A Fantasy Author in New York Comic-Con's Court - Awesome

Okay, I’ve come up for air. No, I have not yet responded to all my e-mail traffic from the New York Comic-Con weekend. I promise you that I will, but this post takes priority.

My first major convention was loads of fun, serious work and an amazing learning experience. I took hours to set up my booth. It was to be the public stage for greeting fantasy/sci-fi fans of all ages and introducing The Soulstealer War in the non-virtual world. As good as a website can be, it takes a back seat to the face-to-face with folks and I wanted to put my best foot forward. There were tables, chairs, coverings, stickers, wooden chests, leather boxes, parchment signs, silk scrolls, books, lamps, candles, seven feet of armor and other accents to handle – all designed to create the right atmosphere.

There were impressive technical displays by the major industry players, and less spectacular, but equally satisfying, sights to be found in the convention’s nether recesses. I imagine it was impossible for the fans in one weekend to find their way to every nook and alternate realm. However, I met my share. I was tucked in the Small Press community, an abode of independent risk-taking artists and publishers who seemed to be phantoms - Aisle 2200 bore neither a ceiling sign nor a “Small Press” banner - perhaps some industry handicaps will always remain. Then again, it could be that lady Fate retains her sense of humor. Heck, even the “Podcast” area had a banner sign.

Despite these hurdles and the seemingly endless garden of visual delights, a lot of you found your way to my table. It was simultaneously humbling, thrilling and harrowing - adding lots of java to the three day mix only hyped the surreal factor. Whether I was just

- talking fantasy & sci-fi;
- offering my tidbits on the novel and characters;
- tracing the story-line on the five-foot map of the Eastern Rim of Weir;
- meeting industry professionals;
- chatting with the librarians;
- encouraging fellow writers to complete their manuscripts;
- scrutinizing sample materials from the supporting cast of marketing people;
- discovering fantasy & sci-fi reviewers and bloggers;
- waving to Stan Lee as he passed my table with a swelling retinue at his heels
- casting an approving glance at the costumed attendees; and
- making a note that I need to find out where the Star Wars Stormtrooper armor and weaponry can be acquired…

… it was my great pleasure and sincere honor to be counted among those present.

THANK YOU ALL.

W.L. Hoffman

P.S. – Congratulations to Dawn Toledo, winner of my crystal globe drawing.

P.P.S. - This message was copied to my e-mail database so that the update can reach those of you who are not yet tracking my Blog sites: http://soulstealerwar.blogspot.com/ and http://soulstealerwar.wordpress.com/. As always, if you want to be permanently removed from this database, please just send a reply message making that request. I will be disappointed, but will certainly respect your wishes.