It's that
time of year again – when we head off to the Romantic Times Booklovers'
Convention—aka "RT". This has been my favorite event for several years, because
it allows me, as an author, to get close to my readers.
Once more
I am honored to be entrusted by my publisher to represent them at their table in
the hospitality suite, that rocking room called Club RT. And like last year, I
will not be alone—my dear friends and sister Siren authors Heather Rainier and
Peyton Elizabeth will be with me as they were in Chicago in 2012; and we have
one more colleague joining us: Corinne Davies, who is not only a Siren author,
but a fellow Canadian as well.
I cannot
help but reflect back over my years attending this convention, because it has
played such a pivotal role in the development of my career. I will never forget
that it was at RT in 2006, in Daytona Beach, that I "pitched" what became my
first published novel – Made For Each Other – to the publisher of
Siren-Bookstrand.
Now,
seven years later, I have a backlist of 31 books; my career is thriving; and I
am living my one and only dream—to be a published author who writes books that
people read.
So thank
you, RT Magazine, for the part you have played in making my dream come
true.
You know
that old saying; all good things must come to an end? This could very well be my
last RT Convention. That is not something I imagined I would ever
say. But the truth of the matter is, attending future conventions may just
simply not make good business sense.
This
convention has, in the last few years, featured 2 "book fairs" – opportunities
for readers to meet their favorite authors and get autographs, and purchase
books. The first, the "Book Expo" has primarily been for the e-book format, and
in the last couple of years, graphic novels. It is held mid-week for 2 hours,
usually from 4 pm to 6 pm. It draws the readers who are attending the convention
and maybe a few more avid readers, besides. Then, the major event, the Giant
Book Fair, takes place on Saturday, with the emphasis on printed books. This
book fair is always popular with the thousands of readers who attend.
Many if
not most of us who are "e-published" also have our books available in print, and
they can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, and a few other book
sellers. Of course, the books are print-on-demand, which means they cannot be
"returned".
This has
never been an issue, as those of us who wished to attend the Giant Book Fair,
had no qualms about "guaranteeing" our sales. For myself that meant, ordering a
specific number of books from the bookseller and agreeing to purchase whatever
didn't sell, so that the bookseller would not be left with books that he'd paid
for and not recouped his investment on.
Here is
where I tell you that the true value of any book fair, but especially the Giant
Book Fair on Saturday, is not in the books you sell there; it is in being seen.
It is in having your name read by passers-by. It is in the promotion that takes
place beforehand.
And this
year, for the first time ever, those of us who are primarily e-published, and
any who are self-published, are not being permitted to attend this Giant
Book Fair.
We've
paid the same amount of money to register for this convention as every other
author, and we are not being permitted to attend the marquis
event.
We are
excluded from it, absolutely!
I have
heard from many of my fellow e-published authors who've promoted this event to
their readers only to find out after the fact that this new policy is in place
(it was not mentioned during the registration process). Many of those authors
will not attend another RT Convention.
One of
those authors has arranged for a separate book fair to be held after the RT
event on Saturday is closed; and she has also arranged for a free shuttle bus
for readers to go from the Conference hotel to the Marriott (and
return) where this second event is being held. Admittance to this book
fair is free.
That
author's name is Kalypso Masters. I am pleased to report that I will be at that
book signing in support of my fellow e-published and the self-published authors,
on Saturday, May 4th. The event is called Romancing The Plaza and you
can read about it on FaceBook here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/367249456727252/?fref=ts
If you
are in the area, please stop by. If you know people who live in Kansas City,
please tell them about this free event. There are fabulous door prizes
available, and you will be helping good people who have been, in my opinion,
unjustly discriminated against.
Technology never goes backward;
e-books are here to stay. I'm not only disappointed that such exclusion
is being practiced; I am shocked that an organization I'd always considered to
be business-savvy would act in such a short sighted manner.
How many
magazine subscriptions did this move of theirs forfeit? Who can tell? One thing
about my readers, and the readers of other authors I know. They're loyal. And
they are not afraid to speak with their pocketbooks.
Love,
Morgan
No comments:
Post a Comment