shy. Well BRAVO for reinventing yourself and putting yourself out there. Just think of all the LIVES you have influenced! If you didn't beat that shyness where would all those people be today....
Congrats to Scott... All the best with your new book release. It sounds great!
I'm glad you enjoyed the first ones. These next two are so much fun. And that's the key to overcoming shyness - get passionate. I'm passionate and excited about all things publishing related so it's easy to talk to people about it.
Funny, when I'm in a small group or at church, I don't talk a lot. Throw me in front of a captive audience and I come alive. Especially if I have a microphone. *grin*
Thank you, Michael.
I've been a teacher forever, but I didn't consider myself a "public speaker" before I did a presentation. It was out of my comfort zone. After talking it through with some friends, I saw it as an extension of my blog, my teaching, and how I like to connect with people. I prefer smaller groups and one on one, but the large group was also delightfully responsive.
I'm the same. If someone had told me in my teens or twenties that I'd reach a point where I thrived on speaking in person, I would have scoffed. But I love it now. Not to say I don't ever get nervous. I do, but as soon as I'm up there, it's gone. Congratulations to Scott!
That is quite the secret! One I share with you. I do not like to get up in front of people. It takes me a long time to warm up and start speaking but boy, once I get started, it's on! Best of luck to Scott and also to you with your webinars!
Elsie
I understand being shy and introverted. I'm that way, too!
I wonder how many of us share that affliction. I’m still shy, somewhat. Getting up in front of kids and teaching helped cure me to some extent. But talking to a large group makes my knees shake.
Hi Diane - enjoy the book promotion days this coming week - I'm sure you'll have lots of interest. Congratulations on the new book release by Scott Coon - he seems to have got to grips with his ideas and writing. Good luck to you both - take care - Hilary
That is crazy that you were shy! I still have such a fear of public speaking and admire anyone who can do it - especially as well as you do.
I'm a quiet person too. I was such a quiet child that once time, during a parent teacher conference, a teacher only had one complaint about me, telling my mom was too quiet. Now, the only time I'm not quiet is when I'm talking about favorite books, movies, anime, manga, etc. Pretty much anything that has a story line that's gripped me from the get go.
Congrats on your new book, Scott!
I'm so glad you've moved past it.
I still hate public speaking. Makes me very nervous.
How did the webinars go.
I'm going to look at a kitty today.....
Compared to a lot of people I know, I'm super confident, but public speaking is my nemesis. Having said that, after being given an extra role at work as a group exercise teacher, I've learnt that standing up in front of people isn't so hard. I was nervous in front of my first 3 class members, now I can handle 20 :-)
Congrats to Scott - I've seen his book on loads of blogs recently!
That's a great story, Diane. I teach public speaking skills at the university, and most of the students are terrified during the first class. It's so exciting to see them grow throughout the program, and how that new confidence also helps them in other areas of their life.
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