Thanks for asking! My novel is MAURI'S BIRDS. (On Amazon) [kciw.org]

Thank you! What a nice thing to say!

Once I start talking about Mauri I have no problems. Or even talking about the other book I'm working on. What I'm uncomfortable about is contacting the libraries and scheduling the time and travel. The libraries are mostly in rural areas and I think will welcome a speaker. The comments here are helping. It's time for the Nike slogan. Just do it.

@BermaMatteson have you done any fundraising for Autism groups ? Joint appearances or invited to book fairs ? C-SPAN covers many library fairs and book fairs of many featured authors....How high are you ranked by NY TIMES ???? IT'S important for Atheist authors to compete with authors who add religion to important subjects like autism....THE LIFE OF THE HUMAN MIND does not belong to Pinnochio or geebush jeehobah ghostholes

Thank you. The book is on Amazon and I do a few promotions there several times a year. I have never felt that promoting regionally is particularly fruitful. I think it's the rural nature of our area that I'd like to reach out to. I'm uncomfortable about contacting the libraries, scheduling the time and travel. The libraries are mostly in rural areas and I think will welcome a speaker. The comments here are helping. It's time for the Nike slogan. Just do it.

@BermaMatteson This reminds me of myself. A few years ago I volunteered for Age Concern in this country, and got assigned to transporting an old fella around shopping and to church. I fancied myself a bit of a singer too (wanting to stretch my wings from being a part-time amateur band singer), but was very cagey about going solo -- and what's more a cappella, apart from my bongo accompaniment. Not a great look. The Age Concern rep acted like she'd never heard of performing for sick old people in hospital before, and made me feel so uncomfortable. Finally she asked, so you're going to sing to people in bed? Out of steam by then, I could only meekly answer, "Oh, not while they're awake!" and pretended to laugh it off, lamely.

In terms of reading for people, I was only ever brave enough to get into character when reading for my mother when she was mostly blind and almost on her last legs. It was passages from an English period piece from Georgette Heyer, her favourite. She didn't appreciate and asked what was wrong with my voice -- though I pride myself on doing an upper-crust English accent after living more than half a century in a British colony intent on outdoing the English for snobbery.

All I know is, it has to be at least heart-felt or soulful, otherwise take a slightly over-the-top performance approach and go into character. If you can't do either of those, be a bit wary. Though I could be wrong about US audiences, could be quite appreciative compared to here -- listening audiences here are very tough, though kids' story readers can get away with the most extraordinary talking-down-to attitude.