Writer's Journey - Adventures at Balticon

Exposure for an author at a science fiction and fantasy con like Balticon, which I was at over Memorial Day Weekend is very important. What kind of exposure can make a writer new fans, connect with existing fans, or, worse, turn off potential fans.

As people walked through the Dealer’s Room, a number shared that they weren’t writers themselves, but wanted to be. I don’t know if for some it was a matter of not believing in themselves and going on the up and down journey every writer goes through or possibly just saying they were inspired by all the amazing books and authors they were seeing around them.

Success is in building an audience and part of selling books is doing a commercial message. Only talking about your own books on a panel isn’t what genre fans care about. They’re attending panels because the topic offered about the genre – all things science fiction and fantasy interests them.

I moderated “Through the Portal” about the good and the bad of portal stories. Award-winning author Seanan McGuire, Balticon’s Guest of Honor, was the anchor of that panel. She rarely mentioned her own works and talked about her favorite portal story growing up, “My Little Pony.” People laughed. I certainly did. Panelists included Ryan O’nan, author of Winder, writer and editor Elektra Hammond, and author David Keener shared their favorites and not so favorite, and what they loved about portal stories. The discussion even led to how to connect with more readers through more unusual characters passing through portals to other worlds.

I don’t think it was the topic that made the room standing room only, but Seanan’s presence. The discussion and panel was fun and at the end, each of us on the panel made a brief commercial message. Mine included “you can find me later in the Dealer’s Room, where I’ve a table and I’m happy to talk about this topic and the genre.” The fans are fine with a brief commercial moment from each author, it’s the opportunity to hear from authors like Seanan McGuire – and Ryan O’nan, who is a rising star with a movie deal, that are attractions. But it’s the discussion and the opportunity in the Q&A and moments before people leave as well as knowing they can talk to us later that I think are most important to engaging fans, new, longtime, or prospective.

After every panel, every opportunity I have to showcase and share my love of science fiction and fantasy stories, even mentioning the sci fi movies that have inspired me and why, those moments give me a chance to engage with the audience. And like Seanan McGuire I can’t help but make people laugh, which when they see me in the Dealer’s Room gives a moment of connection, which can help me introduce my books to them—or just, well, “talk shop” about science fiction and fantasy.

At Balticon I also did a reading, was on a panel about Dr. Who, and moderated three panels, in all. I could have moderated more, but I’d a table to work—and it is work. I used the time to shmooze with people, network with the other people in the Dealer’s Room: writers, graphic artists, and vendors. As Balticon had a second Dealer’s Room, I had to remind myself to stop in there too. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet David Gerrold (the writer of Star Trek’s “The Trouble with Tribbles”, who was selling, well, tribbles, and his books at a much larger table then mine. I must admit a fan with a tribble walking past me the first day of Balticon made me do a double take.

But the best moment for me was when David saw my name tag. “Hey, I know that name. What do you right?”

I first said, “The Highmage’s Plight Series.” Blank look. “I’m also the author of Bigfoot Is Not Your Friend.”

“That’s it, I saw your book in the Dealer’s Room. Great title—I want to stop by and take another look at your book.”

Works for me… Such is the adventure of being a writer at a science fiction and fantasy convention, where you’ll see tribbles, authors, aliens and maybe an agent or two. Sometimes, I must admit, I’m not sure which are which.

That said, looking for free stories? This month my novella, Last Knight, prequel to Knight of the Broken Table, is featured in Imagination Unleashed: Fantasy & Science Fiction Giveaway, which offers a lot of great free reads. Knight of the Broken Table’s also featured in Free Fantasy & Sci Fi Ebooks, which offers you even more great free reads to check out.

Dare to Believe,

D.H.