Con advice for official author attending/marketing/book pimping?

[chickwriter]

Dear f'list - my editor has asked me about my plans for cons and stuff this year.

Particularly some of the ones listed below. Although I've heard of all of them, I have no personal experience with any of the listed cons, and I know some of you do.

I'd love to hear your thoughts/feedback/personal experiences for a fairly newbie author. THANKS!

NorWesCon
WisCon
Readercon
Romantic Times
DragonCon
World Fantasy

/drive by posting

Back to the insanity of the work day.

Of the good, my buddy Donna Andrews is coming to meet me for dinner tonight, barring weather problems.

Comments

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

WisCon is wonderful. It has a capped membership, so it doesn't get to an overwhelming, too difficult to meet anyone, size, but there is still enough going on to make it an incredible weekend full of book squee and intelligent conversation.

They do a big multi-author book signing on the last day, which I didn't get to attend last year, but which I've heard wonderful things about from everyone who went.

I think it would be a great con for an emerging writer. Small enough to allow for discussions and contacts to be made, but still big enough that you'll reach a good chunk of people.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

I used to be on the Readercon committee until I was released for good behavior. It's a very literary-themed con, usually at 400-500 total including over 100 guests, so it's really as much about networking as it is 'publicizing' -- but it's a hell of a good time if you like talking about books and themes and ideas.

(Naturally, I'd love to see you at Readercon, which I'll be at, what with the nearness and all my local and faraway friends going.)

World Fantasy is really where you want to go for the networking, I'd say, Wiscon is more the feminist 'alt rock' to WFC's 'establishment'.