One of the most touching parts of being an author, said Keith Robinson of Chickamauga, is when children come up and say his series about mythical creatures opened up a fantasy world for them.
At conventions, though, that wonder doesn’t always translate. Robinson said it’s hard to watch attendees pinball from artist booth to artist booth, neglecting authors.
“Less than a third of people that show up at a convention are interested in your books,” said Robinson, who has authored 22 fantasy and sci-fi books.
Fort Oglethorpe author Kenyon Henry agreed, saying attendees are drawn to the visuals of prints or paintings rather than the hard or soft cover books on his table.
“It’s almost like a happy happenstance when people come across your table and say they love books,” he said. “We’ve got something that we put months, sometimes years, into writing a novel.”