Star Wars™ Celebration V

A number of very nice people have asked if I will be attending the Star Wars Celebration V (August 12-15 in Orlando). In the past I’ve heard rumors that I’ve been spotted at other Celebrations, or that I was going to be the guest of honor at some group or other’s party. Having attended conventions I know exactly how those sorts of rumors get started. While I’m confident they are quite innocent, what starts as a “wouldn’t it be cool if…” conversation between a couple of folks becomes a fact overheard by others, and a disappointment in the minds of yet others. That sort of disappointment, when translated to blogs, turns into, “And then there was the author who was too full of himself to actually show up at this party where he’d promised to be…”

In short, I won’t be at Celebration V.

There are a number of reason for this.

1) I’ve never been invited to any of the Celebrations. I don’t say this in any sort of snit or fit of pique. The Celebrations—wonderful events by all accounts—are a business venture. Lucasfilm brings in their guests, publishers bring in their guests, others bring in their guests. While I’d love to attend, it’s kind of silly for anyone to bring me into the show when I don’t have any new Star Wars related projects in the works.

2) It’s been suggested that I could go “just as a fan.” While I’m certainly a fan of Star Wars, I really couldn’t go to the Celebration as just a fan because I’m not just a fan. I’m sure I’d have a great time, but I’m also sure that some well-meaning bloggers would protest, on my behalf, about how it wasn’t right that I was being treated as “just a fan” by the Celebration. That would embarrass me, Lucasfilm and likely create some hard feelings where none need to be created.

3) My travel schedule has already been set for a while, and is very intensive during the summer. (I live in Phoenix, so getting out of town during the hot, muggy monsoon season is not a virtue, it’s a survival strategy.) I’ll be at Gencon the week before Celebration V, and at DragonCon over Labor Day. Squeezing another convention in there would guarantee I got no work done in August. On top of that, I’d be out of pocket at least $1K to attend and my boss (me) doesn’t let me accrue vacation days. The conventions I attend are not vacations, they are work, and by teaching writing classes at them, I actually make money—or, at least, break even.

4) I am likewise certain I’d see lots of friends at Celebration V, but I see most of them at a variety of other conventions. Anyone who was hoping I’d be at Celebration V so they could get a book signed, you have two options. First, you can find me at local shows (I do a lot of conventions each year) or hit this link and learn how to send me a book/card/comic to get it signed.

One point I want to be very clear about: I’m not asking, hinting, suggesting, scheming or otherwise angling to get an invite to Celebration VI or such down the road. The folks who run the show know how to reach me if they feel having me attend would serve their purposes. I fully understand, as I said above, business considerations are how the decisions are made. Heck, if I were running the show, I’d not be asking me to attend. Looking at it in terms of profit and loss, my being there makes no sense at all.

I know everyone who attends will have a wonderful time. That’s very cool. But, when you’re there, if you hear rumors of me being spotted, understand them for what they are: wishful thinking; and have fun without me.