I’m going to Ad Astra if it kills me…

There are two very good reasons that I’m going to attend the annual Toronto fan based writer convention known as Ad Astra.

One is that everyone in my publishing company keeps going to cons and I’m jealous. Yup – there I said it. I have only been to two cons in my life – World Horror (2007)and World Fantasy (2012)- and loved both experiences. So when I remembered that there was an annual con, essentially in my back yard, I decided I was a fool not to take advantage of it.

The second reason I am going is marketing. I know I have to do all I can to market myself and my writing. This con will give me the opportunity to try and do some ‘grassroots’ marketing. I have a hope/plan in the works to aid me in this endeavour that I believe will go a long way to getting more people’s eyes on my work.

So having decided I am doing this – and not just this year but every year – I now have to actually figure out how to make this happen.  They just released where the con is taking place – the same hotel/convention center as the World Fantasy I was at – and the room rates

Room rate isn’t bad at all either …all things considered. Looking at around $500 for the weekend (admission and room – if I stay the full length I’d like to).

This doesn’t include fuel for getting there.

Going to say $600 total, and be pleasantly surprised if I have change left over.

How? Don’t ask the tough questions of me.

I have already set a things in motion based around my being at this con. It may be an expense I can’t really afford, but it is also and opportunity and outlet I can’t afford to ignore.

Who knows – maybe my book sales will soar over the next couple of months and I can pay my way with that.

Filed under: MIscellaneous Tagged: Ad Astra, conventions, fans, readers, Toronto, World Fantasy Con., World Horror Con, writers