Author Archives: fictorians

A Gust A Guest Post by Lissa Woodbury Jensen

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“Mmmmm, apples are the best fruit on the planet,” my eleven year-old son announced one morning.

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“No way!” His twin brother gave him an incredulous look. “Bananas are waaaay better. Apples are boring, just like you!”

The fight was on and they disappeared, squealing, into the living room. I was left pondering my own preference for the tangy perfection of ruby red grapefruit.

I can’t help but remember their argument as I prepare to leave for Salt Lake City Comic Con in a few weeks. I have been to several different cons and am always amazed at how alike they are, and yet different at the same time. I find it intriguing to learn peoples’ preferences and to witness their declared vehemence toward one con or another. Like fruit, cons are generally born from the same ideation, yet vary in popularity from one attendee to the next.

Having lived in the Salt Lake area during my adolescent years, I enjoy attending SLCCC. I stay with family, renew friendships, and immerse myself into promoting my favorite publishing company, WordFire Press. I remember when I attended my first SLCCC. I had participated in smaller cons, but was ill prepared for the suffocating crush of fans, cosplayers, and celebrities that descended on SLC like an R-5 tornado.

Earlier in the summer, I had participated in both FantasyCon and WesterCon. WesterCon was civilized, organized and, at times, a bit “high-brow.” I sensed an elitism that made me uncomfortable. It was nicely done, though somewhat sterile in my opinion. As I moved from venue to venue, I felt insignificant and out of place. For me, it was an interesting, yet “empty” experience.

FantasyCon, on the other hand, was everything I could dream of for “my” perfect Con. It was passionate and artsy with spacious halls filled with enormous dragons (fake, of course), mythical creatures, fairy kingdoms and fire-wielding warriors. In spite of its magnificence, everyone kept saying how “slow” it was. I chalked it up to the Con being rather new on the scene. I didn’t mind. In fact, I preferred it. The pace was leisurely and enjoyable. I had plenty of time to talk with other vendors, stroll through the eclectic displays, and soak in genius at every turn. The organizers outdid themselves in fantastical ambience.

Imagine the contrast when I arrived at SLCCC a month later and could barely navigate my way from one aisle to another. There were myriads of booths, vendors, panels, and special guests. One had to shout just to be heard in conversation. Long wait times to get a good seat for panels were inevitable. I will never forget the afternoons when I felt like the proverbial salmon trying to swim upstream, yet not moving at all. I stood in the aisle next to the booth I was working and felt crushed on all sides. It stayed that way for hours. I went home each night, dazed and bedraggled.

This past spring, I experienced the delightful WonderCon in Anaheim, California. It was busy, yet held enough space for one to meander through the displays without being pressed into a human pancake. There were booths galore, clever artwork, displays and entertainment. The ambience was fun and clever.

Of course, there are many more Cons, but I think I’ve illustrated my point. It is next to impossible to compare them. As with my twins’ apples and bananas, we all have different tastes and preferences. My boys still quarrel over which fruit is better. Con attendees will argue into the night over “which Con is best.”

There are small cons, medium cons, political cons, overseas cons, gaming cons, and the list goes on. Ask fellow writers and fans which con is their favorite and you will get a long list of different choices. In fact, therein lays the appeal. Fruit salad would be boring if it were all apple slices. One con would be the same as the next and the appeal of attending would be almost non-existent. Even the same con will vary from year to year.

This year’s WorldCon, which I had planned to attend, had a divisive agenda and set some important precedents. I doubt the organizers knew of its political importance when originally scheduling this con. In the end, I was unable to go but watched the proceedings with great interest.

SLCCC will be the first of many cons I attend this year and I eagerly await the opportunity for new adventures. As always, it is fun to compare each con because you never know what’s going to happen. I will always have my favorites, though.

Excuse me while I go have some grapefruit.

Guest Bio:

Lissa Woodbury Jensen lives in Alaska and loves imagining the impossible. Her initial career was in theatre arts. She did some filming in Los Angeles, but her primary love was the stage. In addition to performing, Lissa directed and choreographed many Broadway hits. She began her writing career by authoring short plays, dramatic presentations and original musical productions. She now concentrates solely on fiction. She loves to write about flawed characters that redeem themselves. Her favorite quote is from the movie Chariots of Fire: “God made me fast; and when I run, I feel His Pleasure!”

