Seeing Authors is Not the Same as Writing, but it's still Pretty Damn Fun

    

     The Phoenix Comic Con begins today. We in Arizona are so fortunate to have the many authors at the con that we do. I think I heard someone say we have more than any other con with the exception of San Diego. 

     I have always been an avid reader, but I never really thought about the wizard behind the curtain until a few years ago. When you think about it, authors give us a piece of themselves every time they create something. Writing a book is not an easy process! On Jim Butcher's blog he says that that most (as in more than 99 percent) of aspiring authors give up. I touched on this in my last entry. A few days later I begin to say "I am writing a book" to see how it feels when I put it out there. I can confirm that it feels like I'm going to throw up. So..... baby step to the keyboard. Replace "sail" with "write", repeat as necessary.

     Successful authors whom you might find at a book signing have shared their thoughts with thousands, if not millions of people. Yet the experience of reading a really great book is quite intimate. The author's thoughts connect with yours and you go to another place. Their vision becomes yours. You may experience many emotions while reading a book. No two authors are exactly alike and you begin to appreciate the nuances that make each one special. You begin to get curious about the mind behind all the great stuff. 

     I decided to meet an author and see what that was like. My first author was Christopher Moore right after 'You Suck' came out. He was so funny and interesting (oh God it sounds like I am describing a date). And now, a small tangent....why author events are like a date....

     No, I certainly do not mean a date in a creepy "stalk the author" kind of way. It's more like a platonic speed date. Ok, a platonic speed date with someone you met online. In other words, you read the profile and may know stuff about this person. You have shared intimate, albeit one-way, conversation.  You get all nervous and think of what to say. "Oh my gosh, what should I ask the author?" Honestly, it would take a really creative mind to ask a question unlike all the other questions they get in every city.  You only have a few moments to tell that author how fantastic they are.  

     What should you say? What should you wear? Why does that matter? (Like the signs at the amusement park, I must be THIS cool to read your fiction....) How many books will they sign? If the poor author has signed so many books that he/she is in pain, do you really show up with a stack? There are so many uncertainties. A bit of guilt, "Hmm should I tell the author how far behind I am in the series?" Do you bring a gift? By the way, someone brought an action figure to Christopher Moore's signing as a gift. What's that about? Crap, con is today and I am all out of action figures! 

So, a little tip, don't be THIS guy. Except the goggles, the goggles are permitted. Obviously the kid likes Steampunk in addition to Santa, The Wizard of Oz, and the Tin Man. If you are THIS guy, the author's eyes will glaze over, and you will hear "NEXT." 

     If you do think of something to say......the author may take a few precious "extra" seconds to sign your book or actually speak to you, squeeee! In fact, at the last signing I attended, the author, although she looked pretty exhausted, was gracious enough to let us take a photo with her. Today, another very gracious author informed me that there are signings at con, when I thought it might just be panels. That was very helpful to know and I was surprised that she had responded. Just for that, her book goes to the top of my reading list.