by Nathan Marchand
September 11, 2015
It’s been over a month since I attended Gen-Con 2015, yet I haven’t written about it until now. Writing is a busy life.
Regardless, I attended Gen-Con and sold books in its Authors’ Avenue for the fourth year in a row. For those who don’t know, Gen-Con is a long-running gaming convention that takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana. It has a strong writer/literary presence, hence why it has a Writer’s Symposium and the Authors’ Avenue, where independent authors can sell their books.
Coming up with a new blog for Gen-Con when I wrote a four-part series on it for my own website will be a challenge. If you want the full details, check out my website. With this blog I will focus more on Children of the Wells and give a few noteworthy highlights.
I once again sold copies of my solo novels (including a brand new one) and other collaborative books featuring many of the same people you see here at Children of the Wells, but I also took the serial’s first two print collections with me. Unlike last year, when my shipments didn’t arrive until day three of the four-day convention, I had both volumes all four days this year. Strangely, though, I didn’t sell any until day two or three of the convention; then interest started to increase.
I worked hard on my pitch for the books, which usually began with, “This is the most unique thing I’ve written,” followed by comparing it to the manga/anime Full Metal Alchemist and ended with, “The magic is gone…or is it?” This intrigued many who heard it despite my aversion to giving spoilers. The CotW books weren’t my bestseller at this year’s convention, but I did run out of my handful of copies of Bron and Calea, Vol. 1 and half of the copies of Jaysynn, Vol. 1 I took with me.
Here I am taking a rare selfie with Arthur, who is apparently one of my biggest fans.
However, with a fella named Arthur—who bought two of my shorter books last year—I barely said one sentence about the CotW collections and even less about my novel Pandora’s Box before he grabbed the books intent on buying them (ever seen that scene in Futurama when Fry buys an Eye-Phone, saying, “Shut up and take my money!”? It was kinda like that). It was the easiest $35 I’ve ever made. It was surprising but gratifying to see I had such an avid fan.
Then a few weeks later, Arthur e-mailed me some fanmail:
“…we’re not even into September and I’ve gone and read the whole thing… Not to mention the other two. Pandora’s Box, Bron and Calea…
“I need to dedicate more to the next time I get books from you.
“On a side note, please construct the magic system into a D20 supplement. I’d be interested in it.”
I know a guy who could do this, actually.
Me with Trace Beaulieu and his original Crow T. Robot puppet.
Me with Marina Sirtis (who kinda reminds me of my Mom, except my Mom isn’t British).
My “42” co-author Eric Anderson and I meet Summer Glau while cosplaying.
Before I sign off, I’d be remiss not to mention the three celebrities I met while at the convention: Summer Glau (River from Firefly), Marina Sirtis (Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation), and Trace Beaulieu (Dr. Forester and the original Crow T. Robot from Mystery Science Theatre 3000). I gave Mrs. Glau and Mrs. Sirtis copies of my books—Pandora’s Box to Mrs. Glau and 42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom to Mrs. Sirtis—as a “thank you” for coming. I must admit I wondered if I should’ve given Mrs. Glau volume one of Bron and Calea because I thought she’d like Calea. She has a habit of playing characters who suffer from psychological damage. Anyway, you can read about my meetings with all of them in full on my website.
Our plan is to hopefully have two new print collections—one for each plotline—completed by next year’s Gen-Con.
I better get onto that…I’m writing the next Bron and Calea novella…
Don't miss a single word of stories as they are published! You'll also receive first notice of special sales and behind-the-scenes information.