The Wonder of Cons

September 9, 2015

fictorians

Conventions Interacting With Fans Interacting With Professionals Professional Behavior No Comments

Guest Post by Eva Eldridge

I attended my first convention, TusCon 39, a mere three years ago. It was a small convention held in Tucson and I had no idea what it was about. Some friends encouraged me to come because they knew I was writing science fiction. They said there were writers at the convention and they weren’t kidding.

Not only were there writers, there were scientists from NASA, costumers, music, gamers, and movies. I listened to professional writers talk about their experiences and offer advice on the writing life. I could learn how to use a 3-D printer, put together my zombie attire, or watch movies all day. Scientist expounded theories about how life might have begun on Earth and if that might be happening in other places. It wasn’t science fiction, it was science.

TusCon 39 led to the 2013 WorldCon in San Antonio and the Phoenix Comicon in 2014. I’ve been to three Cons in 2015 and haven’t even mentioned the Tucson Festival of Books. Why do I keep going and what can a writer get out of Cons? Information and connections. I am a panel junkie.

I love to listen to people talk about a variety of things. Some of the fascination has to do with seeing my favorite authors like Connie Willis, Gini Koch, J. A. Jance, Dave Berry, David Weber and a whole list of others. I want to know what they have to say on the future of publishing or how it takes dedication and hard work to write a novel. I listened to a panel that discussed forensic investigation and they debunked some of what we see on television. For a writer, that is good information—information I can use to make my story more believable.

Another thing that Cons can do for you is expose you to writers or artists that you’ve never heard of. I’ve discovered several writers by listening to panel discussions on one topic or the other. I went to a panel on dragons because Naomi Novik was on it. Through that panel discussion I learned about James A. Owen. James made an impression and I now own several of his books and art pieces. Another panel about food in space introduced me to more authors I’d never heard of. Turns out some of the writers have blogs discussing their baking experiences. Now, not only do I read about their fabulous sounding appetizers, I want to read their fiction.

Some of the Cons, like this year’s WorldCon have pitch sessions. This is an opportunity for you to get your work in front of an agent or editor. The sessions are quick, but if you are prepared you might impress someone and you’ll be off writing the next book in your series. Honestly, I find the networking one of best parts of the convention scene. I almost prefer to call friendship building because sometimes you meet a person, then you go to lunch, or share a panel session, or urge them to buy another book.

Networking is important. Meeting people, sharing ideas, preferences, discussing the latest whatever, lets people get to know you and what you do. Pass out your business card. Tell people what you’re working on. Ask them about their projects. Perhaps you’re looking for a cover artist. Walk through the art section and see who and what’s out there. Viewing the various works will help you define your preference for the type of cover art you need. Art can be inspiration for new material.

Not all Cons are created equal. Some, like the Comic Cons have famous actors and are filled with people in costume. I love the Comic Cons because I love the costuming or cosplay. Look at the details in some of the outfits—details that can enhance a description in a story. Cruise around the vendor area and see the wonders in clothing, gadgets, jewelry, and of course, books. Comic Cons are about the comics, the art, the stories, but there is so much more.

Other Cons are more about the writers. They don’t offer as much in the dealer area, but have a full and interesting panel schedule with big name authors that are willing to sign their books and talk to you. A couple of the Cons are all about the merchandizing and that is important to a writer as well. In the end we need to sell our books. The Cons give writers exposure and an opportunity to talk to future readers.

You can find a Con somewhere in your area. They’re out there and if you write and haven’t attended one, it is time you did. Start out small like I did or jump in with both feet and find the biggest one in your area. Both can be rewarding and you never know, one day one of my books will be displayed at a vendor table and I’ll be there to sign it for you.

Guest Bio:

In 2010 Eva Eldridge decided thirty four years at the same company was enough and embarked on a new adventure as a writer and to explore what else life has to offer. After a trip to Argentina and a month long adventure on Amtrak she returned to Tucson to begin another phase as a communications engineer and to continue writing. Through the writing program at Pima Community College she has learned that words can be magic. Every day reveals new and interesting aspects of the writing and publishing field. Eva has been published in SandScript and is a contributing writer with BigBlendMagazines.com.

Gen Con: A Major Intersection of Interests

September 8, 2015

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Action & Adventure Conventions Fantasy Interacting With Fans Interacting With Professionals Networking Professional Behavior Science Fiction No Comments

Guest Post by Josh Vogt

I have long loved conventions for a variety of reasons, everything from meeting authors and artists I admire to gaining new career connections to developing my writing craft to pure entertainment. A lifelong reader and gamer, I simply can never get enough of fantasy and science fictions worlds, whatever format they’re presented in. I love the weird and wacky and wonderful—and conventions basically mainline all of that straight into my veins and brain. I come away from conventions, even the smallest, shortest ones, both exhausted and absolutely jazzed to jump back into the writing and storytelling because I went to get out there and bring my own form of weird and wonderful to the world.

