Other highlights:
- If you've been following my blog and Facebook posts, you know that my husband and I recently moved in with my parents, so a few days away and a hotel room to myself was priceless.
- Being able to spend long leisurely meals talking about writing, books, marketing and getting to know people that I've otherwise only "met" via email or Facebook.
- The sheer spectacle of the whole event---hundreds of (mostly) women talking, laughing and having a great time.
- Great food in the French Quarter.
- Everyone was very friendly and even casual conversations with people I just happened to sit down next to were interesting and beneficial.
- Talking with Bethany Burke, the owner of Blushing Books, about the "business" side of things. She is a fount of information and shared generously.
I'm sure there are many more things to list, but I'm still recovering. I think you get the idea.
But, as a spanking fiction writer, is this the best venue? Sure, it was fun and informative, but were the readers there likely to buy spanking fiction? It's hard to say, but in general the conference was geared toward "Romance" in all it's permutations, but I didn't really see too much about anything kinky. I might have missed it.
I would have liked more reader interaction, but that might have been my fault since I didn't attend the book fair on Saturday. Sue Lyndon and Cara Bristol had a table on Friday morning where readers could meet them and while I was there, I met one reader who was very nice. Maybe she's even visiting my blog now (I gave her my ticket to the goody room and felt good about that because she was pretty excited).
Here's what Cara Bristol says: I think RT can be worthwhile, but like everything else, it depends on what you put into it. It is SO big, so chaotic that one's efforts can become lost among all the books, authors, swag, and advertising. The amount of "stuff" is overwhelming and it is hard for any one author to stand out.
But, having attended last year and again this year, I saw incremental improvements in my presence. Last year, nobody (other than the people I had arranged to meet in advance) came up to me and introduced themselves. This year, quite a few people did -- and I think face to face contact is beneficial for building relationships.
My spanking spoons were a huge hit, and hopefully stuck in people's minds. I don't think giving away a pen is the way to go.One's SWAG has to be stand out. I participated in the Book Fair for the first time and found it beneficial -- not to sell books--but to have a presence. This is when most of the readers come in. You have to have good SWAG. If I did RT again, I would do the Book Fair.
What I didn't like about the Book Fair was that RT relegates ebook authors to a second class status. Indies and epubbed authors were grouped together in a smaller room and squeezed three to a table. The print authors had much more space in the "Grand" ballroom. Why not just put everyone together alphabetically? If they have to split the alphabet into two rooms, so be it.
Spanking fiction has no presence at RT--but I think it could -- if more authors and readers made it a priority. As you know, Bethany of Blushing Books is trying to break in.
Would I do RT again? I'm on the fence. Before I did, I would like to try a smaller conference and compare the two.
What about the rest of you who attended? Do you think that RT is the best venue for spanking writers?
**Update*** Check out Cara Bristiol's Blog today for more of her thoughts on the conference. Click here.
It was a great opportunity to mingle with people in the industry. Previously when the e authors were on a separate day I met a ton of readers and I think that helped. This time, with the two rooms and the small number who made it into the second room...it was not so good for reader contact for me, at least. And as far as any of the erotic or spanking genres I write in...the reader contact I had at the convention but not at the book fair itself, was better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate! Why do you think they changed from separate days for the ebooks vs. print books? That would be frustrating to see all the readers and not have all of them make it to where you were.
DeleteI've never attended anything. I have a good friend who goes to many local conferences and has encouraged me to go, but she is not into kink at all. I've always felt I'd be out of place or feel the need to 'go back in the closet.' I would enjoy something where I felt the spanking books would be at least equal to the others. I'm very anxious to here more of what you and the other thought about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, PK. Be sure to stop by for my next post about introducing myself to people as Celeste Jones. :)
DeleteNo one specifically dissed me or spanking authors, and people were very friendly and not judgmental (at least the ones I met) but I'd like to meet readers who are likely to at least consider buying and reading a spanking book.
This is the post I want to read. Hope it's up soon :)
DeleteFollowing this. Dallas is much closer to me than NOLA, so I am considering going next year, but I will be interested to see the response.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has to decide for themselves and we all have different reasons for going and I'm not saying I won't go again, but when the total cost for the conference, travel, food, hotel etc is in the $2K range, I want to get the most for my money and that's why I want to have this disucssion.
DeleteI should also add that Blushing Books sponsored the bracelets that people had to wear for the pub crawl and had a table of swag set up (which they kindly allowed all of us to use to distribute our promo items). BB gave away wooden paint stick paddles that were very popular and people seemed pretty excited about them. I also laughed when I heard Maren Smith say "My floggers are all gone." Spanking writers are just more fun than everyone else, IMO.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing all your experiences ladies! I was wondering how it all worked. It seems very big and "romance" is a big umbrella and it's easy to get lost (we know that just from trying to sell online).
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it would work better if they split authors up by sub-genre rather than e-book, print book, indie pubs?
Yeah, that makes a lot more sense :)
DeleteI like Casey's idea of splitting up by sub genre and ami love the idea of meeting you all in person especially at an event like this, but I wonder if this one isn't too big and not kinky enough just yet. That said, if they did break us up by sub genre, would people then be embarrassed to come to the spanking section? That could be a consideration (not that I have any say)
ReplyDeleteI have to do a second comment as my phone is weird and if I backspace, I can't type anymore! Anyhow, good that Bethany was there and we are a growing genre. I would probably try for a smaller and kinkier convention first but would go just to meet you all. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's post.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader I enjoyed reading everyone's experiences of the conference. Definitely intrigued to read your next post Celeste!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Roz
I think that RT tries to be all things to all people. So they had one or two sessions on BDSM, a few sessions on erotica, one or two on sci-fi, historical, etc,
ReplyDeleteYour comment about whether it was worth it for a spanking romance writer is what I'd wonder about. Is it viewed as a "legitimate" sub genre? Or just an oddity? I would have liked to have gone, if for nothing else just to meet all of you. In view of what I'm hearing it sounds like a smaller, more focused conference would be better. Maybe one geared to Romance--erotica? Is there such a thing?
ReplyDeleteHaving not been there I don't feel qualified to comment. However, I think what we are all trying to do, in one way or another, is generate more readership of our books. Getting the general public rather than just other writes seems to me what would be most beneficial. I think Cara has the right idea. A book fair would bring in readers, not necessarily more writers.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is Rollin-- I think i have heard of EROTICON- and a BDSM writers conference. I think that could be a better fit, although I worry that some of us would be out of our element there too. For instance me. Mt stories are so squeaky clean that I would be an oddity at either of those. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Celeste. I think I had more reader interaction at Club RT than at the book fair, and the book fair lasted longer so I think that says a lot. I wish I would have bought a space in promo alley though. A lot of authors said they thought it was worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteI actually have had a spike in sales and I do believe it has something to do with the convention. Over the next week, I'll keep an eye on it and see if my suspicions pan out.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone. I will be going again next year, and I also plan to do the Book Fair. I will also be doing more to advertise my non-spanking books.
I disagree that spanking authors have NO presence at RT. There were a number of posters and banners for BDSM oriented books not associated with Blushing. But is RT the best venue for us? I honestly don't know, but I'm leaning toward no. Is there something better out there? Should we be attending the annual Shadowlane spanking parties instead? Should we try to host a panel or two? Like I said, I don't know. But I'm not yet ready to give up on RT.
Thanks Maren! Do you think the spike in sales was due to people you met or your nice little promo pieces (were they trading cards?) in the goodie bags?
DeleteP.S. Enjoyed meeting your family too.