I couldn’t make it Australia for my book tour this time around, but some photons and electrons got together with a great idea to represent–REPRESENT!–me in Australia. Here’s the deal:

Shindig Events hosts live video chats for authors, and we have one scheduled on Wednesday, November 7th at 7pm Sydney, Australia time. (That’s midnight between the 6th and 7th, for me on the Pacific Coast of the U.S.!) All you have to do if you want to see my reading (mostly as seen on my tour, minus the interpretative dance–yes, interpretative dance, can’t do it while in my chair) is tune in at the right time.  You only need a webcam, the latest version of Adobe Flash, and a good internet connection (no download or install required).

Of course, since this is an event on the internet, it isn’t limited to people from Australia. All are welcome. However, because of how time zones work, it will be hideously inconvenient for everyone else. That’s not a bug, that’s a feature. (Having a spherical planet is a good thing.)

After my reading, I will take questions, just like in a real live signing. Shindig is pretty cool in that–just like in a real signing–everyone else can see who’s asking the question, too. (You turn on your webcam, I call on you, everyone sees and hears what you ask. (So actually, a little better than real life, where the guy in the front asks the question and no one else has a clue why the author goes off on mitochondria for a few minutes.)

Because I’ll be reading from an upcoming work, there will be no video for those who miss it–and though I know there’s software out there that would allow others to tape the whole thing, I ask that you don’t. Being untaped gives me freedom to share more and still edit it in the future and change my mind on things, so if this experiment goes badly, in the future I will simply have to share less, both in Q-and-A’s and in internet readings.

Also, given that this is new tech, I can’t promise no glitches. Think of this as experimental. Shindig looks like it has an awesome thing going, but from experience Skyping to Australia, I know to expect small delays as the busy little electrons burrow their way through copper.

Book Reading: 30-ish minutes

Question and Answer: 30-ish minutes

Time: 7PM Sydney/12AM Pacific Standard/3AM New York/8AM London

To participate or to learn more, go HERE.