GenCon 2010: Stef's Story

“I’m going out of town,” I said.

“You’re going on vacation?”

“No,” I stated flatly. “It’s NOT a vacation.” I knew what was ahead of me. My “vacation” would be nearly four, 8-hour days of sitting behind a table in an overly air-conditioned convention center beneath the unflattering glow of fluorescent lights. This was going to be work. Hard work.

A salesman is not who I am. Not remotely. I’m a hideaway kind of introvert who likes to blast rock & roll while I draw, paint, or write. I’m shy at heart, though I can force myself to push past this. But four days of being a pitch-hurling, charismatic, attention-grabber…am I insane?

I knew why I was going. I was going to GenCon because I love and support my partner—my husband—and because I believe in our book. What we wrote is worthy of sharing and selling, and sharing is the final step in the role of an author.

Now, I don’t mean to say we didn’t have fun. We had great friends (and peers) who looked out for us and made the whole experience worthwhile. And I don’t mean to say that we didn’t enjoy talking with the GenCon attendees who were interested in hearing our tale. And I don’t mean to say it isn’t cool to feel like and be acknowledged as a REAL author.

What’s hard is pushing yourself to do something that doesn’t come naturally: marketing. Marketing something that is truly a piece of your heart and soul. You’re literally handing someone a glimpse into your imagination and asking, “Well, what do you think? Is it worthy of your time and money?”

What if your audience says no? What if they rudely turn and walk away? Or what if they stay to listen to your pitch out of mere courtesy, but you detect their lack of interest? It’s hard to develop a thick skin, and it’s often hard to keep morale high when you’re feeling overlooked or rejected. You have to look for the good, and you have to keep faith. It’s not as bad as it seems. There are those who want to read your book, and there are those who will even enjoy it.

What’s more, GenCon is full of happy people doing exactly what Matt and I do in our writing: escape. Escaping real life for a few days to indulge in fantasies, games, and diversions…and why not? These are “our people,” people who share that common drive to “get away from it all” every now and then.

So, yes, I’m sad I didn’t get a REAL vacation. It’s back to work, to reality, and to daily routine. But I’m happy I was a part of GenCon 2010, because I grew from the experience. For all those who took a chance on a pair of co-authors and their epic fantasy novel, I give you a heartfelt thank you. I also hope you will enjoy your escape to the world of Secramore. A mental vacation can be just as good as a real one.

-Stefanie