We had just one 2 hour panel: me, Jane, Patricia Briggs, Mark Ferrari, John Dalmas and Deby Fredericks—advice on writing. I’m seriously beyond burned out on writing panels, but it was pretty painless. It wasn’t the funnest way to end a con, for me, but it served. We did our thing, hugged friends bye, and headed home. The cats are glad to have us back earlier than the last two days, and while the leg hurts, it doesn’t hurt much now that I’ve gotten out of convention clothes and am back in sloppies.
Myself, I’m just really tired. I had way, way, way too much sugar today in the name of food and am really anxious to get to our favorite watering hole and get some actual protein, but that may not happen for a while. We’re home, at least. In one sense, attending a local con and going home at night should give you more stamina—but you miss all the parties and you don’t get to go up to your room when you’re really tired of questions and just need silence for a few minutes. I think it’s the latter sense in which I’m tired—a lot of anxious new writers and trying to phrase things in a positive and helpful way. They come in with a load of anxiety: I leave with it. 😉
But it was a good convention, and such a relief to have it in a local hotel, not the college classrooms.
In the best of all possible worlds, what would your ideal con be like? Would you like to be a guest, or just have your fairy wave a wand and pay for you to attend and hotel accomodation? In one way I can see just attending as being more fun – you don’t have to show up to panels you don’t want to, but in another way, I see you as feeling you need to pay back the convention sponsors, and your fans, etc. How do you feel about other well-known and published writers showing up to your panels? Are there any writers you prefer not to share a panel with? Are there any topics you would prefer not to talk about? I know you prefer to drive to cons. Does that make it easier or harder to get “up” for a con? What activities at cons are your personal favorites? (I really enjoyed the filking at ShejiCon III.) Are there any rules you’d like to see instituted at cons. I remember your writing about informal “rules of conduct” when meeting your favorites at cons. One day when you have the time and energy it would be nice if you could consolidate things you’ve written about cons as a journal category… (Don’t rush it, I’d rather have another book than divert you into a long search into the archives looking for con related comments.) I hope seeing your friends has recharged the mental batteries.
I’d not mind to be GOH, or an attendee. There are a few writers I don’t care to share a panel with—classified, for professional courtesy; but people whose attitude toward fans is bad, people who have the ego that ate New York, people who don’t know how to share a mike. I don’t talk about modern religion or modern politics on a panel, as a general rule. I arrive more relaxed when I drive. We have the kittehs with us to calm us down, and in general, we have a better time.
I like the panels. I like casual discussions. I go to the art show and dealers room. I like meeting readers. And I like filk, but gafiated from it when it got too rule-ridden. I much prefer the free-for-all sort, and if somebody takes their ‘turn’ in a bardic circle to read a short story instead of performing, I’m ready to go to the bar.
My favorite cons—are those old ones with only one track of programming, and space enough to accommodate at least most of the attendees in a single room. That way everybody’s on the same buzz, heard the same panels, was in on the same discussions, and has opinions. A lot more fun when these discussions spill over into the con suite and the bar. My least favorite are those that try to run 5-6 tracks of programming and nobody at the con’s read the GOH’s books. I’ve shared the GOH job with a lot of media folk—some are absolutely great: Michael Sheard was a friend as well as a media headliner (a British actor who played, I think, the emperor in Star Wars)—absolutely amazing talent, going from Santa Claus to serial killer in two heartbeats: I mean, like, Actor. And Nichelle Nichols is another of my favorites to appear with. And Peter, one of the Dr. Who’s, was charming. But a lot of the others—meh. We just aren’t on the same wavelength. So generally I don’t like to be at a con with a strong media component. But, Lord, for another session with Michael, any one who knows him would give plenty: he was a fan as well as one heckuvan actor—whose most frequent role was as Hitler, and who was the nicest guy…. Alas, he passed away a few years ago.
Not a bad suggestion. I could start a cons topic if there’s interest.
Nadiin and Nandiin, I bring one and all good news!
Well, it’s news to me.
Newly available in ebooks for Amazon’s Kindle are:
11. Deceiver — Available NOW
12. Betrayer — Available NOW
13. Intruder — Available for Pre-Order
This means books 09 through 13 are available in ebook format.
One hopes fervently for 01 through 08 in the Foreigner series, and other Cherryh flavored reading. (Chanur, Faded Sun, A/U novels, etc.)
