Vanina Marsot answers the question: What's the most unusual experience you've ever had at a reading?
This took place at my book launch at W.H. Smith in Paris. Because there is a scene in my novel about shopping for lingerie, the bookstore event organizer decided to hold a raffle for a handmade, ecru silk and lace negligee before my reading. It happened to be made by a young woman, also from California, who'd recently started a lingerie company in France. I met her moments before my reading, and she seemed enthusiastic and friendly, with a wide smile and thick bangs.
At the raffle, I stood next to her in front of the table, trying not to look terrified at this, my first reading, but my legs were shaking. Unexpectedly, she stepped forward and gave a little speech about how thrilled she was to be there and how excited she was to start her own business...and then she burst into tears--heaving, operatic sobs that escalated in both pitch and volume as she tried to continue talking ("and this is a new company for me...and it's her first book!...and I'm really emotional right now...") but got increasingly incoherent. Bewildered, I patted her on the back, but that only seemed to make things worse (and louder). The event organizer stepped in, calmed her down and gently steered her away. In the odd silence that followed, I realized I wasn't nervous anymore.
My American friends were astounded. My French friends thought it was a publicity stunt. One of the W.H. Smith employees won the silk negligee.
Come see Vanina read at The Mountain Bar in L.A.'s Chinatown on Sunday, January 10 at 8pm.
