Chad Halcom
Book Fans at Comic-Con. Really.9/25/2022 First let me apologize for the long break I took from this author blog. I'm back now, and plan to post at least monthly going forward, because it's a busy time with a lot of ground to cover. That's me hanging with Chewbacca this past summer, because the Comic-Con circuit has had a recent comeback in my life, and a surprising place of support for independent book authors.
Some longtime fans know I was a regular on the con circuit back in the mid-00s when I had a small press publishing label. It was a great few years, hanging with the fandom and making graphic novels. But I decided after a little production fatigue and fan toxicity to take a break (one that lasted much longer than expected). But I'm back now, at least for a while, and it seems the times have really changed. Really Cool Comic-Con in Flint, Mich. was my first exhibitor appearance in close to 15 years. Since this time around I wasn't peddling any comics I had no idea what to expect. Other book authors had spoken highly of the con experience, but I was skeptical. Weren't real books, with their long gray blocks of text, the mortal enemy of the fanboy attention span? Turns out I did well too. Better than in my comic years, actually. Fans of science fiction and fantasy horror cut across all genres and media. By the second day I had sold out completely of the Lands Forlorn novels and have to reorder a few. That's why I will be back in November at Grand Rapids Comic Con (see below), selling time travel novels, children's books and a new space ranger series. And of course, more of Kira Naughton. This has been beyond encouraging. Sometimes major commercial websites will decline even to spend your own advertising budget to gain online visibility, not because your product sucks but because another one vying for the same spot sells slightly better. Sometimes you as the creator have to let people find you in a place they weren't necessarily looking for you. Online sales will follow, after they've tried your product and liked it. I've also found some work illustrating for other authors, and started a new series, but I'll post more on those updates another time. But this has been a big lesson in marketing for me -- don't wait for the internet to do your legwork for you. If I have to come to you guys, in order to be more visible, I'm happy to do it. You guys have been great, and thanks for the show of support!
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