Why Sci-fi Readers should attend Comic Book Conventions

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?