Appearances

Tee and I just got back from New York Comic Con.

To say that it was an assault on the senses would be an understatement. Previous to this DragonCon was the biggest event I’ve ever been to. NYCC made that look like my Nana’s tea party.

Held in the Javits Convention Centre, there were a few niggles- like the Shuttle Buses finishing at 8.30 while the programming went until 10- but on the whole it was a great event. With over 2,000 booths from mega players like Marvel, to single artists trying to get more exposure for their work.

Getting anywhere in the push of people was tricky, but there was so much to see. We did catch a glimpse of a banner saying ‘Podcast Arena’, but never actually got there. Yeah, it was that kind of event.

On Friday we finally got to the event itself after a series of irritating and frustrating delays. We raced around, found our badges and the Harper Collins booth. It was only a few minutes until our signing, but there was this line of people. Our first reaction was ‘oh well, another author mustn’t be done yet…’ Then we found out that it was for us. For the next twenty minutes we shook hands, personalized books and had a ripping time. We’d given fifty copies away, and signed another fifty for the booth. After Tee did his panel, those fifty went by Saturday morning as well.

The next day it was the same for me and Geist at the Penguin booth. A line of people, and all the books gone.  Fifty books in twenty minutes. It was not what I had expected.

Neither was the panel “Winter is here: Epic Fantasy takes the Throne’. It was a packed house, over two hundred people, and I was on a panel with Brandon Sanderson, Peter Brett, Rae Carson, David Chandler and Nils Johnson-Shelton. Ron Hogan did a fantastic job of moderating, and everyone got a chance to answer every question. I’ve been on plenty of panels were that wasn’t the case, and I was delighted that on such an important day everything went smoothly.

We also had two meetings with my two editors Diana Gil and Danielle Stockley. Two great meals, and some interesting thoughts. The title of the second book Of Cogs & Corsets is going to change- but Tee and I came up with some great options that I think are even better. Then Danielle opened my eyes to some possibilities in the Books of the Order series, that I hadn’t even considered, or thought were an option. Exciting chances that I am still mulling over.

We left Comic Con on Saturday, and took the train home- but the fun wasn’t over yet. A very nice gentleman helped us get our luggage up in the rack, and he had also been at Comic Con. Before we knew it we were networking on the train, and a bunch of other possibilities began to ferment.

So from this event which was just supposed to be about signing and participating in panels, we came back with a whole lot of new directions to investigate. The takeaway for authors is, always be open to new chances, and always have business cards on hand for those moments.

We sure hope to go back to New York Comic Con, and next time we’ll be prepared for the madness!

 

I finally got the first rough draft of Wrayth off to Ace, and am heading into other editing projects, but along the way you will be able to find me in Reno, Nevada attending to WorldCon. This is a huge event in the convention calendar, with many publishers, editors, fans and writers attending.

Last year I went to Melbourne Australia, and it ended up being a very fruitful trip. This time I’ll be touching base with my agent Laurie McLean, and meeting my new publisher, Lou Anders from Pyr Books, for the first time.

I’ll also be doing panels and various other events, so if you’re in Reno and want to say hi, please don’t be shy. I love meeting listeners and readers!

Here’s my schedule where you can find me:

• Introduction to Steampunk: What Is Steampunk and Why Is it so Popular? (Panel), Fri 19th August 1:00pm – 2:00pm
• Reading: (It’ll probably be form Spectyr) Fri 19th August 4:00pm – 4:30pm
• New Producer, New Doctor, New Companion: Steven Moffat, Matt Smith, and the New Doctor Who , Fri  19th August 5:00pm – 6:00pm
• Writers Collaboration Panel, Sat 20th August 11:00am – 12:00pm
• Steampunk versus Alternate History Panel, Sat 20th August 1:00pm – 2:00pm
• Autographing: Sat 20th August 2:00pm – 3:00pm
• KaffeeKlatsch:Sat 20th August 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Well we survived the Steampunk Worlds’ Fair- not because it was awful, but because both myself and Tee were struck with the lurgy. The event was full of lovely, beautifully costumed fans of steampunk. I will do a roundup post on this event and Balticon in early June.

For now I am concentrating on getting this post out before I collapse back into bed.

My Balticon schedule, where you can find me, and what I am doing is what follows next.

Program change Friday, May 27, 2011, 9:00 PM  Chesapeake Suite, Alien Sex What Could Go Wrong

Saturday, May 28, 2011,   11:00AM Brown Bagging It the Wellington Way. Pick up a lunch-to-go from the hotel snackery and bring it to Salon A to have lunch with me. Attendance limited to 10 people. Sign up at the help desk.

Saturday, May 28, 2011,   3:00 PM  Chesapeake Suite, Book Launch: The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences: Phoenix Rising

Saturday, May 28, 2011,   10:00 PM  Derby Room Erotica A La Carte: Iron Chef

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 12:00 Noon  Garden Room GoH Speech: From Wellington to Baltimore- How New Media got me here

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 5:00 PM   Chesapeake, Metamor City Live:  SF/Urban Fantasy/Noir radio drama

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 7:00 PM   Maryland Foyer, Laura Frechette, Philippa Ballantine, and Starla Huchton Autographs

Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 AM, Salon C, Network vs Platform: Can you tell them apart?

It’s my very first Guest of Honor role, so I am a little nervous, but I hope to see some of you there. Please don’t hesitate to step up and say hi.