It’s been a week since Baticon 45 ended and I’m trying to come to grips with several regrets. Don’t get me wrong, this Balticon was fantastic for me. The book launch, my reading, and the autograph session out in the foyer were all great fun and a wonderful ego boost. I thoroughly enjoyed the few panels I was on, but looking back I realized I didn’t get to see many panels or events featuring other writers, podcasters, and friends.
In fact, I seem to have spent most of my time in the dealer hall or in transit to or from there. I don’t begrudge being asked to oversee the publisher’s table. And the other three authors in attendance certainly held up their share of the hours. I can’t complain about all my books selling out either. But I can’t help thinking my time could have been better spent elsewhere.
I say this because while I was sitting there at the table I can’t remember a single person coming up, seeing the books, picking one up, and then buying it. Most of the books I sold were to people who came looking for the table, either because they knew about them before coming to Balticon and had finally made their way to the table, or because they had seen one of us at a reading or panel and wanted to get a book.
Our being at the table at any particular time, didn’t seem to matter as I was happily signing books whenever and wherever someone asked. (The experience of being chased down the hallway one evening by someone desperate to get his book signed really floored me. One of those new author firsts I’ll never forget.) I’m thinking I would have gladly traded all the money I made on selling my books for more time to attend panels and talk to people. Something to consider before next year.
I’m also regretting not being on more panels. I had been scheduled for two more panels, but they were canceled when the publishers couldn’t make it — leaving me with more time to just sit at the table. I like being on panels, I want to do more of them, but last minute changes are hard to bring about. Especially with all the problems in the scheduling this year (a rant I won’t bother you with just now).
Then there’s my regret about taking so few pictures. This was a combination of not being out-and-about and having my carpal tunnel syndrome flare up just before the convention. I also never got my H2 out of it’s case. (Someone did kindly get it out at my book launch though.) Now I’m left hoping others took pictures and made recordings of all the things I attended as well as those I missed.
So, here I sit, a week after Balticon, wishing I had more to show for my best Balticon ever. I’ve only got about 350 days to make sure I don’t have the same regrets next year. I need a plan. I think the first thing I need to work on is saying the magic word. “n-n-n…” Sigh “n-n-n-n-no” There, I said it, now to work on really meaning it.
