News from Norwescon
Apr. 22nd, 2014 06:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zzambrosius_02Here’s the skinny from Norwescon, as I saw it. First, I sold only one book, and that to a close friend, who gives them to his friends to read. That’s great, but it doesn’t feed the cats. I did also negotiate a swap with GRSmith: He’s reading VIASMAE, I’m reading his Shakespearean play (To Each Their Own). We’ll swap reviews.
OTOH, the panels I was on were all great, and I think I contributed significantly. As it turned out, I got ‘traded’ from the one History panel I was on in order to fill in for a cancelled moderator. The panel I was traded to was called ‘Get Your Fight On’; Leith and I advised various writers who were looking for help with writing fight scenes. It went well, don’t get me wrong: 1,2, 3, 4, I think five people approached me at random times to compliment me on my knowledge and presentation, so that’s good.
BUT it meant that all six panels I was on were combat-related. Note: Slow-work is more tiring than the real thing, let me tell you.
I need to spend more time in the Green Room, and have more conversations with my fellow panelists. Those that I achieved at this latest con were often enlightening. And OTOH, the Green Room is not a good place to sell: too many of the other panelists have stuff they are pushing, and the GR seems to be neutral ground.
Which means I also need more time out of the GR, where I can interact with possible buyers…There were a small # of tables in the hall outside the Dealer’s Room, where people were selling their self-published novels and comics. If I could jury in to that, I would solve several problems at once.
[An aside: Marian and I are pretty much set to rent a table at next year’s Orycon, so that will help at that con. We’ll sell my books and crocheting, her art pieces and so on. We can spell each other while I’m on panels or reading or whatever, and she is hunter-gatherer-ing, or attending panels. Plus, we have a bookshop owner friend we are gonna try to set up next to, for emergency overlook.]
Back to Norwescon 2014: I heard Steven Barnes read. He told a horrifying but funny martial arts story, as well as reading from his latest work-in-progress. I heard Sonia Orin Lyris read from a recently sold novel. I enjoyed both of those readings; I may try to hit more of those at future cons. I tried to get in to hear Phil Foglio, but that was a hopeless quest.
My own reading went OK. I mean, it was set for 11:30 PM, I was the final reader of the night; and two people stayed and listened. I was mentally prepared for no one: Late at night, unknown author, blah, blah. However: I do believe I moved them. At any rate they didn’t flee in disgust or terror.
AND: I heard Michael Moorcock tell stories of the beginnings of his career, (he is quite funny, actually) and Marian actually handed him copies of my books. Who knows what might come of that…most likely nothing, but, well, you never know. I also got to hear Mr. Moorcock talk about the cover art from a bunch of Elric novels and calendars and such. Illuminating, that was, and very amusing.
SO: I had a good time. My Status in the con community is slowly rising. They seem to welcome my odd pile of hard-won knowledge, and that gives me a chance to disseminate some of it. That feels good, indeed it does.
Gotta go. See ya.
OTOH, the panels I was on were all great, and I think I contributed significantly. As it turned out, I got ‘traded’ from the one History panel I was on in order to fill in for a cancelled moderator. The panel I was traded to was called ‘Get Your Fight On’; Leith and I advised various writers who were looking for help with writing fight scenes. It went well, don’t get me wrong: 1,2, 3, 4, I think five people approached me at random times to compliment me on my knowledge and presentation, so that’s good.
BUT it meant that all six panels I was on were combat-related. Note: Slow-work is more tiring than the real thing, let me tell you.
I need to spend more time in the Green Room, and have more conversations with my fellow panelists. Those that I achieved at this latest con were often enlightening. And OTOH, the Green Room is not a good place to sell: too many of the other panelists have stuff they are pushing, and the GR seems to be neutral ground.
Which means I also need more time out of the GR, where I can interact with possible buyers…There were a small # of tables in the hall outside the Dealer’s Room, where people were selling their self-published novels and comics. If I could jury in to that, I would solve several problems at once.
[An aside: Marian and I are pretty much set to rent a table at next year’s Orycon, so that will help at that con. We’ll sell my books and crocheting, her art pieces and so on. We can spell each other while I’m on panels or reading or whatever, and she is hunter-gatherer-ing, or attending panels. Plus, we have a bookshop owner friend we are gonna try to set up next to, for emergency overlook.]
Back to Norwescon 2014: I heard Steven Barnes read. He told a horrifying but funny martial arts story, as well as reading from his latest work-in-progress. I heard Sonia Orin Lyris read from a recently sold novel. I enjoyed both of those readings; I may try to hit more of those at future cons. I tried to get in to hear Phil Foglio, but that was a hopeless quest.
My own reading went OK. I mean, it was set for 11:30 PM, I was the final reader of the night; and two people stayed and listened. I was mentally prepared for no one: Late at night, unknown author, blah, blah. However: I do believe I moved them. At any rate they didn’t flee in disgust or terror.
AND: I heard Michael Moorcock tell stories of the beginnings of his career, (he is quite funny, actually) and Marian actually handed him copies of my books. Who knows what might come of that…most likely nothing, but, well, you never know. I also got to hear Mr. Moorcock talk about the cover art from a bunch of Elric novels and calendars and such. Illuminating, that was, and very amusing.
SO: I had a good time. My Status in the con community is slowly rising. They seem to welcome my odd pile of hard-won knowledge, and that gives me a chance to disseminate some of it. That feels good, indeed it does.
Gotta go. See ya.
