Welcome back to our continuing feature, RAO Interviews, in which we get our nosey on and interview librarians, authors, and others involved in the wide wacky world of reading about books, reading, and the promotion of both. Today’s gracious interviewee is Stacy Horn, a nonfiction author whose new book, Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory, was published in 2009. Editor’s note: We’ll post part two of this interview tomorrow, but please do direct your attention especially to the last question in today’s segment; I think Ms. Horn offers some unique ideas for author programs.
RAO: As an author, have you used libraries in your own work and research? If so, how?
SH: Always. I admit, the internet has made life easier, but I’m in a good mood on the days I know I’m going to the library. I could spend weeks on this answer, but I’ll describe my two favorite library experiences. The first was at the main branch of the New York Public Library. I wanted to find out every person who ever lived in my building and the librarians there not only introduced me to the tools they had, they told me about various archives around the City that would also help me.
It was the first time I realized that librarians had amazing skills that went way beyond helping you to find books. I’m sorry I learned this so late in life but I’ve been making up for lost time.
The second experience was at the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University. I was there for a couple of months researching my last book Unbelievable. It was a similar thing. They helped finding materials, people, suggested other resources, and went beyond their library duties to make my stay in Durham more enjoyable.
Now, whenever I’m browsing a library’s holdings I always look to see what’s in their special collections, if they have such a division. Just to see. You never know what treasures you’ll find. Maybe they specialize in something I’ve never even thought about, or have the materials and letters of someone I never heard of, but I love exploring and I love serendipity.
RAO: In what ways do you publicize your titles? In what ways do you think libraries could promote books, or reading in general?
SH: Every time I have a book coming out I put together a marketing plan and do everything I can think of, whether I want to do it or not. Certain self-promotional things are just not fun, I hate bugging people, but I do what I have to do. Sometimes what I do helps, often not. There’s no way to predict what’s going to catch the public’s attention and move them to read your book.
For the second part of your question, I think my answer to the previous question applies to this one! Also, I really love “staff picks” sections. I’m often looking for suggestions.
RAO: What tips would you suggest for library staff planning “author events,” or showcasing an author or their works at the library?
SH: Although I suspect this is something that has already occurred to everyone: the more interactive the better. Readings can be pretty boring (with some exceptions). I always do slide shows now, but I think events where the attendees can interact more directly with the writer might be more fun. Maybe workshops? More specifically, workshops that showcase how people can use the library?
For instance, I really did have fun finding everyone who ever lived in my building and I think people might enjoy researching their own buildings, to see who lived there before they did. I had this idea for Unbelievable which is actually a take-off of this same idea. Do you think your house is haunted? Learn how to find out who your ghost might be. And then once again I’d show how to research everyone who lived in your house before. Also, because ghosts seem to come about as a result of tragedy, I’d show how to find out if your house was the site of a crime.
Every writer could probably come up with their own workshops.
The challenge seems to be, how do you get patrons to come to these events when the writer isn’t well known. Maybe have the writer bring “special guests.” For instance, with my cold case book I could bring a detective. For my parapsychology book I could bring a ghost hunter.
Stacy Horn is the author of a new history book titled Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory. She is also the author of a memoir (Waiting for My Cats to Die) and a true crime narrative (The Restless Sleep). She can be found online at www.stacyhorn.com.
