Writing When You’re Down

Does anyone else have trouble writing right now? I mean, specifically, after the election?

Every time I sit down to write, nothing comes into my head.  Even my usual go-to plan of attack for writers block on a specific project–working on something else–isn’t working.  My other go-to plan of attack, making something like jewelry or bread, isn’t available since we’re redoing the kitchen and using my craft room for storage.

Why did I ever do that? Oh, because we really needed to tackle some issues with the house. Those issues are also why it’s taken so long.

Anyway, I feel like I’m waiting for something bad to drop. That there’s a countdown in my head to a tragedy. It feels wrong to be doing something so mundane as writing.

How are you doing?

Where to Sell your Books – Part 2 – Book Fairs

Book fairs (and festivals) should be a no-brainer of a place to offer your books for sale, but honestly, it can be a hit or miss. There are usually only one or two books fairs in a local area, so you may have to travel (which means a hotel room if you don’t have family you can bunk with) for these events.

The best thing to plan to do at a book fair is talk about your book (or books) and have marketing/selling items to pass out (I make folded business cards with the cover on one front, a QR code for purchase on the back, and the blurb for the book on the inside). Hopefully, this will result in residual sales.

Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival – This is a pretty good 1-day event, and I think I might do better with a publisher/group table than as a single vendor. It also depends on what time of year its held. It’s back to being in October after being held in the summer last year, which means better (cooler) weather, but maybe not as many folks attending (?) – I’m not sure. The best year I attended was when a wine festival was held at the same time and we were set up in the street instead of the park.

Gaithersburg Book Festival – This is an excellent 1-day event that can draw big names as presenters. If you want to present or speak, you need to apply and send copies of your book. It is held in May every year, and sometimes that winds up being Mother’s Day, so just double-check dates if you want to attend. You can also just vend at a table, and they sort you by the age of the reader for your book (i.e., children’s, YA, adult) so not great if you are a publisher that spans reader groups.

Norfolk Indie Book Fair – no longer exists, but I did well when it was held. I keep looking for it to come back after the library had some restructuring done. It is a good idea to check out what events your local library hosts. They may also hosts readings and book signings.

Author Expo at Lancaster Community Library – I attended this for the first time this year (2024), and while I talked about my book a lot, I didn’t sell anything. Folks did pick up materials about my book though. Honestly, however, my ADHD was off the rocks that day (forgot my supplement) and it may have just been me giving off frantic vibes. It didn’t cost a lot for the table but it was a long out-of-the way drive for me. Lovely people though!

Hanover Book Expo – though I have not yet been able to attend this one (I work for the Marines and it always falls the same weekend as the Marine Corps Ball) I know authors who attend and do very well. This is an established event, and folks who come want books.

Anyway – I hope this helps you a bit. Unfortunately, I haven’t attended a good many of these types of events because there really are just a few to a large area. Events like comicons and fandom conventions can have several in a smaller area.

Have you vended at a book fair or book festival? What was it like for you?

Rituals

Personally, I’m not big on rituals. It’s probably due to the mix of autism and adhd that dances a tango in my brain.

I’m thinking about rituals because I work for the Marine Corps, and my Activity has its own, small USMC Ball. It is being held tonight and I am going.

It is not as fancy and high brow as the one HQ holds in Crystal City, but the important part is the ritual of it. The symbolism of what the Marines do in their ceremony.

There is always the small MIA/POW table set for one with a white tablecloth, red rose, yellow ribbon, lit candle, inverted glass, salt, and slice of lemon.  It is set in a place of honor in the room where all can see and pay respects.

Then, there is the cake cutting. The cake is brought out by a color guard of Marines in dress blues, marching stiffly, with precision. The script is read aloud in the otherwise quiet room. The oldest Marine and youngest Marine cut the cake, then each take a bite of the first slice.

The Guest of Honor, usually a decorated Marine, is introduced and gives a speech. Their pride in the Corps always comes through in their words and their tone of voice.

As a Navy Veteran, I know the Navy has its  own rituals, as do the other military services.

But there is something about the pride and solemnity that Marines project during this particular ceremony, that is enough to bring goosebumps.

What Rituals or Ceremonies have you attended that speak to you like that?

Common Cents – a poem

[I WAS IN A MOOOOOOOD.]

Sing a song
of dollar bills;
my bank account’s at zero.

Those 4 and 20
tax men
ain’t no body’s hero.

All my money’s gone
and I’ve got bills to pay,
’cause Zuck and Jeff and Elon
are hoarding $ away.

Nekocon’s First Author Alley – quick update re: where to sell books

I’m at Nekocon ( https://nekocon.com/ ) in Hampton, Virginia at their first Author Alley and it’s WONDERFUL. So many attendees like books and are buying and talking books with me. Highly recommend you check out this venue in the future.

