I have never considered myself a rabid fan of sci-fi or fantasy. I'm more of a casual fan of some types of those genres. I am venturing into the immortal realm of FanX in Salt Lake City this March. I have purchased a table in the Artist Gallery where I am going to be selling all of my books to as many rabid readers as I can make contact with. Will they join in the Quickstep Universe? Will they start petitions to turn my work into movies and comic books? Will they raise me up onto their shoulders chanting my name? (none of which I have actually spent any real time imagining.)
How did I get myself into this? I saw an ad for FanX on a social media site, and noticed that it was only scheduled for a Friday-Saturday this year. I saw this two day event as a sign that I needed to venture out of my rather limited and safe bubble in Davis County, and ply my wares in a more broad and critical venue.
Although I officially signed up for a booth at FanX a month ago, the reality of my decision has reached out and struck me across the face this past week. I returned home from a full day of dragging children, kicking and screaming, into the trough of mathematical knowledge, to find several boxes stacked on my porch. Somehow the local thieves who usually steal packages from porches managed to restrain themselves from taking a five or ten finger discount. My oldest had already taken the liberty of bringing the smallest of the packages into the house. My wife was mean and didn't let him open something addressed to me. (Thanks babe, I knew you had my back.)
I was shocked and pleased at the same time, having only ordered copies from my publisher four days earlier. The shipment wasn't officially scheduled for delivery for another week. Props to the people at Createspace for a job well done! I have never ordered my books in this quantity before so seeing them all there on my porch caused a strange feeling and an even stranger sound to well up from within me. It was kind of a cross between a nervous giggle and a maniacal cackle. This is really happening!
My boys dutifully helped me haul the boxes inside and I went about counting and sorting them for the upcoming foray into a larger world of epic fandom of which I am not yet even a small part. They were disappointed to see that my latest project, Time Pirates: Adventure in the Pacific, was not included in the shipment. I explained that I still needed to do the final draft including the illustrations, and the cover is yet to be finished. They were not impressed with my apparent lack of diligence at finishing the project.
Other than that, I'm all set to sell all six of my books at FanX next month. If you're going to be there, stop by and say hi or get a group together and lift me onto your shoulders. Just don't chant my name. one syllable names never work very well in chants.
