Stashed away among the cobwebs of my brain is the memory of being one of many children in a local television commercial. It was likely in Maine or New York. I also remember doing a short interview, along with some friends, on a local radio station in one of those locations. I believe I was on the local Little League All-Star team. I said my favorite hobby was sleeping.

As an adult, I have been behind a cellphone trying hard to frame out the covered body behind a detective sergeant holding a news conference at a homicide scene. I have also gotten footage of a tractor-trailer half hanging out of the McDonald’s on Amarillo Boulevard.

But I have never been in front of a television camera for any reason.

Until Friday at 9 a.m.

I was booked this morning as a guest on Amarillo’s NewsChannel 10 (KFDA-TV, local CBS affiliate) 2nd Cup morning show. I will be leading off the show at 9 a.m. and speaking with Ali Allison (left in the image at the top of this post). We will discuss my debut novel, Deep Background (https://amzn.to/2MIWQPn), my signing that night at Barnes & Noble (https://www.facebook.com/events/2275373845828045) and whatever else we want to.

I am mostly excited, but also a bit nervous. But I’m determined to enjoy this new experience. I’m not sure if they put out video clips of segments or not. If they do, I will be sure to post it. Either way, I will write about it and let you know how bad the butterflies got before they counted down behind the cameras.