Worldcon—Autographs and Kaffeeklatsch

One of the nice features of Worldcon is the opportunity for autographs and Kaffeeklatsches. It took a while to figure out where the autographs were being done—way in the far corner of the main floor, beyond all the booths selling books, necklaces, samurai swords, etc.

Carrie Vaughn was there. She autographed my copy of her young adult Martians Abroad, being careful to ask if my name ended with a c or a k.

I thanked her for a brief conversation some years ago that she probably doesn’t remember, when I asked her if there were many urban fantasies where the female protagonist starts out already married. She couldn’t think of any off the top of her head, but she encouraged me to try. I was already working on my vampire parody with the current working title Dust after Slaying, so that was encouraging.

Mary Robinnette Kowal was also there. She had given me a lot of advice several years before, and had made a point of talking to me at a Worldcon some years ago. I said I didn’t know if she still recognized me, and she said, “Of course!” What was embarrassing was that I had brought The Calculating Stars, and while waiting in line I discovered that she already autographed it.

I told her I have a Victorian fantasy manuscript, and the female protagonist is a fairy who only learned to read as an adult. I use that as a way of explaining some of the Victorianisms she sees around her for the benefit of the reader. I asked if that would be a problem for readers, to have the female protagonist being somewhat ignorant, though observant. Mary Robinnette Kowal said no, so long as her emotions on encountering some new thing are included. Ah. That was a key insight.

The Kaffeeklatsches are small meetings of up to ten people. Attendees are encouraged to bring coffee, tea, soda, etc. Signups are ahead of time, and one must inquire redundantly about where the signup sheets will be, and how far ahead of time one can sign up.

I attended one with Cass Morris, author of From Unseen Fire, an alternate history version of ancient Rome. She told us how laborious the process was for getting it published.

She also specializes in rhetoric, and she was throwing around terms like antanaclasis and anadiplosis quite easily. Her novel has multiple viewpoint characters—a scene in a chapter might be told from one character’s point of view, then after a brief line break the scene shifts to another character’s point of view. She said her publisher did not have a problem with that. That was a relief to me, since my recent science fiction manuscript Alpha Shift has multiple viewpoint characters.

There are good panel discussions at conventions like this, but try to find a way to get personal advice.