Picture this:
People dressed as
their favorite characters from their favorite book, Wizards, Comic book Heroes,
cartoon heroes or even the off-beat goofball.
These are the
sights that can be seen in abundance at nearly every ComicCon, FanX, WonderCon
or convention, whatever the current naming sequence. It is a wondrous
celebration that transforms everyone into a new person; sends them to a new world
and creates a new experience.
This is the
enjoyment that we get when we attend these events.
Why I went to Comic Conventions
I have to say, when I started going to these conventions,
I had the singular purpose of selling the Science Fiction books that my
brothers and I had written.
I have been a Sci-fi geek since I was eight years old and
my mother read Heinlein’s Rocketship
Galileo to me and my brother, and I was deeply engaged into comic books
before Marvel ever hit the big
screen, but I have never had the urge to attend a ComicCon. This thought
process changed after my first visit, even though, as I mentioned, I went just
to sell books. As I also mentioned, the experience is something that you have
to, well… experience, to understand.
I have to admit, that there are those who will probably
never understand, and there is nothing wrong with that. The world is made up of
different people and that is the way it should be. For those of us who identify
with the young Luke Skywalker as he looks off into the desert and wants
adventure in his life, the ComicCons and other conventions, will always stir
our thoughts and our adventurous natures.
Why
Sci-Fi readers should be at Comic Book Conventions
So, why do Sci-fi readers need to attend these conventions?
First, I you need to understand that every Con is different. They all have
their own vibe and theme. I have to say that the first time I went to the Salt
Lake ComicCon (now renamed FanX) it had a strong writer feel to it, probably
because many of the guests and panelists were writers or publishers.
The Portland, OR ‘RoseCity Con’ however had a much
stronger Comic Book feel to it, probably because many of the guests were comic
publishers and there were fewer authors there. Having said that, however, all
Cons have a great chance for authors to interact with their readers directly.
This year, at FanX, I went to a panel that had Brandon Sanderson, Mercedes Lackey,
David Farland, all several other authors, all on the same panel, talking to
whoever wanted to sit in a room and listen to them. It was awesome!
Author
Panels are Great for Readers as well as Authors.
I also had the chance to sit in another panel. Now I have
to admit, I probably wouldn’t have gone to this one without a special reason.
The topic was something like- How Do
You Convert your Ideas into Novels. I have found that, over the years,
this has become easier for me. Like any talent or muscle, the more you exercise
it, the easier it seems to be to use it. As I prepare to publish my fifth
novel, this process is easier for me than it once was. Like I said, I probably wouldn’t have gone to
this panel except that a young lady was speaking there that I have known since
she was seven years old and my daughter’s best friend. Tricia Levenseller
has published two exceptional YA books and her third was released this last
February. I was excited to see that she had been invited to be on the panel and
I wanted to go see her. It was a great
panel, and I have to say I learned some things that I could use, too. But I have to say that the best thing about
both panels was the fact that authors were willing to sit and answer questions
and let readers into the process of how a story goes together.
As
an Author, I’d Love to See You at my Next Con
Whatever your previous feelings about Comic Conventions,
I hope that I will see you at my next Con. It is the place where all readers
belong. A land of adventures.
What do you
think?