In a lot of ways I wish the ebook rights had reverted back to CJ, once the books were “out of print.” That way CJ could get all the funds from sale of her books in electronic format. On the other hand I’d like to see CJ get as broad a base as possible through the sales of her books through B&N and Amazon (and of course Closed Circle). CJ, can you market your own books in ebook formats on Closed Circle? I know get a merchant’s percentage on the books, etc. you sell through your Amazon shop. Would you get some percentage linking your ebooks or at least Kindle versions through Closed Circle? I’d gladly purchase them through you rather than straight through Amazon. I really like to have Kindle versions to travel with me rather than ding up the copies you have signed for me over the years.
I get 25% of the cover price for those. Unfortunately, I can’t offer competing editions. And I’m not sure whether Amazon will let me add a kindle title to the ‘store’. I’ll look into that.
I’m commiserating with you about the “third day after a fall.” Readydaughter and I were in Tucson where she was test driving a car. We were stopped at a light with the car salesperson in the back seat when WHAM!! we were rear-ended. No damage done to the car we were in (less than 10 mph collision) but daughter had foot on the brake, and consequently we did NOT roll into the intersection, but we definitely took up a lot of the momentum. No airbags deployed, no damage to the demo car, but the car that hit us had the outline of the license plate frame and bolts pressed into his front bumper. That isn’t the way we wnated to check out the safety equipment of this car. We decided to think about the purchase although the dealer offered us a really sweet deal to make up for our inconvenience and “mental anguish” especially since the kid driving the other car asked if we were some sort of retard for not taking off like a bat out of heck when the light changed. His excuse– “I was looking at the sign on the building” (over his shoulder) instead of the back end of the car in front of him. Anyway, today is my DAY 3 and I am achey all over except for my heart– No achey, breaky heart for this mom.
Ow. Yep. Kid probably on his first day with a license. That’s a real beginner’s mistake—assuming what the car in front is doing while looking off into la-la land.
[My ding for the day: I forgot to put up the cart’s child-seat can guard at the supermarket, got 4 cans of chili on impulse, and they rolled right out onto my bare second toe (flipflops.) Ow!]
Not on topic at all, but I wanted to share the sad news of the passing of my big, black cat Macadoo this afternoon with those who can understand. I wrote about him being ill about a month ago (it started on May Day, actually) and unfortunately he never really recovered from what ever initial stomach blockage/problem that put the “chief rodent of the universe” as we affectionately called him for his love of food, off his grub. While I was away the past two weeks in the British Isles at a conference and researching in Scotland, my spouse was mostly e-mailing me with positive sounding news that Mackie was taking more of an interest in food, but while his spirit was more willing, his emaciated body just couldn’t keep up. A couple days before I got home he apparently got so weak that he stopped being able to walk and by the time I arrived back in Boston Friday midnight after an epic 23 hours of transit, he mostly had slipped into a deep sleep from which we could rouse him a bit for water squirted into his mouth with a syringe but otherwise he mostly lay there. I held him on my lap much of Saturday and Sunday and this morning before I went back to work: sometimes I could feel a weak purr and he clearly was relaxed and comfortable. Now his essence is elsewhere and the house is emptier.
We just buried him about an hour ago in the garden right outside my office window where I am now. It is a nice spot but I wish Mackie were inside on my lap.
Rasean, I’m so sorry for your loss but glad that you had the chance to say goodbye.
I’m so sorry for your loss 🙁
Oh, Raesean, we understand. We so understand. Virtual hugs. And respects to an excellent and wonderful companion. So, so sorry.
The last time I went to a con was when I was still living in the Midwest. Despite living in one of the arguably most lovely spots on Earth, getting anyone out here even just as a speaker, let alone organizing a convention, is nearly impossible. The whole con budget would be eaten up by travel expenses for just a couple of big-name guests. Know of anyone who might be interested in a cut-rate trip to Hawaii, in exchange for a speaking gig or two? 😀 We have the Maui Writers’ Conference here every fall, but I haven’t seen a sci-fi or fantasy writer out here in the last several years.
I’m so sorry, RaeSean.. I found myself this weekend thinking of my cat from many years ago, a sweet little guy indeed. Yet my two current cats are wonderful companions.
Ebooks:
On the one hand, CJ gets wider exposure from bookstores and Amazon and B&N’s online store, a better chance at new potential readers, or old fans who don’t know about Closed Circle. And rights issues with contracts mean many of her titles are likely still with those publishers, just waiting to revert to her or for the publisher to wake up and reissue, including ebooks.
Meanwhile, Closed Circle has the problem of any small business and independent artists doing their art and business online: They need to be able to reach more of that web audience who might like their books (or music or video or any art or goods or services). Closed Circle’s authors would love to sell more, a lot more, but they have to reach those people first. It is frustrating, trying to grow a site without plastering ads elsewhere, where they may only annoy instead of getting thrilled interest.
