The Return From Confluence

[jpskewedthrone]

So, I managed to make it back from Confluence (with a stopover at my mom's) and WOW, look at all the great responses to the "why do you write" question in the post I made before I left! Very interesting reading. Since there's 60+ entries in that post, I likely won't respond to everyone individually. Instead, I think I'll do some heavy duty thinking about why I write personally and do a post on that in the coming week. But thanks for all the great responses!

Confluence was a rather fun and productive trip/con for me. On the way down, I did the "road trip" thing. A few weeks before I left, I researched bookstores along my route and called them all individually, asking if they'd get in a few copies of my books. If they were willing, I stopped by on my way down to Pittsburgh and signed whatever stock they had. I got the mix of responses I expected: bookstores that weren't interested (which boggles my mind, but I still expected this); bookstores that said they'd get in books and when I stopped they had no clue what I was talking about; bookstores that couldn't get permission from the higher ups to order the books; and bookstores that were happy to get in copies. I even had one bookstore ask if I could hang around for an hour, which I did. Overall, nearly everyone at the bookstores was friendly. At each bookstore, I also asked if there was someone on staff who particularly liked SF and F and talked to them in person if they were there. Otherwise, I asked the employees to bring my books to that person's attention.

In any case, I sold nearly 20 books on the way down because I was there in the store in person. About half of these sales were to employees of the bookstores, which I count as a bonus, since if they like the books then perhaps they'll recommend them to customers. So the road trip idea worked out well and I hope to do it again for future cons (pbray has now been warned). I get teased by Patricia and Jennifer (jennifer_dunne) because I seem to have the uncanny ability to sell my books to people by just opening my mouth while in the presence of customers at a bookstore. And I have to admit, it does seem to work for me rather well. I can even sell to people who "don't read fantasy".

In any case, the con itself was a blast. I roomed with Sam (scbutler), had dinner with old friends and new the first night (Hey, steve_buchheit and Karl, James and Carey!), lots of panels and activities on Saturday, cool dinner at Buca di Peppe (or something like that), and a final panel on Sunday. The only bad thing was that on Saturday night the bar closed WAY, WAY too early.

Also good was the visit with my mom, with a day on the way down and another on the way back.

So thanks to everyone at Confluence for making it a great con and I look forward to getting back there again next year! Now to prepare for Worldcon in Denver. I only have a week to pack! That's just not enough time!

Comments

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

I only have a week to pack! That's just not enough time!

Feeling your pain...I had to pack most of my stuff last week, so it could ride to WorldCon with faithhunter (who is driving, and left yesterday) instead of being checked on the plane and costing me extra money.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

So you're on your way. Hmmm. Well, have a safe trip and I hope to see you there!

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

No, just my luggage is on the way. I'm flying in next Wednesday. *smile*

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

oh, Mary said you might be about as good as Butcher. Just so you know. She will get the last book in paperback when it comes out, and if I don't track you down, she has decided she will have her child stalk you at your job so you can sign it for her. *grin*

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

As good as Butcher! I need someone in the media to say this, so that hordes of people flock to my books!

It shouldn't be too hard for you or her daughter to track me down. So that's one paperback of VT sold. Only a few thousand more to go. *grin*

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

well, chrissy does a good job tracking down her teaches in high school, so we figure finding you at her campus will be pretty easy - after all, we will just tell her the dept, hand her the book, and off she goes.

And Mary will remind her what you wrote in her other books.

[steve-buchheit.livejournal.com]

It was great to see you again as well. And thanks for letting me bum around with you guys.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Glad to have good friends there at Confluence. It was lots of fun and hope to see you there again next year!

[jaxom92.livejournal.com]

Woo! Worldcon. I so wanted to go when it was up in Seattle a few years ago, but I just couldn't get it off from work, even one day. Bloody managers had to take vacations over Labor Day... who woulda thought. So of course they needed me to "help watch the store". Sometimes it doesn't pay to be a good employee.

Hey, if you see L.E. Modesitt Jr. there, say hi for me. Well not *for* me, because he doesn't have a clue who I am or that I exist, but I do buy his books, and he's probably my favorite author. So, if you happen to meet the fellow, let me know and then I'll have met him by proxy, so to speak. Hehe.

Have fun at Worldcon!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

If I see L.E. Modesitt, Jr, I'll say hi. I've met him before, but he likely doesn't remember me by name. Unless he was paying attention during the Zombie part at World Fantasy last year.