That’s why Gen Con has quickly become what I think of as a cornerstone convention for the year. It’s touted as the “Best Four Days in Gaming,” and that’s no boast. I’ve only been a couple times now, but my hope is to continue going for as long as I’m capable of it. It is simply fulfilling on all fronts, giving me a well-rounded con experience as a reader, a writer, a gamer, and an unashamed geek in general.

You could likely spend the whole convention simply wandering the whole vendor floor without quite seeing everything there is to see—and likely come away with a few credit cards maxed, if you aren’t careful. I joke with some people who buy my books at cons that I take “cash, card, blood, first-born children, and souls,” but by the end of Gen Con, I’m the one considering shelling out a slice of damnation to bring home some particular artwork or another set of shiny dice. Then, of course, there’s the many games for sale, with countless demos being run from morning to night.

Oh, and did I mention the round-the-clock gaming schedule? Doesn’t matter whether you prefer dice, cards, board games, tabletop RPGs, minifigs, LARPing, video games (including VR rigs), or plain ol’ rock-paper-scissors…you’ll find it going on around every corner 24/7. You could sit and game from beginning to end without seeing any other part of the con, barely even leaving your table except for the occasional bite of food and bathroom break.

And then we get to the Writer’s Symposium. Admittedly, as an author, this is the primary reason I have come to love Gen Con. When you have dozens of authors getting together to run workshops, panels, and social shindigs into the wee hours, how can you not have an exhilarating experience? The amount of experience being shared is staggering, and everyone is there to both work hard and have an amazing time. Again, you could spend the whole weekend just attending Symposium events and not even get to the gaming! Each year, the Symposium has been streamlining its programming, has an amazing volunteer crew, and does its best to connect readers and aspiring writers with industry pros of all sorts.

It’s a magnificent mash-up of literary and gaming cultures, recognizing that we’re all in it to have fun, tell stories, create unique experiences, and cheer one another on through another year of learning and growth. Of course, we can still backstab each other during daring games of skullduggery or fight to the bitter end to get the high score during a dungeon run.

Is it crowded? Of course. Is it exhausting? You betcha. Logistically challenging at times, with travel and hotels and whatnot? Start prepping at least half a year in advance, if not earlier.

But in the end, while Gen Con can leave one feeling wrung out, it also leaves you raring for next year at the same time. It can connect you with people from all walks of life who share similar passions and pursuits, and remind you that whatever form of fun you prefer, you’ll always find a community of like-minded folks.

Hope to see you there sometime.

Website: GenCon 2016 Dates: 8/4-8/7

Guest Bio:

Writer. Freelancer. Unashamed geek. Josh splits his time between dreaming up new worlds and forms of magic and providing marketing/sales copy for clients. It’s sometimes difficult to know which requires more imagination.

MegaCon: MegaOpportunity

September 7, 2015

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The Writing Life No Comments

Guest Post by Tracy Akers

“I’ve been in terror of you and your dogs for over thirty years, Farmer Maggot, though you may laugh to hear it. It’s a pity: for I’ve missed a good friend.” Frodo from The Fellowship of the Ring.

For those of you familiar with the story, you know this quote is where Frodo acknowledges his previous misjudgment of Farmer Maggot, a man who beat him as a youth for stealing mushrooms, then set his dogs on him. As a result of the punishment, Frodo feared Famer Maggot most of his life, until a series of events proved Maggot to be both ally and friend.

I was invited by award-winning fantasy author Scott Eder to share my thoughts with you regarding MegaCon, one of the largest multi-genre science fiction/fantasy conventions in the South. What does this have to do with Frodo and Farmer Maggot? you ask. Not much, yet more than you might think.

I personally know many people, including authors, who have never been to a science fiction or fantasy convention. To them, conventions are for geeks who live in their mother’s basements, or actors who are past their prime. In other words, Galaxy Quest—but without the cool parts. Maybe they think conventions are too expensive, so not financially worth their time. Maybe they think they won’t fit in, or that these types of events are beneath their ambitions. Regardless, those are unfortunate misconceptions, as a wide variety of creative individuals attend fantasy conventions, providing a vast array of professional opportunities. For writers in particular, multi-genre conventions such as MegaCon, an event held annually in Orlando, offer numerous chances to network, increase writing skills, promote books, inspire stories, and develop new relationships. (You noticed I didn’t include make money? That’s because authors should think of conventions as investments in their writing future, not as a means of making a quick buck.)