I think that one of the things the big publishers really need to learn about ebooks and online availability is what the music industry found out. Book fans, like music fans, want their old favorites always available, to get that great track or book they remember. New and old fans will actively look for their favorite books and authors, the same as for that old song or album (CD) or artist/band/group. More, they will look at related works and artists, when they want something new and different. Readers do that in the library or bookstore. They talk to friends. But the publishers have not yet realized—it hurts them nothing, it only helps them, to offer backlist items as ebooks. All it costs is server space and record maintenance. There is no reason for any published document to go “out of print” online. As an ebook, it can be available forever, and people will happily buy when they look it up, or when savvy online sellers point out related items. Your customer likes Foreigner? They probably will like Chanur too. Or Cherryh. Or Jane Fancher. Or Lynn Abbey. While you’re at it, would you like Andre Norton? Or maybe Gulliver’s Travels? Or….. That’s exactly it. A reader may have specific interests yet also wants a surprise, and if that reader wants to buy, you have every page of literature ever written, if only you offer it to that reader. Notez bien, the public library, free literature to loan out or perhaps to give away free forever, is a fine thing. You could, oh publisher, offer a freebie work of fine literature as a bonus, free in perpetuity for your customer, because he or she has bought something and so you offer an incentive to buy more.
Music sites such as Apple’s iTunes and Amazon’s MP3s, whatever else they may be good or bad, have understood their customers will buy “old” stuff and related stuff, if given half a chance.
Independent musicians get this, when they offer their whole catalogues direct to their fans—for sale and some free specials and discounts. Those artists also sell through the big boys and girls, to reach as many people as possible with their music.
But the publishing houses for any printed matter do not yet get it. They don’t market well and they don’t offer their entire content for sale. They could make more money. There’s room enough that authors can make money too, indie or with publishers or through online third party sellers (like Amazon). The audience want reading matter, viewing matter, listening matter. I wonder how many old publishers will refuse to get it, and will be eclipsed by the new kids in town, including artists returning to direct sales and a modified new form of fan patronage.
Note: I’m speaking of the big publishers. I think authors themselves do get it, and are just as frustrated as their readers. They want very much for more people to get a chance to read their work, if only they could get the chance to reach them with those.
Raesean, I am so sorry about Macadoo. He sounds like a very fine cat, who will be sorely missed.
Raesean, I am so very sorry about your loss of Macadoo. {{{HUGS}}}
About cons: I’ve never been to one, (problems with crowds) but I enjoy reading about them. A cons topic would be interesting and informative and fun.
Raesean, readyGuy and I are so sorry for your loss. We happen to have a rambunctious dog who came to us from the pound after the loss of our previous readyDog. readyDaughter has a black kitteh who comes over to visit with us when she is travelling for work. I can’t imagine life without a four-footed companion. Times like these remind me of Ian Anderson’s “My Old Black Cat” – a song he wrote, mourning the passing of his friend. I’m at work now so I can’t access any music sites, or I’d link to it.
Raesean, so very sorry. Wish our friends could stay with us longer.
All my sympathy on the loss of Macadoo, Raesean. He sounds like he was a great cat and a wonderful friend.
I’m glad you made it through the con, CJ, and are getting some rest. You have earned it. I hope Jane is getting some, as well.(If Shu Shu is letting anyone get any R & R!) The new writers were very, very lucky to be getting advice from you and Jane, and from the other authors as well. If any of the new writers have their work(s) published in the future, we readers will be the ones to benefit.
I wish you could see this…my cat, Jack Bauer, has slid under the vinyl printer cover, climbed onto the printer itself and is turning in a circle…all I can see is a slowly spinning printer cover with four feet and a tail. So funny.
*snort* All the better to befur your printer, m’dear!
Ah, cycling the ink cartridges, eh?
“Jack Bauer Kitty…what big eyes you have!” And you’re right, Chondrite-ji…..the printer is definitely befurred. So much for using a vinyl cover to keep hair out of it. lol
And thank you, Ship-ji, for explaining his actions. Cycling the ink cartridges, indeed. Who says cats aren’t useful?! lol
yes, catching up, so sorry Raesean … very sad to lose a friend like that. 🙁
Thank you all for your condolences on the passing of our big, black, double-pawed kitty, affectionately known as Mr. Thumbs Macadoo, Macadoowop, Doowopamac, and so many other nicknames. We and his brother Froggie Cat (yes, my spouse wanted a cat who would come when you call “here, Froggie, Froggie” and indeed he does come running most of the time) are missing Mackie, but… but I must say the anxiety of “how is Mackie doing. Has he eaten anything today? Is he better or worse?” that anxiety of the past three 1/2 months of his illness has slid away leaving only the achy sadness and a gap in our household.