Can you believe this? Just about all of my books have been carefully packed away, and ain't that the time when I get contacted by a producer from CBC Radio's Cross Country Check-Up, who are looking for book-lovers to talk about their favourite books on the biannual books show.
If all goes well, I'll briefly be on CBC Radio One this Sunday, about 5:00pm, talking to the witty and wonderful Mr. Rex Murphy about a few of my favourite books.
If you're interested in listening to the program, here are the frequency listings for Canada.
I'm not a religious woman, but I feel compelled to say this:
Please God, don't let me screw up.
UPDATE:
For those who missed the show, as well as those who just want to hear my delightful voice over and over again, there's already an archive set up from the show. Scroll down to the November 20th show. My segment starts at 56:20 (just about half-way) and lasts about 10 minutes.
You know, not until I started to listen to the beginning of the show did I realize that I was one of the special guests being interviewed. Here's the list of the other guests on the show:
Barry Callaghan
Writer, editor and founder of Exile: A Literary Quaterly, and author of Raise You Five: Essays and Encounters 1964-2004
Noah Richler
Journalist, broadcaster and author of the forthcoming Literary Atlas of Canada
John Vaillant
Author of The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed and winner of this year's Governor General's Literary Award for non-fiction
David Lyle Jeffrey
Distinguished professor of literature and the humanities, Baylor University, and author of Houses of The Interpreter: Reading Scripture, Reading Culture
How the hell did I get invited to this party? And I'm the only woman guest! Holy crap!!!
I'm still floating on air....
You'll be fine! If there's a podcast version, let us Yanks know about it.
Posted by: R J Keefe | November 18, 2005 at 10:44 AM
Oh, you're so lucky! Didn't you once admit to having a crush on Rex Murphy (or maybe that was another book blogger)?
I had a dream once that I was called in as a last-minute replacement for him (the studio was very sci-fi) and it was an absolute disaster. But you'll do fine.
I'll try to listen, maybe even call in (but Sunday's my kid's birthday, so...).
Posted by: Isabella | November 18, 2005 at 11:24 AM
Yes, Isabella, that was me, singing the praises of Mr. Murphy.
In this situation, I think Helena takes priority over me! I hope she has a wonderful birthday!
Posted by: patricia | November 18, 2005 at 11:30 AM
Ooooh! I gave up on that show when Rex Murphy got on my last nerve, but I will try to listen for your sake. :-)
Americans etc can listen on the web at http://www.cbc.ca/listen/
Posted by: radmama | November 18, 2005 at 02:46 PM
Very exciting! I'll make sure to listen on Sunday.
Posted by: Kate S. | November 18, 2005 at 04:57 PM
Did you warn him about your loud loughter? :)
I'm sure that god will help.
Posted by: hadas | November 18, 2005 at 06:17 PM
You'll do great. Know which books you want to talk about and what to say about each, then stick with your key messages. Pretend you're talking to your friends and that Rex is naked. He has one of the most pleasant on air personalities. I bet he'll guide you through.
Posted by: Mary | November 18, 2005 at 11:29 PM
And congrats on your house. I just found out. Thrilled for you. Have you got yourself a copy of Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean yet?
Posted by: Mary | November 18, 2005 at 11:36 PM
Congratulations! Rex is my favourite CBC personality, and Cross Country Checkup is a terrific program. I'm sure you'll do just fine!
Posted by: Rebecca | November 18, 2005 at 11:53 PM
That is totally exciting Patricia.
I will make sure to tune in and listen to this Murphy-Storms discussion. It being radio and all, it is really too bad I will not be able to see Rex's eyebrows go through the ceiling when you tell him that your favorite book of all time is Green Eggs & Ham!
Posted by: Cipriano | November 19, 2005 at 12:14 AM
That is so exciting. I am a total Rex Murphy groupie, and I love your blog. I will be sure to tune in!
Posted by: Ann D | November 19, 2005 at 02:59 PM
Oooh, that's so cool.
Posted by: Jay | November 20, 2005 at 01:35 PM
Hahahahahahah my SO and I JUST came in when I rushed to my laptop. I'm going to cry if I missed you. He seems to be taking calls now...(I don't listen to offline mainstream radio, including CBC).
Posted by: Arethusa | November 20, 2005 at 05:02 PM
I hear you!!!!!! So excited. You sound great.
Posted by: Arethusa | November 20, 2005 at 05:03 PM
Hi Patricia, I have just listened to the interview. You did so NOT screw up. Very interesting interview, I loved your explanation of what the blog-world is, and your three selections of books, esoteric, yes, but tremendously well presented and discussed.
Great interview.
I want you to have a booktalk radio show!
Posted by: Cipriano | November 20, 2005 at 05:15 PM
Patricia, you were great. I really enjoyed listening to your segment. I second the booktalk radio show idea.
Posted by: Kate S. | November 20, 2005 at 07:27 PM
Ha ha! You all flatter me so! I was soooo nervous. But at the same time, thrilled to bits. I can't believe I got to talk to one of my heroes, Rex Murphy. What a delight.
And a booktalk radio show? Oh, as nervous as I was, you know what? I would just love that. One of the reasons being, you don't add ten pounds on the radio!
Posted by: patricia | November 20, 2005 at 08:14 PM
Hi Patricia,
I thought it was a wonderful spot.
Well done.
Rrrrrrex sounded impressed ;-)
love your blog and best of luck with your new digs!
Cheers,
Ami McKay
Posted by: ami | November 20, 2005 at 10:49 PM
How exciting Patricia! I missed the show but will try to check out the archive.
Posted by: iliana | November 21, 2005 at 10:33 AM
I'm listening to the archive right now. You sounded very smart. (And I LOVE The Daughter of Time — it's one of my favourite mysteries. That's a great recommendation actually, as far as gift-giving goes, because it's older and just obscure enough for a lot of mystery buffs. Or history buffs.)
Posted by: Isabella | November 21, 2005 at 12:13 PM
I really enjoyed listening to you last night! Luckily I tuned in just in time to hear mostly you and little Rex. :-)
Posted by: radmama | November 21, 2005 at 12:42 PM
Oh! and you sounded a lot like I imagined you would.
Posted by: radmama | November 21, 2005 at 12:42 PM
Oh yay for Isabella mentioning the mystery--I came here with the intent of giving more praise and asking you about that Josephine book--that's all I could remember, my brain is a sieve--because that one caught my attention particularly.
Come now, we all know how you managed to get invited as a special guest. No need to be modest! ;)
Posted by: Arethusa | November 21, 2005 at 01:33 PM
Congratulations Patricia! And thanks for posting that guest list! David Jeffrey was my Chaucer professor at the University of Ottawa, waaaay back in the day. So funny to hear that he's in Waco, Texas now!
Posted by: Nadia | November 21, 2005 at 03:12 PM
That certainly got me to put Exlibris on my Christmas list! You did a great interview. Thanks for the link so that James can catch it, and Douglas listened, from Yemen!
Posted by: Mary | November 22, 2005 at 09:01 AM