I’m sorry to be missing seeing and meeting everyone this week at Colorado Gold!
I’d planned to come up and at least sign on Friday night and meet Emily Keyes from my agency, as I have an out-of-town guest the rest of the weekend. However, I talked with Nina of Who Else Books while we were both at Bubonicon, and she talked me out of it.
It would have been a tight turnaround and it’s probably better that I’m not trying to do it.
Still.
Everything in moderation, I know, but it can be difficult to decide which conferences and conventions to attend. I go to more than most authors I know. Partly I like to travel and am comfortable doing it. Also, I have a day job which helps fund going to conferences. And I believe that they’re productive venues for me to connect with readers and network with other writers and industry professionals.
Sure – a lot of people get into ROI (return on investment) and obsess over whether the resulting sales from con appearances make up for the sometimes outrageous expense of going. I don’t believe in ROI for this sort of thing. I think building human relationships creates potential and opportunities that can’t be quantified.
Let me give you a relevant example.
When I was a newbie writer, I attended the RT Booklovers Convention for the first time in 2009, in Orlando. It had never occurred to me to go, because I figured it for a reader convention to meet *published* writers. Then an author – Linnea Sinclair – who was a member of my online RWA group, the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal (FFP) special interest chapter posted that all us aspiring writers absolutely SHOULD go to RT, in order to network with already published authors, who could then know and help us.
Best advice ever!
At that convention, though I pitched my book to a bunch of people, I didn’t sell it as a direct result. I did not sign with an agent, nor did I get a publishing deal. It goes without saying that I had no book sales to offset my expenses. But I *did* meet some amazing people. Some of whom are my friends to this day. Including the fabulous Cynthia Eden.
Cindy was already multipubbed and doing awesomely well at that point and, also a member of FFP, was really nice to me. We hung at a party and talked. She became a friend, advocate, and my go-to person for questions. Fast forward six years and, as a direct result of that friendship, which has otherwise enriched my life in so many ways, I get to be in this fantastic collection with Cindy and four other authors who are mind-blowingly good. DARK SECRETS: A PARANORMAL NOIR ANTHOLOGY comes out on September 29 and I’m effervescent with excitement. I mean, Megan Hart and Rachel Caine have written books that are in my top favorites of all time. Like, Cindy, Suzanne Johnson is a longtime friend from FFP and I’ve known Mina for years.
It’s like my clubhouse girl-pack decided to put on a play and everyone just happens to be Judy Garland.
This is why I feel making author friends is ultimately unquantifiable. There’s simple no way of knowing what will produce a return in the future – or what form it will take.
Thus, I’m sorry not to make it up to the Colorado Gold Conference. Who knows what might have resulted? But I wish all of you well. I hope you learn new things, make new friends, and return home inspired to create.
I’ll be thinking of you!
*********************
DARK SECRETS: A PARANORMAL NOIR ANTHOLOGY.
Six award-winning authors bring you this spellbinding collection of stories about dark desires, mysterious worlds, and danger that lurks in the shadows of the night. Where nothing is black and white; where things might not be as they seem; where magic and mayhem rule.
Add DARK SECRETS to your TBR!
We are now on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26135577-dark-secrets-a-paranormal-noir-anthology
Thanks for the inspiration with my morning coffee, Jeffe. We’ll miss you.
Glad it was inspiring, Janet – and thanks! It’s good to be missed. 🙂
I always meet someone new and wonderful at a conference or genre convention, but sometimes we need to sit one out. I couldn’t attend the spring Northern Colorado Writers Conference because of the (non-walking) cast on my foot and my inability to keep my balance on one leg and crutches. I hated missing the fun and the writerly energy, and that might be why I’m extra excited about Colorado Gold this fall. I’m sorry you won’t be there, Jeffe. Maybe next year.
Maybe so!
Aww, what a sweet and wonderful blog…you made me tear up. Yes, the relationships we build in this romance industry are priceless, they keep us going. Did you know Colorado Gold is one of all time favorite cons? Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to attend for two years now, but one of these days I’ll be back. (((Hugs)))
I did not know that – how nicely circular! 🙂