I'm Really Not Boring, Honest!

Actually, perhaps that title should have been "I'm Really Not a Devil-Worshipper, Honest!" Maybe it's just me. Has anyone else on this list ever been contacted by a teacher/librarian/PTA person to ask what your program is and what you charge for an author visit? And you responded promptly with all the information, already rubbing your mental hands together in glee at a chance to talk to your target audience? And then had the rug yanked from under you because 1) no one ever got back to you on your response; 2) someone acknowledged your response and then never contacted you again, or (my favorite); 3) someone found your website and decided that what you write about is "inappropriate" for their students. AAARRRGGHHH!!!

I write stories of the supernatural so I write about ghosts and sometimes psychic abilities. When I come to a school to speak, and some of them have actually allowed me to do so, I talk about writing, about ideas, about publishing, about rewriting, about story construction, and then I take questions. Depending on the age and size of the group, we sometimes swap ghost stories.

I do not, however, light black candles, conjure up demons, or sacrifice goats on the teacher's desk. I don't advocate strange chants, blood-letting, or ceremonies that involve fire, knives, or even face paint.

But my area of published work still seems to make people nervous. I noticed on this we site that quite a few of us are working in the same field, be it spirits, vampires, shape shifters, or psychics. Do you have this problem, or is it just me? I don't think I'm a boring speaker. Kids stay afterwards to talk to me, if that's any indication, and some places have talked about inviting me back, although that's yet to happen.

So I don't think I'm boring, but somehow I'm scaring off potential venues. I hope it's not because they think I'm scary.

On the other hand, maybe I would rather be scary than boring.