Tag Archives: sam sykes

I met Cherie Priest at Phoenix Comic Con 2010.  I did not know who she was.  My hip was hurting, which I later found out was the bone dying (replaced this spring), and her and I noticed two open comfy chairs.  If you have been to Phoenix Comic Con, you know there are 50,000 people and maybe ten chairs.  So we sat and chatted.  She was very nice and told me she had to head to a panel, I said the same.  Turns out we were heading to the same one, her as a panelist, having had her best-selling novel Boneshaker become popular, and I as an audience member, considering retiring to write novels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight she was at the Poisoned Pen for a book signing.  She has had several books out since then, and I now have three books out, write for ConNotations Newszine, and have published thirty-five short stories.  My wife was able to meet her this time and thought she was great.  It was a small crowd, maybe thirty in all.  With her were writers Sam Sykes, who I have met several times before, and Rhodi Hawk, who I just met tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While I am still navel lint in the writing world, it is exciting to see the process writers go through to be successful.  Cherie Priest talked about how she had written and published many books through the traditional agent and publishing route and felt her career had plummeted to the point she would have to start with a new name.  She had written four or five chapters of Boneshaker, and her editor asked her to do that instead of the other book she almost had done.  It took off and now she is famous in the Steampunk world.  I believe she has fourteen books now, of which I am only able to name six, and I am a big fan.

As an independent author the world is changing away from traditional publishing, but even so, I see many writers who have “been made” to use a mafia term, but still struggle even after the monumental tasks of acquiring an agent and a publisher.  Congratulations to Cherie Priest on your great writing, your perseverance, and most of all, your charming personality.  It was very nice to see you again.

Also, a shout out to Will at the Poisoned Pen.  If you stop by, tell him you want him to stock my books.  🙂  They rarely stock indies, so maybe a few of you stopping by to ask for them would help.  It couldn’t hurt…  🙂