And Another Rant

[madrobins]

I've decided the time has come to take a stand. It's a small stand, but it's my own. When I go to conventions and speak on panels (and last weekend at Orycon I did seven panels, in addition to a reading and an improv performance) I sometimes remember to bring a copy of my latest work to each panel, but mostly I don't. I am well aware that these appearences are an opportunity to promote myself and my work, and I am grateful for that opportunity. When I introduce myself, I mention my work--particularly when it's appropriate (a panel on the City as Character? I'm the author of The Stone War. A panel on inserting fantasy into realistic settings? I might cite Stone War or my most recent short story sale, "Boon," about fairies and brownies in the East Village. And so forth), and as the panel goes on I might further mention work I've done that's germane. What I don't do, and what I feel increasingly uncomfortable about watching other people doing, is put up a veritable fortress wall of books, jackets and cover flats and refering to them incessantly. I saw this a number of times over the weekend, done by writers with whom I am friendly, writers whose work I often like. And by the end of the weekend I wanted to go up to the dias and whisper, "No, take them all down but the newest one. Let us see your pretty face. Let us focus on what you're saying, not on your cover art." Because I, as an audience member, began to feel that as far as the panelists were concerned, my only reason for being there was to receive their sales pitch. And knowing some of those folks, I'm pretty sure that's not so.

My feeling has always been that if I put on a good show on a panel someone will want to go out and find some of my work. That works sometimes: as I stood nearby, a woman bought the last copy of Point of Honour in the dealer's room after hearing me speak. I may be missing a Big Boat here; I'm not comfortable doing a hard sell on my work or myself. But there's something intrusive about that Big Wall o' Covers; it comes between me and whatever interesting, charming, funny, profound things the panelist is saying. So I'm taking a one-person stand. If I bring a book to put on the table, it will be one book. And I'll try not to let it come between me and the people I'm talking to.