Hi Fuse fans!
I’ve been writing bits and pieces of this post all four days at New York Comic Con, always one of the craziest events of my convention year.
I didn’t have any of my own clients at the con this year, but many of my friends — authors, agents, publicists, and editors alike — were there for panels, giveaways, signings, and so on and so forth. A big part of being an agent is forging connections with other people in the publishing community, so even when it isn’t your own clients in the spotlight it’s rewarding (and fun!) to show up and participate. I was a fan before I was a pro, after all, and I’m still a fan of great writing and great writers above all else.
It was a whirlwind of a weekend. An early highlight was the Tor Books Fall Debut panel, moderated by John Scalzi, which featured four sci-fi and fantasy writers I love dearly: Fran Wilde (UPDRAFT), Lawrence Schoen (BARSK), Seth Dickinson (THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT), and Ilana Myer (LAST SONG BEFORE NIGHT). All four books are absolutely worth picking up, and I recommend them unreservedly. BARU CORMORANT in particular is one of the most impressive debuts I’ve ever read, and Seth is younger than me, and that makes me feel very old indeed, but I love it so much and he’s so nice that I can’t be too mad.
Comic books themselves are dear to my heart, as my father is an X-Men collector, so just as a fan I love talking to comic writers as well. From an agent perspective, a lot of them also end up writing great prose fiction eventually, so it never hurts to get to know them now! A standout there was a wonderful panel I attended on LGBT themes in comics with Steve Orlando, Babs Tarr, Kris Anka, Kevin Wada, Jennie Wood, and James Tynion IV. I’ve met a few of these writers and artists before and it is always a pleasure to hear them talk so passionately and persuasively about these issues.
On the show floor I spent a lot of time catching up with other publishing types I haven’t seen in a while. After several years this convention has quickly started to feel like home, even in the crowded horrorshow that is the Javits Center. If you’re in the New York area I definitely recommend it as an experience, even if you only go one of the four days. I went all four, and my feet will probably be protesting heavily for the next week.
My next convention — and last for 2015 — is the World Fantasy Convention in Saratoga Springs, NY. Are you going? Say hi if you see me. http://www.wfc2015.org/
– C
