Q&A – Writers Festival
Questions asked by Connie Anderson, and answered by Andrea Sisco, who was on four panels at the October 2008 James River Writers Conference in Richmond, Virginia.
Q: Who invited you to participate?
A: I met a delightful author, Emyl Jenkins (Stealing with Style) back when Armchair Interviews started. I interviewed her and we ‘hit’ it off and became long-distance friends. She co-chaired the conference and invited me.
Q: Tell us about each panels were you on and what you talked about. Also, who were others on the panel.
A: 1. How Publishers Sell Your Book: On the Shelf and on the Web. The panel consisted of two publicists and an author and me. Actually we discussed promotion done by authors, not the publishers, because publishers don’t sell books, authors do.
2. My second panel was one I was not scheduled to appear on, but was asked to sit in on after the moderator attended my first panel. It was titled, It’s All About Me and My Book: Understanding Your Role in Publicity. Publicists and authors were also on the panel, and we rehashed and added to what was discussed in the first panel.
3. Breaking into Print. The panel was staffed by authors, a magazine editor and me. We discussed the various ‘out of the box’ ways to promote yourself.
4. Author, Editor, Publisher, and Distributor, Too: 21st-Century Self-Publishing. The panel consisted of various self-published authors–and me, and was the most enjoyable and really had the most audience participation. We received and gave wonderful tips and techniques to negotiate the ‘minefield’ called self-publishing.
Q: What was the most exciting part of being at the Conference?
A: Meeting the people, of course. But on a really personal level I got to meet Emyl Jenkins (whom I consider a friend) and my agent, Jeanne Fredericks for the first time. That was, as the kids say, AWESOME! Of course being in such a historically rich part of the United States was mind boggling. Richmond, Virginia has a buried history many of us don’t know about if we don’t live there.
Q: Did you meet any really big name authors (BNA) and if so, who?
A: David Baldacci came in (right before he was to speak) and sat down next to me and asked if he could borrow my pencil. Of course I had a snappy response that I’ll keep to myself. I was somehow expecting this big, tall man. Not true. I also met Diane Mott Davidson who has been a mystery writer I’ve enjoyed.
Q: Was there a theme or focus about publishing that seemed to come out of the conference?
A: The conference was generalized and had some great industry experts to fill in the gaps and correct any misconceptions writers might have.
Q: If you attended any other workshops, what were they about?
A: With the addition of a fourth panel and participant appointments, my time was spent with the attendees.
Q: Is this your first experience at a big writers conference? and if so, what did you learn?
A: I’ve attended large conferences in the past. This was my first experience with being a speaker. I learned you work hard, stay up late, get up early and eat when you can. I also learned that writing is truly a passion many people share.
Q: Would you advise other writers to attend such events, and if so, what advantages would they gain?
A: Study up on who the speakers are so you can choose the sessions that meet your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions (even of famous people). The speakers are there for YOU! Take advantage of it, but don’t abuse the privilege.
Q: As a Northerner who should have been born a Southern Belle ….
A: I realized that we really don’t have the history that the south, particularly the southeast has and that we really don’t have a clue of the part the ‘unfortunate incident’ continues to play in the lives of those that live there. I love the hospitality. No one does hospitality like southerners. My host, Carol Patterson, was the BEST!
Q: What events did they have for authors to attend?
A: There were some pretty fancy dinners and cocktail parties. We had hosts so there was a free afternoon to sight-see. I was just plain tired and wandered around the neighborhood, which was great. Staring at the very spot where the words “Give me liberty or give me death” were spoken, just gave me a thrill.
Q: Was there a general feeling about the publishing industry and the future of the printed book?
A: It is evident that the participants realize that publishing is difficult and it is a business and they have to work like the dickens just to get an agent and then be a fighter to get that book sold and then sell it themselves. I don’t think there were any dreams shattered about that.
All in all, it was a privilege to be invited to speak and I thank everyone at the James River Writers Conference for putting on one of the best writer’s conferences I’ve ever attended. And a big shout out to Emyl Jenkins for all her work and a big thank you to Carol Patterson for sharing her home and her life with me. I look forward to growing the friendship. It’s a good thing.
One added thing: Because I was in Virginia in the heat of the political campaign, I had an incident, the point of which is relevant any time, any place.
One of thethe well-known writers was wearing a political button. It isn’t relevant whether we agreed on the candidate. I walked over to him and whispered, “Wearing that button could turn off half of your audience. Next time I saw him, it was gone. My point: We are writers, and at a writers conference that is what we need to project. It is like having political statements in romances or mysteries. They just don’t mix. When we are in public promoting ourselves and our book, what we do and say might just reflect negatively on our book buying public.