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Hi all! Darla once again! Just wanted to clear up a few misconceptions going around. I should have been clear from the first! My apolgies if I created any confusion.
Romantic Times is the only professional con for writers I have been too. I usually end up at fan run cons. But I have seen the same behaviour there. I have been told by others that many of the professional cons have that same problem and always with just a few folks who are less than nice. The majority are wonderful! I can prove it by experience.
Glen Cook (no relation,darn it) is a great writer, and he sells me books. He runs a booth and always has great stuff to recommend,even stuff he didn’t write. Ray Bradbury always a class act. Stephen King, an incredibly nice man in person. Chelsea Quinn Yarbo, sent me a nice letter long ago when I wrote her. All the terrific authors I met at Romantic Times, some of whom I have corresponded with and it was nice to see them in person. Including the one lady I asked to sign books for me because I knew I wasn’t going to get to her on Saturday. She told me she couldn’t. She was sorry, but she was due at a panel and didn’t want to be late. Perfectly acceptable answer! I certainly don’t hold it against her. I will be mailing my books and biting my nails waiting for them to come back.
So I am PollyAnna. Or so I have been told, for not always assuming the worst. I always give it one of two explainations before I assume someone is just plain mean.
First of course that someone has had a bad day. It happens to the best of us. It has happened to me. I try not to take my bad moods out on those who didn’t cause it.
Second, perhaps it is nothing more than fear and nervousness. People can be what seems quite rude, when all it is, is they are frightened and shy. Authors do tend to be notoriously shy people. I could name several but that would be rude of me. Either your comfortable being approached by strangers and talking in public or you’re not. It is something that can be learned. But it takes time and some folks will never be comfortable.
Next thing on my list. The Micah story. Yes, it will be a paperback. Not because it couldn’t be a hardback, but because the publishing industry is trying something new. Publishing novella’s alone as paperbacks at about $4 each (the exact price has not been worked out yet). It is an experiment, and Laurell is not the only author they are planning on trying it with. For Laurell it works well because there are things she would like to have in a book but never quite has time for. A date between Anita, Jean-Claude and Asher is one she wants to do. Don’t we all want to see that.
I do like anthologies. I have read some wonderful stories and found great writers through them. MaryJanice Davidson comes to mind. I love Betsy, she is a blast. Anthologies will still be a great venue for shorter works. And a way to introduce new authors or those wanting to expand their reader base.
Third, I am behind on emails. Ack! The days I spent at the con put me behind on email and orders. I am working as quickly as possible to get caught up. Please be patient and if you have questions about merchandise, membership or anything else, feel free to drop me a note. I am mostly behind on email, but all the merchandise and memberhsip stuff should go out this week at the latest. Please include your full name so I can find you easier.
Lastly, Strange Candy, the short story collection. The stories really do run the gamut. From the first Anita short story Laurell wrote to establish Anita in her own head (Anita raising a zombie) to fluffy bunny stories (no there is no fluffy bunnies in any of them), but they are lighter stories and fun, to the last, truly creepy stories that when you reach the end, you are shocked to find out the why. I do believe it was 13 stories in all but it might have been only 12. Some of them have never been published previously. Others appeared in anthologies earlier in Laurell’s career and some were in magazines. I have forgotten the exact count and won’t remember probably till we get the pages to edit. It really is a wide range of topics and genres. But fun none the less.
So now I shall run off and work on the emails some more. Hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day. I know not all holidays are for all folks, but even if you have no kids, maybe a moment to think nice things about your mom or the special woman in your life.
Big smiles!