Best and worst experiences at conventions? That’s easy, too
easy, really. For this assignment, I’ve chosen two “conventions” (authors +
fans + others in the publishing industry).
The bad news first: Last year, I had a new book out with a
new publisher. I splurged for Malice
Domestic in Washington, D.C. for the first time, thinking it was a perfect
launching event. Oh, was I wrong. In spite of registering early and getting my
photo and bio in early, I was left out of the printed program. And the
booksellers couldn’t get my book even though it was the very week THE KING’S
JAR launched. I was on a couple of panels, but otherwise had no obvious
connection to the convention. I had depressing fantasies of people at the bar
whispering, “Who is that woman and how did she get in?” So there I was, feeling
like a total fraud, invisible in the large crowd of authors, apologizing,
explaining, trying to be a good sport and not to whine…Disaster all around!
Should I have brought books? Maybe, but my publisher had promised to make them
available. Carting books across country isn’t easy. I had thought I was
blessedly free of that.
Having gotten that bad memory out of the way, the best was
this year’s Left Coast Crime. The
committee that worked for two years on it made it a sparkling success; the attendees
were happy and engaged; the bookseller had both of my books. Best of all, I
couldn’t go 10 feet without bumping into someone I knew, someone who wanted to say
hello, or suggest we share a coffee break, or inquire about my book while
telling me their latest success. I heard this from scores of friends: It felt
like the best reunion of pals you could wish for. My agent was there with plans
for my next book, and the Amazon team (my first book is now with them because
the initial publisher sold its entire back list to Amazon) took their authors
out for a wonderful, laugh-filled dinner. The perfect weather in Monterey just
underscored the positive mood. If that
wasn’t enough, a Criminal Minds pal, Catriona McPherson, won an award for her
latest Dandy Gilver book and a half dozen of the other finalists in different
categories were Sisters in Crime and/or Mystery Writers of America chapter
members and friends.
Good memories trump bad ones, and this convention set me up
for a spring and summer of refreshed writing.
-Susan
7 comments:
So sorry, Susan, to learn of your bad experience at Malice Domestic. But don't give up on it. I've always had great success at Malice and LCC. They are two of my favourite conferences. I'm only sorry that I missed both this year, but with a new book almost out I'll be at both next year. Hopefully our paths will cross.
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience at Malice! I hope you try again... I've never been to LCC, but hope to make the trek sometime soon to see all those fabulous West Coast authors...
Susan--
The takeaway for me from your post is this: traveling very far to promote my work, and having to rely on others to make sure books etc. are available is probably not for me.
R.J. and Meredith, Thanks for commiserating, but, really, I put that behind me because there is always so much more that's positive. Last night, I went to a small party for the brilliant Ann Cleeves and Catriona was there and it was another among scores of positive experiences that outweigh any that go awry.
Barry, the lesson could be that, but I wouldn't draw too much from my Malice experience - it was the only one I could think of that didn't have at least one positive payoff. Depends on so many things...
LCC sounds so idyllic, and the organizing team sounds amazing. I'm glad your great time negated the bad one at Malice!
Like RJ, I'm sorry this is my year of no conferences while I hide away in my writerly cave figuring out what's next.
Hope to share a coffee and mutual success stories with you at one of these conferences soon.
Robin, I've had my fun for the year and, like you, I'm holed up writing again!
Gah, I remember that at Malice, Susan. A total sickener for you. But Left Coast was fabulous, wasn't it?
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