tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post7788928480903372067..comments2024-01-24T05:13:06.164-08:00Comments on Not Your Usual Suspects: Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286314155783213006noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-17427083860780732282012-05-07T13:42:31.295-07:002012-05-07T13:42:31.295-07:00Hi Clare -
I think you have the right idea. Targ...Hi Clare - <br /><br />I think you have the right idea. Target the conferences that work best with the stories you're writing. The networking flows from that shared interest.CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-11208127761674912142012-05-07T13:39:48.169-07:002012-05-07T13:39:48.169-07:00Hi Marcelle
There are several big mystery confere...Hi Marcelle<br /><br />There are several big mystery conferences you can check into. I've been to both Bouchercon and - obviously - Malice. Both are really welcoming, but neither is set up for digital books. Quite a few people who heard me speak at Malice asked where they could buy a paper copy of my book. sigh.<br /><br />Left Coast Crime, Love is Murder, Thrillerfest - all on my-love-to go schedule. <br /><br />I think you can get a fairly good feel for the conferences from the web sites.CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-50192441816188320892012-05-05T00:22:42.246-07:002012-05-05T00:22:42.246-07:00I've been going to Yaoi Con, a m/m-related con...I've been going to Yaoi Con, a m/m-related convention in SF since 2004. Travelling from the UK to the US, my expenses are always way over my royalty earnings! But I made such good friends that we still keep in touch. Then in 2007/8 I started trying out conventions concentrating on authors/publishers, mainly in the GLBT genre - the New York Rainbow Book Fair, GayRomLit in NOLA, con-txt in Washington. A different vibe each time but still immensely uplifting to mix with people who love and write the same things I do.<br /><br />This year is the first one I'm not attending any of them in the US - too little time and money :(. But we are organising a convention in the UK this year in Sept for authors and fans of GLBT fiction. I'm on the committee and looking forward to it a lot. There's no substitute for me for meeting friends face to face.Clare Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392142798976142547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-50448014945880994172012-05-04T18:28:10.868-07:002012-05-04T18:28:10.868-07:00Interesting topic, Cathy. I've been to a few c...Interesting topic, Cathy. I've been to a few conferences, but they were fantasy and SF cons. While they were exhausting--so many people!--they were also energizing. I seem to be moving more and more into mystery, however, so which ones would folks recommend?Marcelle Dubéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18164965676254630066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-70125034241793851322012-05-04T14:51:39.089-07:002012-05-04T14:51:39.089-07:00I'm seeing two recurring themes here. What you...I'm seeing two recurring themes here. What you're looking for from a conference may change over time, reflecting where you are in your career. At every stage, though, attending the conference, being around other authors, readers, industry professionals, is energizing.<br /><br />Maybe it’s not so much whether or not to spend the money on a conference, but deciding why you want to attend or carefully choosing the one that meets your current needs?CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-2011394715513423812012-05-04T10:43:13.696-07:002012-05-04T10:43:13.696-07:00Much like Rita, I've mainly attended RWA confe...Much like Rita, I've mainly attended RWA conferences to this point...learning the craft and business as well as the chapter leadership info (since I've been president of my chapter the last four years) have all been very helpful. <br /><br />But I feel it's time to shift my focus to more reader-related venues. (Plus, my tenure on the board will soon be over.) I'm seriously considering RT next year, and maybe ThrillerFest. Not sure if I could do both in one year, though. <br /><br />But I love every conference I've attended because it re-energizes me and my writing. Like an instant infusion of creativity. And, it's great to catch up with friends or meet online friends in person.Anne Marie Beckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603878676306179018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-79198787406251592872012-05-04T09:58:55.370-07:002012-05-04T09:58:55.370-07:00Hi Shelley
I didn't realize you were in New ...Hi Shelley <br /><br />I didn't realize you were in New Zealand. Is the big RWA conference in Australia out of the question? <br /><br />Are there other opportunities to connect with readers (and other writers) locally for you?CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-43057564271954555022012-05-04T09:56:40.108-07:002012-05-04T09:56:40.108-07:00Hi Rita -
Since I'm writing more suspense th...Hi Rita - <br /><br />Since I'm writing more suspense than romance, I can't justify the expense of RWA national but I'll miss connecting with people I only see at the conference. <br /><br />I hear RT is fun - tell us more about Lori Foster's conferenceCathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-75724709023197983552012-05-04T09:53:17.240-07:002012-05-04T09:53:17.240-07:00I'd love to go to The Writers' Police Acad...I'd love to go to The Writers' Police Academy - it looks like a blast - but it falls at such a bad time for me (the day job). <br /><br />The KOD tour was the highlight of my RWA National conference (well, that and the Golden Heart ceremony :) )<br /><br />Beyond the info gathering, I do think the energy is the best takeaway.CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-77022012894061684882012-05-04T09:44:53.823-07:002012-05-04T09:44:53.823-07:00I don't get to many conferences at all, mostly...I don't get to many conferences at all, mostly because I live in New Zealand. The mystery conference sounds great. Whenever I think of mystery conferences I think of TV detective shows where there is a sleuth chasing up an actual murderer. :)Shelley Munrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03090469550227550713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-12913073893841008292012-05-04T09:19:42.692-07:002012-05-04T09:19:42.692-07:00This will probably be my last Nationals. I want to...This will probably be my last Nationals. I want to connect with readers. I’m attending Lori Fosters conference writer/reader event and next year I’m intending on going to RT in Kansas City. Maybe Thriller Fest in NYC. Maybe. It’s expensive. I’m sad more NYUS authors won’t be in California.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-47846556489870617662012-05-04T07:27:39.230-07:002012-05-04T07:27:39.230-07:00I met Sophie Littlefield at a Writers' confere...I met Sophie Littlefield at a Writers' conference in North Carolina. The Writers' Police Academy. That had some incredible hands on experience. I love RWA Nationals, I've been twice. I got a lot of information from the spotlights but more probably from the Kiss of Death pre-conference tours. I think there's a certain joy at hanging out with real people who understand what you do. There's a great re-infusion of energy. But it's expensive. I certainly can't afford to go this year.<br />Malice sounds like a lot of fun.Toni Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348843511453338339noreply@blogger.com