Headline: Despite Her Fear Of Public Speaking, A Woman Volunteers.
Getting Over Yourself, or Not
Last summer’s mission, as some of you may recall, was to conquer a fear of public speaking. Tasked with presenting a 45-minute speech at a conference, there was no choice but to get over it. And fast! The self-help process started with reading the speech in front of a mirror. It leveled up by reading in front of family. As a city dweller, finding a crowd was easy; delivering the speech at an audible level as they walked by, not so much. Still, credit for getting out there, right?
Time ran out. The Killer Nashville conference started, and there was no avoiding it. Standing in front of a room full of expectant, aspiring authors, the desire to flee or drop to the floor called out.
<pause for a flashback> The February 2025 issue of Sometimes Snarkastic speaks to the core of a successful party—the mix of people. It surprisingly rang true in the presentation. Because of the warm and welcoming audience, that irrational fear of speaking came down to a lull. Their eagerness to support and also to listen made the experience almost fun. Enough that it’s happening again. Same place. Same-ish receptive crowd.
Is the phobia conquered? No, but it’s not allowed to stand in the way.
Curious how that speech went last year? Here’s a brief of how it started, where it went, and how it ended:
Your Book Is Your Business: Learn How It Works
Meet Your Publishing Professor Sara Wigal
Since we’re on the topic of Tennessee, (if you don’t get how, go back to hello and reread)
I’d love to introduce Nashville based, Sara Wigal, a.k.a. The Publishing Professor. Sara wears many hats in the publishing field, and her enthusiasm for it, her students, and her clients glows from her. She’s offering fall online courses that you can not miss!
Sign up for a one night seminar, or for a full series of online classes where you can learn this fall. You won’t regret it!
I Read It
When I get stuck in the mud trying to propel my newest manuscript forward, I read other people’s books. I surpassed the number of books I read last year in the first 3-1/2 months of 2026. Shows you how deeply stuck I’ve been!
On the upside, I’m now only three years behind on my TBR pile 🙌 I’ll be sharing some of my favorite newly read books here and in upcoming issues.
The rating scale: Take the number of days to read, subtract all of life’s responsibilities, obligations, fun, and a few hours of sleep each night, and voilà—you’ve got the true reading score!
The perfect couple on the outside, sheer hell on the inside. This twisty, dark domestic thriller is a sensational reminder that we can never know what goes on once the front door shuts and the facade comes down. Watching how gaslighting husbands wield their power, and how far we’ll go to protect the people we love are favorite themes of mine right now. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris did not disappoint.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS FINAL SCORE:
2 READING DAYS - 🥴 LIFE INTERRUPTUS = 1.5 ACTUAL READING DAYS
Ashley Winstead’s This Book Will Bury Me left me with a severe case of whiplash in the best possible way. Nothing was as it seemed. Twists flipped you in your seat, and weaving in real-life crime kept the story grounded and creepier. A gripping and addictive read.
FIRST LIE WINS FINAL SCORE:
13 READING DAYS - 🥴✈️🥴 ✈️🥴📕🎉✈️🥴LIFE INTERRUPTUS = 3-1/2 ACTUAL READING DAYS
And Now For Something Completely Serious…
A Serious Favor, Or Two That Is…
If you’ve been paying attention in class, you know that I have a new book launching in October: ONE OF US MUST DIE. I’m very excited about her, and hope you are too. October is quickly coming, and here’s how you can help today:
Thank you for believing in my work and helping this story get out there. I think you are going to love the Richardsons, even if one of them must die!
Last Licks
A Chunk of My Heart Went With Her
You nailed it! And you will again. So thrilled for you.
Love your description of how the mood of the room mitigated your fear. I danced ballet professionally ("Bodies in Arabesque" is my next book), and I can say that fear as you stand in the wings never goes away. And it's for the good - It gives you an edge when you hit the stage.