WOTS Debrief
Hello Dreamers
I would like to thank anyone who went to Word on the Street Toronto this year. Roughly 130,000 people attended the festival this year, moreso than last year.
As usual I had quite the time! Hanging out with some buddies at Toronto Science Fiction and Fantasy, and chatting with other writers I met last year! Grand times!
So here is a log of my weekend!
Staying in a Coffin Hotel
I rented a room in Toronto during the weekend so I wouldn't have to waste time going to and from Barrie at end of day. So I checked in on the Friday, after running around with a 50lbs luggage case in one hand, a folding table in the other, and a backpack with my clothes for the weekend.
I almost tumbled down the stairs leading up to the Pod-Inn when I went to check in. I managed to get up the stairs, sacrificing a shoe in the process. I managed to get the shoe back.
Once settled into what could be best described as a side-ways closet with a lockable cupboard I take a nap - my feet and legs were starting to ache, before meeting some of TSFF in a bar near Bloor St.
Now, I had to leave my stuff at the coffin hotel as load in wasn't until 9:30 Saturday morning. I also had to do some scrambling for toiletries as its easier to buy travel items at the location than to take it with me. Among the items I needed was a towel - turns out a towel wasn't included in the price of the 'room.' Being told that I could buy a towel for cheaper than the $10 rental fee at the hotel, I went to a nearby CT 30 mins before closing. When I finally found the towels, the cheapest I could find was $9.99.
So I would spend more than $10, factoring taxes, for extra baggage I have to drag back home, with a table and a, lighter hopefully, luggage case, with no room in the backpack.
Perspective thus gained, I returned to the hotel and pay the rental fee. Not before buying whatever the eff this is:
Mother told me that Smokey had been crying at my bedroom door. Clearly I might owe him.
Once it was time to use the towel I wait behind one other person for space in the shower, where I wash up. As I am showering the person in the next shower closet asks how to get the water from the faucet to the showerhead. Kinda hard to do without showing it, but I tried, saying "There is a nobby thing on the faucet. Give it a pull!"
"Its not working!" She replies.
I finish up, and tell her she could use mine. When I poke out, dressed and a bit damp and ready to talk to the front desk about a busted shower, I point to the lever on the faucet. "Oh!" She said.
Welp, at least I don't have to tell anyone anything.
So I slip into my coffin bed and get some sleep. The next morning I get my contenential breakfast consisting of toast and cereal. Wasn't expecting eggs and a waffle maker. Still, two bowls of cereal and toast with creamcheese, peanut butter, and jam, and I was out the door.
My stay goes mostly uneventful. Other than a 2am fire alarm putting us all outside in late September, the place was quiet everywhere. I think a boomer in a suit wanted to talk on the Sunday morning.
WOTS Roaring Success
I load in and set up. My little table used to hold a ballet box, and my table cloth over the table. Books out alongside the other items that the other authors had.
Then the people. My god the people. So many that, according to TPS, more people came to WOTS on the Saturday than came to the WOTS last year on both days. So much of a buzz, and so much foot traffic. So much dirt being kicked up from the grassy lawn and landing on the books, the table cloth, the plate-holders, and the like - much to the chagrin of many scrambling to keep their merch pristine. More importantly, so much money exchanging hands!
Several people at my table sold out. Others at the other TSFF table sold out. We ran out of flyers and ballets for the draw.
Myself? I sold two box-sets of Ekartionth Tales - four books right there! I also sold more copies of Whispers of the Abyss for those who just wanted book 1, and Beckoning from the Stars from people that bought Whispers in the past. I also sold 3 copies of Quantum Songstress.
Strangely enough, while there was some interest in Echos of Godsworn, with people picking the book up and looking it over, no one bought either Champion of Seasons or Guide from Madness. Several individuals have told me that selling YA is harder, as you have to make your pitch to teenagers and not adults with money.
Now, I did buy some stuff from other vendors. Here is the video of the haul for anyone interested and links to their sites.
Maybe I will see some of you at CanCon Ottawa this October!
What a great description of your weekend. I am very happy about the book sales being up!