Where to Sell your Books – Part 1 – Conventions

I’ve been selling my books for a dozen years (and other people’s books for about half that) and I have found a few places that are pretty good for selling your book. If you are a good salesman (I am not) you will probably do even better.

This post is about conventions, and I have attended a good few over the past decade. Conventions – like comicons or sci-fi and fantasy cons – are good places to show off your books if they fit the genre of the convention. The folks who attend conventions are already fans of the genre, and you just need to introduce them to your book. Most have artist or author alleys that cater to the small artist and so those spaces (tables) go for a lower price than vendor room spaces. Just be aware that you also won’t have the security of the vendor room, either. I have never had an issue with anything being taken, though.

This list includes conventions local to my area, which makes it relatively easy to attend since I can easily drive there within a few hours. The best are ones that you don’t need to get a hotel for, since that will probably be the biggest expense. If there is one that you will need a hotel, see if there are any other small artists or authors that you can maybe share that room expense with.

Here are some conventions that I (or an author I know) have vended at with success in the greater Hampton Roads area (in no particular order):

Marscon – a 3-day sci-fi and fantasy con in Virginia Beach, Virginia (at one point was in Williamsburg, Virginia). Usually runs in January. I attended regularly when it was in Williamsburg and am attending for the first time in 2025 in Virginia Beach. I can’t image it will be that different.

Fantasci – a 1-day con at the Chesapeake Public Library in Chesapeake, Virginia. Check out the Chesapeake Public Library website for info. Usually runs in July. This is a no-cost event and I consider this my “home” event. That no-cost to vend at means that it is a small, local event, and you may not make a lot of money, but it should all be profit when it is local. Check your own local library to see what events they host.

Convivial – a 3-day convention in Williamsburg, Virginia (started up when Marscon moved to Virginia Beach). Usually runs in March. March 2025 will be my first time attending.

Tidewater Horror – a horror convention in Norfolk, Virginia. Good if you write horror books. Can be a bit hard to get into at first. Usually runs in September. One author I know who writes horror sold a lot of books when this was held in a downtown Norfolk hotel. It is in a different hotel now, and still figuring out the lay of the land. Best bet is to pay a little more for a main hall space.

Tidewater Comicon – a 2-day event that will happen in June of 2025 (it moves around and sometimes it’s been a 1-day event) in Virginia Beach, Virginia. If you have a book that a comic book lover might like to read (or that their parent might like to read — this one is VERY kid-friendly) this can be a great event for you. One year they held a 1-day event in October and a lot of kids attended in their Halloween costume (note: a lot of vendors had candy, and that might be a BIG extra expense for an October event.)

Hampton Comicon – a 1-day event (at one point it was a 3-day event but they are still recovering from the pandemic) held in Hampton, Virginia. It is finding its way again after having to cancel last year due to a big race in the area closing all the access roads. It is back again in February 2025, and hopefully this date will be good for them going forward. Since I can drive to this and don’t need a hotel, it is a good event for me and I make a bit of money.

NekoCon – is a 3-day anime convention in Hampton, Virginia. It is held the first weekend in November every year. This year (2024) they are offering their first author alley (in addition to the artist alley) and I am attending. While it is a local event, I am staying at a hotel because the tunnel is a b!tch right now with construction, and this is a HUGE event for this area. My hotel (I am sharing the expense) is within walking distance, so I can leave my car at the hotel and walk over.

Here are a couple outside of my area that I have attended (and shared the cost of a hotel with a friend) that I did/do pretty well at.

Ravencon – a 3-day gothic horror and more convention (a nod to Edgar Allen Poe) in Richmond, Virginia. (This one started in Richmond, move to Williamsburg for a while, then moved back to Richmond). Usually runs in April. This is my FAVORITE convention, and I pretty much break even plus every year I go.

Galaxycon – is a “festival of fandom” so it encompasses all kinds of genre and media (comics, movies, TV shows, books) that gets big-name guests to attend on a regular basis. I attended their Richmond, Virginia when they only had the in-person event, but they now also do a lot online. They also have different cities that they hold the event in, so check the website to see if there is one close to you. This is the SECOND event that I attended and did more than break even on costs.

AwesomeCon – a 3-day comic convention held in Washington, DC (so hotel prices can be really steep – but there is also a micro-hotel within easy walking distance that might work for you). Again, this event will get big-name guests. This is the FIRST con I ever did more than break even at (by a few dollars). The date moves around a bit, and I attended one in the summer and one in the fall.

I hope this helps anyone who is looking for a place to show off their books. And for some of these events, authors can also apply to be a guest on a panel or perform a reading. Sometimes this can lead to interest in your book and a few sales (or it can lad to someone who is writing their own book and wants to monopolize your time to get advice.) Just be prepared if you apply as a guest: there is no monetary benefit to you from the convention. This is just an opportunity for you to talk about your book.

Have you sold you books at a convention like this? What was it like?