MegaCon has been consistently productive for me as an author, and I’ve been working it since 2006. That doesn’t mean I sell hundreds of books there every year, nor does it mean I always recoup my expenses. Conventions are not cheap. Even if you’re a guest author who doesn’t have to pay for entry to an event, there are still plenty of costs involved. Transportation, the type of vendor space you select (if any), whether or not you are sharing booth/table expenses and hotel accommodations, and the cost of books and promotional materials, can result in you spending several hundred dollars or more.

If you think this is expensive, I certainly won’t argue with you, but if you’re an author hoping to spread the word about yourself and your books, you should try not to think of the expense as Farmer Maggot setting his dogs on you. Instead think of it as the potential for new friendships, networking opportunities, and future sales, even if it takes an upfront bite out of your pocketbook. (There are always ways to tame the beast, even at large events like MegaCon.)

Still not convinced? Consider the following: According to the MegaCon website, their attendance in 2015 alone was 95,000! That’s 95,000 opportunities that could walk past your table more than once, and that’s not even counting the opportunities available to you from the hundreds of vendors who are, by the way, always generous with convention information. With any investment, you typically go into it with the goal of making a profit, or at least recovering most of your expenses. If you go to MegaCon thinking book sales is the only way to determine your success, however, you will be mistaken, and maybe even a little disappointed. Let’s take a closer look at what that means.

In a vendor room of over 500 dealers (yes, that’s how many MegaCon has) your books will not just be competing with other books. They will be competing with action figures, celebrity autographs, t-shirts, art, anime plushies, and more. That’s why it’s often tempting to stay behind your table in order to sell. Sure, you might sell all your books that weekend and make a profit, or you might sell enough to recover some of the expense, but either way, the experiences and opportunities you gain there, even away from your table, can prove to be invaluable to you as a writer.

It’s hard not to think of table sales when doing events like these. I am often hesitant to leave my space, not only because I’d hate to miss a sale, but because it means someone else will have to look after my table for me. When I do step away, I remind myself that every person who picks up my business card is still a potential customer, perhaps not at the event itself, but down the line when they look up my website or decide to buy my book in e-book format. For every minute I’m away, I do risk losing a sale—that day. But if while away I gain information that is of interest to me, am invited to be on a future panel, learn of another event, or gain a new professional contact, was the loss of that sale really so great?

At this writing, MegaCon just updated their website for 2016. Though it is not yet complete, it does include the online applications for vendor space, which range from $295 for an artist alley table (you qualify if you are self-published) to $1025 for a 10 x 10 retail corner booth, with other choices in between. You can reserve space with a deposit and pay the balance later, which is really nice since not all events offer this. If you are interested in purchasing space, I recommend you submit your application as soon as possible. MegaCon gives current vendors the opportunity to reserve space for the following year at the end of each event, and many of the vendors from 2015 have already done so. Next year MegaCon will be held for 4 days instead of the usual 3. One more day of marketing, right? The dates are May 26-29, Memorial Day weekend, so mark your calendars. For additional information, visit the MegaCon website at megaconvention.com.

MegaCon was one of the first conventions I participated in as an author. Since then, I have been to many, some small, others large, but few that I did not feel were worth the investment. Through events like these, I have met hundreds of authors and other professionals in the field, gained knowledge and insights from panel discussions, developed a better business sense, been exposed to a wide variety of creative endeavors, and met kindred spirits too numerous to count. If you’re still not sure, visit MegaCon next year, talk to authors, guests, and vendors, and see if it’s right for you. I will be there, and happy to answer your questions!

Tracy A. Akers is the award-winning author of the Souls of Aredyrah fantasy series for young adults. She grew up in Arlington, Texas, but currently makes her home in the rolling hills of Pasco County, Florida. Ms. Akers has been a guest author at major book events, writers’ conferences, and sci-fi/fantasy conventions, and was on the steering committee for Celebration of the Story, a literary event held at Saint Leo University. As a Florida Book Awards winner, she was acknowledged for her contribution YA literature by the Governor of Florida during the 2008 Florida Heritage Month Awards Ceremony. Her books have been included on the Florida Department of Education’s “Just Read Families” Recommended Summer Reading Lists. Ms. Akers is currently working on a new YA trilogy, a novella with ties to the Souls of Aredyrah series, and several fantasy short stories. She can be reached through her website at soulsofaredyrah.com.