VOTM: What’s the strangest experience you’ve ever had at a literary event?
BONDS: I remember a reading experience that wasn’t particularly strange, but it was awkward. I organized a reading back in grad school (for the sake of the author’s good name, I’ll not mention who was reading) where literally five people showed up—that’s including me, my wife, and the author. They’d set up a whole room full of chairs and I think I remember a few tumbleweeds blowing around. Rather than standing in front of the podium and simply ignoring the deafening lack of people, the author decided to gather us in a circle for a “story time,” and asked us what kind of story we’d like to hear. He was very gracious and positive through the whole ordeal. Those good vibes made it a memorable experience, and taught me a valuable lesson that even established writers must occasionally (or even frequently) make lemonade from lemons. To put it another way, it was a lesson in the importance of always putting on a good show, whether or not anyone gives a hoot.
TONY BONDS received his MFA from San Diego State University. Since then he has worked as an editor for a children’s book publisher, and started up a freelance production design company, and works as the Creative Director for Calypso Editions, a cooperative literary press which he co-founded in 2010. His novella, The Moonflower King, was published in 2012. Currently, he is working on a young adult steam-punk-fantasy novel.
Come see Bonds read at 3rdSpace on Saturday, August 24 at 7pm.