gimme what you got...

[lagilman]

So, in 2009 we have Blood From Stone coming out in May, and Vineart War: Flesh & Fire coming out in late October. Time for me to start planning how best to spread the word/seduce readers...which means getting my posterior out of the chair and on the road. WIthin certain inevitable financial restrictions, natch.

I'm already set on a few local conventions (Balticon, hopefully, and Readercon), and I really want to do World Fantasy, but there are a bunch of summer conventions that are pushing and shoving each other to get to the top of the list. So... opinions?


[Poll #1297252]

Comments

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

No opinion for the conferences, but you could come and sign books in France, couldn't you?

[lagilman]

Je suis, ah.... travailler sur ce?

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Are you saying "you will work on that?" If so, "je vais travailler sur ça" would be more correct, but I'm afraid that I calqued on the English version. I've only been here 20 years. I'm not quite fluent yet. ;-)

[lagilman]

I was trying for "workin' on it." But my skills (or lack thereof) are a terminal disgrace.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

You're pretty good for someone who doesn't live in the country. I understood what you meant, and that's the most important thing.

[tanaise.livejournal.com]

If you do Dragoncon, I think the writing track is getting better, but historically they don't many of them, and I think it's a shame. They're also usually run by writers (so your editing background might really stand out), and usually media tie-in writers, who tend to have a much different approach to things than a starting out writer (though that can vary from year to year, of course, depending on the writer). I've often thought of suggesting a panel about the various workshops (Clarion, VP, Odyssey--the standard sort of panel that most worldcons have), but then I worry that I'd have to be on it. :)

[ramblin-phyl.livejournal.com]

Wrong month, but Radcon President's Day weekend in February has replaced Orycon as _the_ Pacific Northwest Con. Pasco, WA

In 6 years they have grown from 600 members and 12 guests to 2000 members and 175 guests. They fill 2 hotels. Old fashioned and the concom doesn't take itself too seriously. They treat their guests very well.

Also Bay Con in San Jose Memorial Day weekend. (for me that's a tax deductible excuse to see my grand kids) But it is a nice well organized con.

[lagilman]

Radcon sounds perfect, but I'm going to be ear-deep in work in February, still... (I'm not even planning on Boskone, although that may change)

[ramblin-phyl.livejournal.com]

Let me know. The program chair at Radcon is my collaborator. I can get you an invite.

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

You should attend the WorldCon. 1) because it's so close. 2) because it's the worldcon, baby!

Good to know you'll be down at Balticon. You are hereby invited in advance to the launch party for my first novel. Valerie plans to spend the entire advance at the Wegman's across the street, so at least the food will be good.

[lagilman]

The plan is for Balticon, yeah. Although the website's not being very helpful... :-(

[havocthecat]

My vote is for Dragon*Con, because the husband and I are planning on being there too. :)

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

I don't know much, but Comiccon and Dragon con seem too large and media focused for a non-celebrity author to really get the most bang for the buck.

World-con or other sci-fi conventions seem a better bet to actually sell more books, which is the point, yes?

But then, like I said, I don't know much.

[lagilman]

Oh, I got massive bang-for-buck from ComicCon the year I went -- the books track is a good one, even though it does get overshadowed by the media-fannish squeee.

And 'large' is sort of the point. This is a "get my name out there' thing, not a 'hang back and relax' trip. More bodies, more chance to grab a new reader, statistically.

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

See... this is what I said, I don't know much.

(it's also a personal bias, I just HATE the huge crowds at comiccon)

But of course, when things happen and the books are out, I'll certainly push my European friends to promote them wherever they are!

[otterdance.livejournal.com]

I've had huge signings at Comicon. Just make sure your publisher lets people know you'll be there. Bantam gave away 100 copies of Luck in the Shadows last year, and 100 of Shadows Return this year. I had a lot of repeat business, too,--people who'd read the entire series since last year, and many people who showed up with their own copies.

[lagilman]

yeah, see above response.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I say ComicCon 'cause it's a different cross-section than WorldCon, and 'cause I've never been to DragonCon so I have no opinion on it.:)

[deborahlive.livejournal.com]

I've become a big fan of ArmadilloCon. Although it's small, it is very book-focused and relatively cheap to attend. I've done the Dealer Room there the past few years and done pretty well, but of course, I have Texans in my catalog.

Plus, if you need to get out of the East Coast heat and humidity and into some truly oppressive heat and humidity you can't beat Austin in August. My favorite part is when I walk outside the hotel and my glasses fog up.

[lagilman]

I did enjoy Armadillocon a lot, yeah...

[deborahlive.livejournal.com]

Do I go to too many cons if I can't keep straight who was at which con?

[lagilman]

I can't even remember which ones I've been to....

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

I say Comic Con.

[lagilman]

I knew that already. *grin*

[handlebar605.livejournal.com]

It's not quite in your timeframe, but I-Con here on Long Island www.iconsf.org usually has around 6,000 attendees. kradical has been a fairly regular attendee for the past few years.

[karistan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've been hoping LAG'd attend I-Con for years now and it hasn't come to fruition. I've got a pile of books in need of her signature. It is very sad.

[lagilman]

I attended I-Con once a number of years ago and was, hrm, less than impressed with the slog from hotel to campus, etc. And the mud. But maybe it's time to give it another shot....

[karistan.livejournal.com]

This year is going to be a different venue, at least. Better? Who knows. At least it won't be the SUNY campus death march. :)

[autojim.livejournal.com]

Voted for WorldCon not because it's the one I'm going to or anything like that (I'm moving to Houston... I might be able to make ArmadilloCon at some point if the work schedule and racing committments permit), but because it seems like it might be the best bet for a writer. ::shrug::

Now I read the comments that ComiCon and DragonCon are getting better book tracks, but too late, already voted. :P

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

http://www.armadillocon.org is supposed to get good numbers, and Fencon was fairly well attended as well. Both in Texas.

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

oh yeah. Baycon is supposed to get about 2000 people a year. http://baycon.org/2009/

[anisosynchronic.livejournal.com]

Hmm, have you ever been to a Romantic Times or Romance Writers of America conference? There is some slight overlap with SF conventions among the writers who attend, and readers who attend. I've not been to either. They seem to have some things in common and various things that are off on a quite different set of axes -- Romantic Times is in April in Orlando in 2009, and the program is already set! There are a number of panels on Science Fiction Romance, and on paranormal romance and urban fantasy. There is a "Fairy Ball." (I don't expect there will be macarena'ing there, but one never knows...) There is a membership fee which makes the at the door attending membership cost for a Worldcon look like a half-price bargain "but romance conventions include meals and parties in the price!" -- to which the counter is "how much for rubber chicken?!!"

[lagilman]

RT is out for a various few reasons. I had wanted to get to RWA this year but, as you say, they set things in stone distressingly early, and while I like to get my ducks in rows as early as possible, their schedule made even me take a step back and go whoa, dude (channeling Jeff Spicolli for a moment).