Book Launch

Ihad an interesting day today. I was invited to a colleauges daughters book launch. Infact, it was actually launching 2 books. Both books are fiction however a very large percentage is based on her own experiences. The sad thing, both are related to sexual abuse.
One in 4 females and 1 in 7 males in Australia, are subjected to sexual abuse. The fact is, these are reported incidences, the number is probably much higher.
For the purposes of my blog i shall call the author "R". Whilst at the book launch,"R" spoke breifly about her experiences of abuse, her self destructive behaviour as a teen and early 20s girl, her fight to be heard and her fight to have the "abuser" bought to justice.
I learned a great deal from "R"s speech. I also learned how difficult and time consuming it is to have your books published, even if your self publishing or are lucky enough to have obtained govt grants. Still, it hasn't frightened me off!!
There were a number of politicians and councillors at the launch, a local tv crew,along with women from the local "Womens Network" , "R"s family and last but not least, yours truly. Folks, i don't do these type of shindigs well. I always feel uncomfortable, preferring to hide in the back row. Around 50 guests in all, all knew at least one other person,except moi, who knew "R"s mother (who was busy chatting with others) and that was it.
I did however observe the goings on. If there is one thing i can't stand, is people who use other people for their own gain. Or, people who go out of their way to schmooze "important" people.....man that grates on me. I will NEVER go out of my way to be seen with the "right people". Watching today, it was so obvious that was what a few women were doing, if they only knew how pathetic they looked.
Anyhow,good luck to "R", she is off on tour all over the State and i wish her well.

till next time, Michelle.