I’ll be attending the World Fantasy Convention next week. There’s a signing on Friday, Halloween, from 8-11 PM, but in what seems like an odd exclusion of local readers, only convention-goers are allowed to attend the signing. I think that’s bizarre. Not that I’m an expert at these things, but at RT and RWA, that would never happen. Readers are treated as they should be—like honored guests—and the signing is the best part of the entire convention. Of course, those signings also serve a dual purpose by promoting literacy through the sales of books—which is something that the World Fantasy Convention does not do. I can see the organizers not wanting to go to the trouble, but I can’t explain not even allowing local readers to stop by and bring their own books to be signed—or to receive free books from those authors who choose to bring them.
What the heck? I don’t know if they’ll be signing, but George R.R. Martin will be there, and so will Garth Nix, Graham Joyce, Robert J. Sawyer, David Drake, Carol Berg, Stephen R. Donaldson, David Coe, Carrie Vaughn, Elizabeth A. Vaughan, and more, and more! You don’t think local readers would want their books signed by them? Local readers, who can’t afford to pony up $180 dollars to register for the conference, just for one night?
Holy smokes! This is terrible planning—and if it’s not terrible, if someone can come up with a good reason for this, then I’m all ears.