Very Important PollTM (Mrs.)

[la_marquise]

It has come to my attention that LX Con will be my very first convention as a Real Pro with the book out there and all. I am therefore in need, dear f'list, of your collective wisdom. How, in your opinion, should I conduct myself?


[Poll #1376733]

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I think you should behave exactly as usual and mention the book to new people as you introduce yourself, but only if asked about it to people whom you already know. If this was a US con I'd advise differently.

However, I have never known you be anything less than gracious. Naturally I consider that I conduct myself with the utmost decorum at all times and thus you should model yourself on me: if you want to be me, I will channel Ian Watson at the next convention, he can channel Tanith, and we can all pass our personalities on in this manner.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

Sounds fair: Ian channelled HG Wells a few Novacons back.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That is a wonderful image. I await the sight of Ian in flowing garments eagerly!

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

I can confirm that Living with Ghosts has reached the Big Island of Hawaii - it's in their local Borders.

Most impressive!

[groliffe.livejournal.com]

Behave exactly as usual only allow yourself to be bought more drinks - your readers are grateful and should be allowed to show it.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Indeed - option two seems to be distressingly back-to-front. Authors buying more than their shares of the drinks? What, which planet is this? Authors can't afford to do that, the per-copy royalty wouldn't begin to cover it.

(With the exception of PTerry, who can, and does.)

An occasional smug grin would be permissible.

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

You could wear odd-coloured gloves....

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Love it!

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

A sort of female Robert Rankin?

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

I'd prefer you to be your own role model, really, but if you insist, we can always do with more mevennens in the world :)

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

What a nice thing to say! *is embarrassed and touched.*

But you are quite right - La M is just fine as she is.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

You needed radio buttons you know. The answer to Q2 is that clearly you should adopt Ish as your role model.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Only in certain ways, I hope. (I am not going to spray the hotel.)

[clothsprogs.livejournal.com]

Someone else to be given in comments

Yourself!

You don't need any other role-model.

And mention the book whenever it seems appropriat (although, if I were you, I'd wear a badge saying "Just published: ask me about my book"

Teddy

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That's a neat idea. Hmmm...

[coth.livejournal.com]

Well - I see that other people have already made my comments. We shall buy you more drinks than usual and you may mention Living With Ghosts exactly as often as each mention is interesting to the conversation.

But above all, take things easy and enjoy yourself. You will never have this weekend again.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Thank you.

[ceb.livejournal.com]

You can mention Living With Ghosts as often as you like as long as you don't spoil me. My copy's only just arrived...

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I promise. And thank you for buying it!

[aberwyn.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest drinking less than usual. You'll need your wits about you when fans, scenting a Real Pro, ask you to read their (usually terrible) manuscripts.

:-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Oh, not yet, surely? (Am only a very very minor sort of pro...)

[desperance.livejournal.com]

If you wear black, sit in the bar and drink, people will confuse us irrevocably.

I'll bring a spare cap.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I will have to conjure some black jeans by Thursday -- my last pair died years ago. If a black skirt will do, that I can manage.

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

Panel item for future conventions ?

My life in skirts by Kari

I think you're allowed to mention your book as often as I mention my wedding (every 7 and a half minutes)

[valydiarosada.livejournal.com]

Definitely be yourself. And mention the book whenever you feel you can get away with it. :D

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

I may have missed your deadline already, but as a general matter, you are always welcome to behave like me.

Also as a general matter, if you're going to be on public display for any length of time, it's usually good to wear the most comfortable thing you have in the category required by the social context and the message you wish to give to anyone looking at you who doesn't know you. People who know one do not generally notice one's clothes unless one is the sort of person whose clothes are considered a feature of note to be specifically looked out for.

So if it's a suit and heels, they should be comfortable suits and heels, that fit and are becoming and that you can forget about as soon as you have them on, and the same for anything else you wear. Something that is forgiving of lunch is always good. Dresses are handy for this, and can always be swanked up with a snazzy jacket.

It is helpful to have shoes that are comfortable enough for you to make a run for it if your venue catches fire or is occupied by terrorists. For the same reason, one should always have a respectable dressing gown within convenient reach when in one's room.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

You would indeed be an excellent and very intelligent role model.