... a necessary evil.

Unless you’re name is Stephen King, and you get huge advances, and sell millions of books, there isn’t much money in having a book published. That’s so important, I’m going to repeat it. There isn’t much money in having a book published. Your royalties are merely a pittance. Add to that the fact that you only get a royalty check two to three times a year, and you can quickly see why most writers don’t give up their day jobs.

I’ve met a lot of authors through various writers’ groups, writing conferences, book signings and other writing get-togethers. Every author that I’ve met agrees: the real money lies in the speaking engagements. That’s what you, as an author/writer, should be doing if you want to make any money. That is, unless you’re content to pass out books to friends and relatives or equally content just to see your name printed on a book. Don’t laugh, a lot of authors I’ve met feel exactly that way. That's enough notoriety for them. Period.

“But … but … but“, you say, “I want to make money, I just can’t get up in front of people and talk. I’m too shy.“

First off, let me say there's no one out there reading this article who is, or was, any more terrified of public speaking than I was. When I was a child, I was so shy that I would cross a street because I saw someone I knew in the distance walking towards me, and I was afraid I might have to say hello to them. Over the years, it got a little better, thank God, but I digress ...

When my book of children’s poetry was published in 2000, the press release went out to newspapers all around the country, and of course, it was also in our own local papers in New Hampshire. As a result, for my very first paid public appearance, I was to speak to a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) group the evening before my very first school visit at their same elementary school.

I was excited to have been invited. I was even more excited that I was going to be paid for it. But suddenly, neither of those things mattered, once I peeked through the curtains from backstage and saw the filled auditorium. I had a total meltdown and I was more terrified than I had ever been in my life. But someone said something that turned everything around for me and this is what I want to share with you. I think it'll help you put things in a different perspective, just like it did for me.

After peeking through the curtain from backstage, I ran to the ladies room and threw up. After my second trip to the ladies room for the same reason, my husband at the time asked how I was doing. I told him there was NO WAY I was ever going to be able to speak to that huge group! I was going to gracefully back out of it, give the people in charge my apologies, and then go home to lick my wounds. I told him, for one thing, there was so much combined education and intelligence sitting in that auditorium, even Einstein would feel outclassed. Who the hell was I, and what possessed me to think I had anything worthwhile to say to a group of educators, let alone the parents of the children I would be speaking to at school the next day, for God’s sake?

My husband gripped my shoulder firmly. He turned my face up to his, looked me straight in the eye, and told me firmly that I could do this. He said anyone can speak to a group of people, no matter how large the friggin’ group is, IF they are the expert on the subject they‘re going to talk about. He said, “Cath’ you wrote the damned book! You, and you alone, are the expert on that book! I’ll tell you something else. You’re worried about all of the education ‘out there’ … well let’s get something straight. You’ve done something that none of them have done. You wrote a book, found a publisher, and you are a children’s author. You’re looking at it all ass-backward! You may envy their combined intelligence … well, they envy your talent and accomplishment! Now, buck up, lady! Get out there and put a smile on your face. Be the expert you are and talk about your book!”

It was amazing, seeing it from that perspective. I honestly did an about face in how I saw things from that second forward. I walked out onto the stage and as I was being introduced, I felt the adrenalin start to pump. I put a smile on my face, and as I looked out into that sea of faces, I saw that they were smiling, too. I had never had so much fun as when I spoke to that PTA.

Now, I love public speaking -- and, somewhere along the way in the years I‘ve been doing it, I’ve found that I’m even somewhat of a ham, especially with groups of children in school visits and poetry workshops. There’s only one downside to it. The adrenalin rush is incredibly addicting and you start to crave your next speaking engagement!

If this has helped even one other person to get over their fear of public speaking, then it was worth it. I want all of you to feel the same rush, the same excitement that comes from talking about your book or your writing. Don’t forget, you are the expert. And smile -- it’s a tremendous ice-breaker with a crowd.

I wish you success!