
My first in-person event of 2021 is finally in the books!
MileHiCon 53 was two weeks ago. I had a spot in author alley and was on a panel and did a reading.
It was awesome to be back with people.
Tables.
I look at tables as advertising, as such, making back my investment, while nice, and certainly a goal, isn’t the main goal.
I sold some books, that was nice. I handed out and likely moves some when not there, my ‘take-one’ cards. They lead to a page here on the site (that needs to be updated) where folks can find out more about my writing. Likewise, though less direct, stickers flew off the table. I look at all that as potential value.
I was next to an awesome gal, Tricia, and next to her, Kendra, who I’d met at a Bookbar event in… 2019 I think.
Where our tables were, we had a front-row seat to tea dueling which is both weird and entertaining as hell, win!
All in all, I hope to have a table at MileHiCon 54. It’s a fun event, with some awesome content, and attendees.
My First Reading.
Technically my second, but the first was for an online con early in the pandemic and I think it was just me and the host. I digress. This was… interesting. I’ve noticed with MilHiCon panels and such (at least the ones I’m on) the moderators don’t seem to actually pay attention beyond where they need to be and when. So for the reading, none of us heard from the moderator beforehand. We had no idea what we were doing other than the title of the reading “Galaxy Spanning SF” Ok, check I write that. Two out of four of us, didn’t even write SF. The moderator, not knowing he was the moderator, just said, let’s read a piece then have a chat.
Overall it was fun, but I don’t do well without structure on things I’m participating in. I’m not fast on my feet in these settings and so ready my part and then the more forceful, like to be heard, voices carried the rest of the event. I did get a few places to chime in and answer the odd question, but yeah, a little prep would have been nice.
Panels.
This was my second MileHiCon panel and the second on self-publishing. This one had the title of “Ebook or Paper, which to choose when self-publishing”
The panelsts all agreed, “Both” and then we left. Well we didn’t leave, but then the panel turned into an interactive Q&A on self-publishing. It was ok. Again the moderator did zero prepwork, and in those cases, the people who like to talk, took the stage. I got a few bits in here and there, but really just sat there nodding.
I don’t really know why these panels happen. I don’t get the impression that MHC attracts a ton of new or aspiring writers. Considering our panel was the second to last of the event, and had 10 people in it, that seems supported. in 2019 the panel I was on, was at 7pm on Saturday, again about 10 attendees.
Take Aways.
I enjoyed MHC. As I said, I plan to apply to be back. I’ll probably skip doing panels. I don’t know that they do much for me other than cause stress I don’t need. Maybe I’ll think up a topic and offer it as moderator since I know what I like in a moderator. We’ll see, that’s a lot of work.
I didn’t plan far enough ahead but by next year I’ll have updated merch that reflects more than just Space Rogues.