Funniest Question Ever Asked at Workshop!

It's been a crazy time in author-ville here for me.  Madly trying to promote and madly trying to finish the next book which is due in - oh just about 8 days - but who's counting right? Who? ME that's who! 


Anyhoo, this will be a short post - simply because I'm trying to make every minute count. But, I couldn't resist sharing one of the funniest comments I've ever had from a conference/workshop attendee.


In the past few weeks, I've work-shopped many, many people and I've travelled the length and breadth of the land so to speak. I've been to beautiful places and met beautiful people.  And even the person who made this comment falls into the beautiful category, even though it made me cringe and giggle at the same time. 


I was using my next book as a plot example, trying to illustrate that if you have several plot lines - as I do, then it's wise to connect some so that the whole thing doesn't seem too contrived.  


Anyway, as I laid them all out, one of the attendees said, 'You couldn't have made that up.'  


I stilled.  What? Had someone else used the same plot? Really? She thought I was plagiarising?!!!! 


'Why's that?' I asked trying not to show my concern.. 


'Because no one could have thought that up. You must have taken it from your own life...'


Ahem - now possibly it's time to reveal to you, my dear blog readers,  some of those plot lines that I listed:


An astro-planing guy who's not quite dead yet: a father with two separate families that neither know about; a stalker and a kidnapping. 


I looked back at that list, and for a moment I figured she had to be having me on. So, I  looked back at her, adding cheekily, 'Yes, you're right because my life is THAT twisted.'


While everybody else laughed, she stared at me knowingly. And I knew she hadn't been having me on; she'd been deadly serious!  'Hmmph! I thought so,' she finished smugly.


Meanwhile all I could do was stare. And wonder. I mean, surely those people who read our books know we make it all up, don't they? Sure we often draw from life  - we take situations and embellish and play what-if games; we draw on characters; we use locations - or use a blend of people and a blend of locales. But folks? For the most part? WE DO make it up!  


What's the funniest thing you've ever been asked? Doesn't matter if you're an author or not. But I'd love you to share the funniest professional question you've ever been asked.


In the meantime, have a happy week! Enjoy that northern hemisphere summer as we Down Under suffer through a damp and chilly southern winter.