Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Bookstore Guy on August 28, 2006, 11:29:45 PM
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So, just out of curiosity, who all did we "Steve" at Worldcon?
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Are we counting the almost-Steve of Joshua?
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We Steved a crapload of people. I know that I personally Steved the authors Carrie Vaughn and P.J. Haarsma, but I know there were at least three more that I can't put names to.
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hmm, i guess we could technically count Joshua, although that was when the art was still unperfected.
I know of the following:
Joshua (kinda)
Carrie Vaughn
P.J. Haarsma
Lou Anders
John Scalzi
Naomi Novik (kinda)
Raoul Mongilardi (he took one for the team!! what a trooper!)
Jenny Rappaport
The head editor lady of EOS (Diane or Diana something)
I also Steved myself (I know it sound kind dirty) to:
Sean Williams
Joel Shepherd
Jim Minz
Todd McCaffrey
Was there anyone else? Do we count Brandon's editor? Bob, if you are there, I know you Steved a ton of people...
Also, perhaps we should explain what Steveing is for the curious masses...
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Yeah, that might be kinda helpful on a public board...
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Well, I think we're past the point where it would be useful. Say, in the first post, were it explained then everything would be alright.
Right now however, after this post and other subsequent posts, would just be silly, since I've already drawn my own conclusion to what this Steveing is. And I will not tell you what it means in this post.
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ok, this is the history of "Steveing"
While at Worldcon, I discovered that by pitching myself to Authors, Editors, and Agents as a "Bookstore Guy" I got very good responses. It seemed to put them at ease knowing that I was not going to ask them to read my stuff. I had several long conversations with people about the book industry, and my views on what is selling.
My co-conspirators saw the reactions to this angle I was playing and decided to use it to thier advantage.
Whenever anyone wanted to make a good impression on someone important, they tried to bring me along. I must note here that the people I was with did not need me to make good impressions. They are all studs. Fell's work is great (reading it right now) as is Bob's and Isaac's and Bryce's. Anyways, back to the matter at hand...
What a person would do is go introduce themselves to someone cool. After talking for a bit, they would say, "Also, let me introduce you to Steve. He helps manage the #1 Waldenbooks in the country."
The benfits?:
1. The person doing the introduction gets good face time with the cool person (ie. an agent, editor, etc...)
2. By introducing a non-threatening person (me) to the cool editor, the situation became more comfortable.
3. Once the editor/agent/whatever found out who I was (Bookstore Guy), the person (say Fell for example) gained brownie points for introducing someone with my fantastic skills (im very humble).
4. It was great for me as well because I got face time important people as well and made dozens of contacts.
BRILLIANT!!!!
any questions on the art of "Steveing?"
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See, if I would have posted it at the beginning, there would have been no mystery or suspense.
Where's the fun in that?
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lol. All I can say is you're the perfect con-going sidekick! ;)
Okay, but all kidding aside... score! Steveing is quite the clever tactic.
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sidekick...but, but I'm Bookstore Guy...Im like a demisuperhero...now im only a sidekick...<cry>
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"Gazebo Boy realizes that his one power of transformation is useless against the Human Termite!"
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Yes, "Steveing" is good. There are some lessens to be learned here.
*Agents, Editors etc... also have goals to try to accomplish at these conventions. And those goals usually don't include being hit up by hundreds of authors to read their stuff.
What's their goal? To sell books.
Steve being "Book Store Guy" was in line with their goal.
*If you had anything in common with these people (other than the author editor relationship) and you could connect with them about it, the responses were great.
I think this is probably due to the fact that these agents and editors go to conventions A LOT and it is refreshing for them to be able to talk to people about other stuff too.
The best connection I had was talking to someone's husband about martial arts for an hour. And that conversation will be way more memorable for that person and for me than another conversation focused on "I'm an author...will you read my book".
Steveing worked well because it wasn't the usual thing, it was in line with the editors' goals, and it was about books anyway.
Oh, and Steve...
YOU ARE A SUPERHERO.
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Christopher, you do have quite a bit of that right. But editors do often go looking for new authors contacts, too. It depends on where they are. You have to look for the young, hungry editors who are just starting out more than the David Hartwells. Though the David Hartwells are great for good advice and just shooting the breeze--I worked in the book room of a small academic con once so I could pick David Hartwell's brain about being an editor, and he was so nice and encouraging.
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I must again point out that you cannot Steve yourself to somebody, you have to Steve the person directly. Get your objects right, doggonit!
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Steveing myself to people is one of my "Powers" as a demisuperhero...i know, i know - awe inspiring...
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I was a witness to many of these Steveings. They were magnificent to behold. Steve is not simply a superhero; he is a weapon. A weapon only to be wielded for good. By young, ambitious writers.
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This is PJ Haarsma - yes, I was "Steved" and I remember it very clearly. In fact I was recently at a Waldenbooks store in Chicago - with a few Waldonites - and I mentioned that I met someone from a "big" Waldens in Seattle at Worldcon. "Guys name was Steve," I said. They couldn't place him. Â :)
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hey there PJ! what was the ISBN to your book - i misplaced it...
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0763627097
Just run a search on Amazon, not many PJ Haarsmas out there.