World Fantasy Convention Sunday

Sunday is always interesting, with folks coming and going, everyone winding down and cutting loose. I started by having breakfast with Bob Vardeman and Nathan Long; then Nathan ran off and Joan Saberhagen joined us. Bob and I both started with cinnamon rolls. Then he opted for a raspberry snail. I went for an apricot tart. The tart was so delicious I could actually not finish it. Bob and Joan did their part to help, though, since we couldn’t have the restaurant folks think we didn’t like it.

We learned that during the night the hotel swimming pool started leaking. Over the dealer’s room. The dealer’s room full of art and old books. Looked as if the staff had things well in hand and no serious damage was done. I successfully avoided taking home all the books I wanted to buy, but next time (or the year after, in San Diego) I may be laden with books. The coolest thing about the dealer’s room is that there are a bunch of collectible books there which are older than I am; and then lots of new books from small presses who are all looking to change the field and grow up into the new publishers who will push the industry deep into this century. The creativity and fire is fantastic.

I met Steve Peterson for dinner. We went to Gordon Biersch. Steve was one of the founders of Hero Games. I first met him in 1982 at a convention, and we’ve been friends since. I’d not seen him in ten years, at least, but that’s part of the fun of being a guy. We met, shook hands, and were back where we were ten years ago. Steve is working on plans that actually dovetailed with a lot of what I was talking with authors about. Serendipity, but very welcome as Steve has a level of expertise in the area of marketing that I don’t have, and that any effort to reshape publishing desperately needs.

That’s kind of been the theme of WFC this year for me: folks finding folks and working together to make the future come about. Folks are getting that publishing is in a time of transition, and that if you don’t let fear blind you to what’s going on, technology and new thoughts can not only give you a career, but can boost it to heights unimagined before.

I’ve been surprised by the number of folks who have commented on my Cory Doctorow pieces. Folks are recognizing the need to deal with the various new modes of publication. Everyone who mentioned the pieces agreed that Cory is a fantastic self-promoter, but the business angles and implications haven’t escaped critical evaluation.

As I come out of this WFC I am really feeling energized. That’s cool. That’s how I used to feel about writing after coming out of a convention like this. That the industry has this much energy in a time when folks are letting themselves believe publishing is in a death spiral is very promising. I’ve had folks express interest in a bunch of projects that you’ll read more about here as they get going.

It’s going to be a wonderful future.