This past weekend I surprised myself. I finally knuckled down and opened up shop to sell my book in person at Con on the Cob, a fixture in the Rust Belt nerd community for as long as I’ve been rolling dice. But the surprises didn’t stop there.
On the first day I was lightly vibrating with nerves well before I even arrived at the convention, trying my best to salvage some excitement from the whole mess. But once I got to the space my delightful partner bought for us to share, seeing her and soaking in the vibe of the vendor hall, I settled down and settled in. I arranged my books alongside her artwork, and it wasn’t long before prospective readers began to stop by.
I struggled through my first few pitches. I am not a salesman, and the plot of the novel is not a study in simplicity. Keeping track of all the moving parts, refining them down to the most important and exciting bits, all while ignoring the mental hum of nervousness, was pure struggle. (I have only my partner to thank when I totally blanked on just my second buyer, and she swooped in to save the day.) So when after my spiel they asked, “How much?” I was thrilled. When they asked me to sign it, elated. I couldn’t believe it. What’s more, I couldn’t believe I managed to do it. With each question I got better at finding answers. And the next day? I managed to have completely organic conversations. Imagine that.
More important than any sale, though, was the experience. I gained the confidence and surety that it was worth it to keep trying. Confidence in my writing, too. That the story was something lively and meaningful, more than just words on a page I’d spent years honing and whittling down. In a weird way I sold myself on my own novel. Being there really brought me back to my roots. It revivified that warm feeling of community I hadn’t felt since the last time I attended a con well over a decade ago. A wholly worthwhile experience.
I’m excited to do it all again next year, this time with the sequel on offer. I’m putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to There Is Life in the Tree and Death in the Well and will be powering through to get it done before the next con season begins.
Until then: Happy writing! Or arting. Or gaming. Or whatever it is you do.
