Got fairly short notice (just over an hour) invitation from RPL’s Marketing Unit who needed someone to go on CBC Radio’s “Blue Sky” noon hour program to talk about books we’re recommending these days and other topics yesterday.
Since I’m a good guy, always eager to help a colleague who’s in a bind plus not uncomfortable going on media, I said “Yes”.
After a bit of confusion (I thought I could call in from my branch but CBC called me and said they wanted me in studio so I had to boot it across town fairly quickly), I got to the studio, quickly called my parents from the parking lot to let them know I’d be on the radio (good thing I did – their phone started ringing off the hook as soon as the interview began as neighbours who were listening called to let them know!) then went in and hung out in the green room (well, a chair in the lobby).
I was ushered into the studio (I’d been before but long ago before I became a librarian although I was still talking about books back in the day), got the headphones on and got settled.
Like Justin Trudeau, I always have time for a selfie
I wasn’t even super familiar with the format or how the show would flow – I was prepared to fill half an hour talking with a colleague from SPL who was also on the show and the host if needed (something I’d done quite often when filling in for the “Book Chick” on Community Radio when I worked for the Sask Publishers Group).
But it turned out that between the host, call-in guests who gave their own book recommendations and a break for the news, I only had to speak about 3-4 times in half an hour.
Now I know how animals at the zoo feel
In fact the hardest part was that I had something to add – a book recommendation or an insightful, witty comment – after every segment but rarely got to inject them and didn’t get to mention nearly as many books and publishers and strategies for finding good books as I wanted.
Oh well, maybe they’ll have me back for a one-on-one chat someday! 😉
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