The lights, they are so blinding.

So. I was up at the crack of dawn for my interview. The anthology, Evolve: Vampire Stories of the New Undead, is launching all across the country, and the publisher asked if I could do a short interview on our local morning news.

My publisher, Brian Hades, came to pick me up just after seven. We headed down to the studio to wait – the interview was scheduled for about 8:10am, so there was time to hang out in the lobby (nervously!).

Also time to peer into the control booth and take furtive pictures:

A producer came to take me back to the studio. Holy cow, I was nervous. But there was time for a posed picture with the book. I had to wear a visitor’s badge – I felt so official!

And then there was more waiting. Time to sit and fuss with my hair (and quietly freak out).

The lights, they were bright.

I would go so far as to say that they are blinding. I knew television sets were well-lit, but I wasn’t really expecting it to be quite so…uh…lit.

The interview went well, I think…

It’s truly awkward to watch yourself on tv. I had no idea, for example, that my right eyebrow moved with a mind all its own. Seriously. I was worried about crazy blinking and saying ‘like,’ but it seems I should have concentrated my fears on a rogue eyebrow.

Still, I made it through. I cracked a couple of corny jokes – I blame my rogue eyebrow – but I think I managed to tell my story without sounding too lame. And it really is a great anthology. I’m excited for it. My parents were excited, too…they were at home, watching me in their bathrobes. I’m betting it was a surreal experience for them, too. And when I checked my twitter after getting off the air, I found out that the Banff Centre had been watching (yay, Banff Centre!), as well as friends in Banff and Calgary. Very exciting! And lots of encouraging messages from friends patiently waiting for the Youtube posting.

I even signed a copy for the host – just like a real writer would. I still feel a bit like I’m just pretending or faking it…but I think a tv interview is probably as real as it gets.

Quite a day. The Calgary launch for the anthology is scheduled for April 15, 2010 at Pages on Kensington. Around seven in the evening. Say sevenish to be safe. It should be fun, and I’m looking forward to getting together with the other Calgary-area authors and signing some copies. That will be fun, too!

I think I need to go and have a lie-down now.