Word Fantasy 2022 – Into the Fray

by Christina Lay

I’m here to provide a little insight into the goings on at a professional writers’ conference and why you as a writer or publisher might want to attend. But naturally, as a writer, the first thing I feel compelled to do is look up the meaning of “fray”.

fray1 | frā | verb [no object] (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge, typically through constant rubbing: cheap fabric soon frays | (as adjective frayed) :  the frayed collar of her old coat. • (of a person’s nerves or temper) show the effects of strain.

fray2 | frā | noun (the fray) a situation of intense activity, typically one incorporating an element of aggression or competition: nineteen companies intend to bid for the contract, with three more expected to enter the fray. • a battle or fight: he charged into the thick of the fray and went down fighting.

Okay, well, there’s more there that applies than I’d hoped when I decided to procrastinate by looking up that word.  The first meaning; to unravel or become worn at the edges, applies to me, and possibly a whole lot of other people, after the last couple of years we’ve had. Emerging from the inner sanctum to attend a large gathering of Others at the opposite end of the country is quite a daunting feat after years of reduced contact, minimal productivity, and a whole lot of couch time. I understand that the fear remains, real concerns, but if you can, the time is here to start re-raveling ourselves.  I want to say I’ve accomplished a big fat zero in my personal time of fraying around the edges, but hey, look, I’ve helped bring three new books into the world, and the world needs to hear about them.

On to the second meaning, which is what I was thinking of in my oh-so-clever title.  “A situation of intense activity”.  I attended as a vendor, which means not only do I have to gear up to be intensely around Others for four days, I have to get my sh*t together, order all the books, ship the books, find the book rack I bought five years ago, discover I’m out of business cards, discover my PayPal payment system is obsolete and dysfunctional, pack, cajole someone into taking care of my hell hound for a week, find my passport, and so on to apparent infinity.  Then I have to get up at 3 AM to catch a flight to New Orleans (New Orleans is a blog onto itself).  

Oh, I’d so much rather just be a tourist, or at least, a free-flowing writer at one of these conferences. As a vendor, I get to sit behind a table in the dealers room and talk to an endless stream of people. Give my pitch, my spiel, my raison d’etre, to a whole bunch of industry professionals who are kind of enough to stop by and show some interest. As an introvert, this is just shy of hell. So why do it? The benefits are not exactly quantifiable. I don’t sell that many books, barely enough to pay for shipping them back and forth.  But as a micro-press with zero marketing dollars, I’ve decided that this is one of the best ways of getting the books into the view of the most people who might actually read them, write reviews, remember them if they ever happen to get on an award ballet, and so on.  I met a rep from Locus, a bookseller from Puerto Rico, a small publisher from Scotland, lots of interesting writers and readers, and a massage therapist who writes zombie cookbooks, so hey, it’s win-win. Also, I connect with writers who might like to write for this blog.

As a writer, there are tons of interesting panels to attend, and lots of industry professionals who might someday give you a lift up, and visa versa. Let’s not forget our own worth in this game.  As a writer, you might be lucky enough to get invited to be on a panel, like my friend and cohort Cheryl Owen-Wilson, who was called up to speak on a panel titled New Orleans: Old Souls and New Rhythms, along with the likes of old soul Andrei Codrescu and new rhythm Alex Jennings.  Or, you can do a reading, and hopefully reach a few new readers.  Hopefully, it’s inspiring to be with your tribe and be re-energized after our hundred years of solitude (okay, two years, but you know how it feels!)

New Orleans: Old Souls and New Rhythms. That’s Cheryl in the middle, flanked by Alex Jennings, Darrell Schweitzer, James Cambers and Andre Codrescu.

How about that second clause in the second meaning of fray: “typically one incorporating an element of aggression or competition”?  I’m happy to report I experienced no sense of aggression. Competition however, is always just there under the surface. There’s a pecking order, a ranking, a who’s who, to be sure.  Honestly, we’re all there to network (shudder, I really dislike that word) and who do we want to network with?  Well, Ellen Datlow the award-winning editor of short story anthologies perhaps, or Andre Codrescu the Nobel prize-winning radio commentator, or that guy from Locus (no, I didn’t get his name).  Some who attend will focus entirely on that aspect, to their detriment, I believe.  I think it is the unexpected connection, the bookseller from Puerto Rico or the zombie cookbook guy, who is going end up helping you in an unforeseen way, and better yet, maybe become a friend.

I’ll be honest, this year just getting there felt like a big achievement to me, and I did not put my full energy into doing the things one is “supposed” to do.  I keenly missed the presence of Stephen Vessels, who was entirely in his element at our first two conferences. Stephen chased down organizers and got us readings, Stephen networked like a king, Stephen sold books, both his and the rest of the Labyrinth of Souls series.  It felt bittersweet to have his final work, Fall of The Messengers, on the table, and I wish I could have channeled some of his aplomb at meeting and greeting all those potential readers and promoters.  You don’t have to be a Stephen Vessels to get a lot out of these conferences, but it helps.

Fourteen Labyrinth of Souls novels! Stephen Vessels fantastic SF masterpiece, Fall of The Messengers! Sure, I had to spend four days in the soulless depths of a Hyatt conference hall, but I met lots of interesting writers, sold some books, and introduced these lovely books to some lovely people.

Have I said anything helpful? I doubt it. One of the things to unravel lately is my ability to write a coherent post, but I hope this, my first in a few months, will help get me back into the fray and help convince you, dear reader, to stick a toe in as well.

Fall of the Messengers by Stephen T. Vessels on Amazon For some reason, the hardcover isn’t appearing online. I suggest you order it from your local bookstore!

Bayou’s Lament by Cheryl Owen-Wilson on Amazon

World Fantasy 2022