>>Don't you think that modern authors are not willing to vanish--that 
they  so desperately want to be part of the story. Yes? No? Maybe so?
I know I need to vanish more.<<

Some of my readers say they like getting to know me through my writing, 
so I'm tending to leave my self in. I'm usually telling my stories about 
my work, so the third person seems to lack authenticity. But, one of my 
editors, I think it was John Lively at Taunton Press, once said he 
thought my articles were like windows, with perfectly clear glass. The 
article "framed" the subject but did not get in the way of a "clear 
view" of the subject for the reader. I think that "clear glass" is me 
vanishing from the writing where it's important to do so.

In a similar vein, occasional when I'm in front of a group speaking or 
working more closely with just one or a few people, I find myself 
vanishing. "Vanish" really does describe it. This first happened back in 
the 1990s when I was giving a slideshow/talk in New Hampshire. It's part 
of a four-Saturdays series, pretty formal situation, in a recently 
restored 1920s Egyptian Revival theater, about 50 or 100 people. I start 
my slide show with about 40 slides that usually takes an hour. I'm on 
the stage, in front of the screen pointing at the images with a broom 
handle. I show and talk through the first few slides, then all of a 
sudden I'm looking at the last slide, and I'm off the stage, in the 
"pit" right up next to the front row of the audience. Ain't that odd, I 
thought, maybe I passed out and fell off the stage, or, or, well I don't 
know what. I'm beginning to worry, feel bad, sweat and i turn to look at 
the audience. All at once they're all clapping with some hoots and 
cheers, a few and then more are standing up, this seems to go on a 
little too long. I'm thinking, well they're happy, I'm not hurt, looks 
like I'm done. I step over to my contact person who's with a couple 
others, she says, "Well, we weren't expecting anything like that!"

It was time for a break so we stepped to the back of the hall where 
there were refreshments. Folks had the usually good technical questions 
and comments, and it looks like I actually did go through all my slides 
and covered the subject at hand. Most of the folks seemed a lot "warmer" 
and friendlier than usual.

The next day I was back at home and something even more unexpected 
occurred. After lunch I started getting calls from the people who were 
at the talk, a dozen or more calls. They're saying, "I tried what you 
said, and it really works", and "how did you know what was under my 
clapboards", "I couldn't make it yesterday, but I heard about your 
talk", etc.

I didn't have a clue what happened during that slide show. If you do, 
please let me know.

John
by hammer and hand great works do stand
by mind and heart we share the art

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