Mundania Press attends EPICon 2003

by Daniel J. Reitz, Sr.

As Publisher of Mundania Press LLC, it was a thrill to attend EPICon 2003. The convention lasted from Thursday, March 6th through Sunday, March 9th. The weather was fantastic in Tampa, FL.

Piers Anthony was to be the Keynote Speaker and Mundania Press was able to promote and sell Pornucopia hardcover and paperbacks, and Key to Havoc Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs). There were 120 people, all of them authors, publishers, and spouses/kids. A great bunch of people!

You might remember that Piers absolutely hates to travel, and has not attended a convention in many, many years, so this was going to be something special. Part of the deal was that Mundania Press would provide Piers with transportation and take all the worry out of it so he could enjoy the experience.

Wednesday, March 5th, my partner and co-founder, Bob Sanders and I flew down to Tampa, FL. We left Cincinnati in barely 30 degree nasty weather and got off the plane at 80 degrees—woo hoo!!! We started stripping on the way to get the rental car. That was a sight the Floridians were not prepared for. Many were blaming sunspots for their temporary blindness, but we know better!

We got one of those spiffy Hertz rental cars that had a GPS system in it. It was invaluable in helping us find our way to the hotel that was two miles away from the airport. We then used it to find the restaurant that was across the street from the hotel. The GPS had a sultry sexy (authoritative) female voice and we just couldn't resist. It was just like having my wife in the car with me. "Right turn coming up in—two seconds—turn here—now——you pig." Isn't technology grand!

Thursday morning, we registered for the conference. EPICon is the annual convention/conference of EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection. They are a professional organization for published and contracted e-book and print authors, originally established to provide a strong voice for electronic publishing.

After registering we drove several hours to Piers' house. No I won't tell where it is. Suffice to say that it is utterly impossible to find without going through the Magician Humfrey's three challenges. (Yes, we owe him a year's servitude, and yes, we went on a quest!). Even the GPS system did not register where Piers Anthony lives! You'd think it could at least find the North Village or Lake Tsoda Popka. The darn thing pooped out at the gap chasm. So much for technology!

We did take a few pictures along the way because Piers' home is breathtakingly beautiful! (I even got one of his garbage can but Bob suggested that might be a bit too much.) (It was a very nice garbage can, though.) (And no, I did not riffle through it.) (The trash was already picked up.) (So how much could a used Piers Anthony tv dinner carton go for on eBay?)

	Here we are turning on to Ogre Drive. (Where did you expect him to live?)
While cruising up Ogre Drive we could not help but marvel at the beauty. No wonder he doesn't like to leave home. Notice all the Tangle Trees. We did. We stayed in the car.
	After a very long drive we finally arrived. By the way, you can see more of Pier's drive and house in the Conversation with an Ogre video that Mundania Press is now publishing again.
Upon arrival, we sat with Piers and his wife, Cam and chatted for about an hour, and then had Piers sign some copies of Pornucopia and other books. (I snuck my copy of Mute in there. Heck, I was re-reading it on the plane so I thought, why not?)
	Piers and me. We were close to the same height in July 2000. (I told my wife I was shrinking! Darn that gravity.)
Piers and Bob. Bob was nervous about meeting Piers for the first time because Bob might accidentally burp or something. He did, but it was a quiet one. Hence the 'deer caught in the headlights' glaze to his eyes.

Piers took Bob and me on a tour of his house and writing den. I've been to Piers' home before, but jumped at the chance to take the tour again!

Interesting note: Many of you who read Piers' bi-monthly columns knows that he enjoys archery, right and left-handed, for exercise and fun. Piers mentioned that he had just broken the string on his left-handed bow that morning.

Back to some Mundania Press business, Piers turned over to me the corrected proof for Pornucopia's sequel, The Magic Fart, (A really funny book!) and the next two ChroMagic novels, Key to Chroma and Key to Destiny, which we will be publishing in October 2003, and April 2004 respectively. The Magic Fart comes out in July 2003, Macroscope comes out in May 2003, and Key to Havoc comes out in April 2003. At least now I have some fun stuff to read as well as a lot of work!

The fun part was driving back to Tampa with Piers. I made Bob drive (after all, I am the President) and I sat in the back with Piers and we talked for several hours!

At the hotel we got Piers registered and into his room. He had a very nice suite on the top floor. This was a Sheraton, but looked just like one of those suites hotels where the entire middle of it is open to all eight floors. Very nice!

Later that night everyone loaded onto a couple of busses to travel to a local Barnes and Nobles where all the authors in attendance (there were about 40+) and Piers would do book signings. Mundania Press sold all of the Key to Havoc ARCs and lots of Pornucopia, and even some Conversation with an Ogre videos.

Barnes and Nobles was great and handled everything perfectly. They gave out numbers for Piers so no long line was needed. They called off 10 at a time (like loading the plane). Piers mentioned that there were about 180+ people that got autographs. It was such a joy to see the expression on many of Piers' fans' faces when they got to finally meet him in person. He took a lot of time with each person, signing their books, looking at them and talking to them about his books and whatever else they wanted. He posed for pictures and was just wonderful for his fans.

Speaking of fans, one young lady came up to me, seeing that we were Piers' publisher, and was talking about how she only lived an hour away, but she was afraid to come to actually meet him. She had adored his writing for many years and was afraid that his ogre reputation might be justified. But what she read in his Author's Notes and Newsletters gave her a different story. She would really hate to be turned off from his books because he was one of those authors who could care less about their fans. I calming reassured her that the Ogre personification was a myth. What you read in his notes and newsletters is the real Piers. That Piers is a very sweet man and deals with his fans better than a majority of the authors and other celebrities around today. He will not tolerate liars and cheats and does stick up for himself, which has made him unpopular with some people.

But this was literally a once-in-a-lifetime chance for her. Well, after she meet him and got her book autographed she was just gushing with a smile to split her face wide open. She was so happy with his genuineness and kindness towards her and his other fans in line (people watch other people too).

What could I do but sell her a copy of Pornucopia and put her back in line for a second time :-). She came back later, even happier. When she presented Piers with her copy, he looked at her and smiled, saying, "What's a nice girl like you doing with a book like this?" I think she told him she was enjoying the heck out of it!

Hey, even I made someone's evening better. A young girl came up with her two younger brothers. She pointed to Pornucopia and stated, "that's the book I wanted to get." She proceeded to pick it up and naturally I smiled and said, "Um, are you eighteen yet?" She stared at me for a full minute to see if I was serious. I was. Then she split a wide grin, saying, "I'm 32, and thank you!" Those were her kids with her as I found out when her husband walked up. I really made her day. I felt stupid, but hey, I'm an old man now and I can't tell what ages these young whippersnappers are. I have a hangnail that's older than 32 for gosh sake! But I digress...

Um, I was standing in line too at one point, just observing, mind you. Pay no attention to that stack of books I had to get autographed. Hey, I already owned copies of those books, but they aren't autographed! Besides, somehow Barnes and Nobles came up with a UK hardcover Centaur Aisle. Yes, I did had one of those already, but it wasn't autographed! Look for the unsigned on eBay later this month :-) But I digress ...

Piers Anthony at the Barnes and Nobles book signing. He is posing with author Michele Bardsley. Photo taken by author Linda Bleser.

Anyway, there was this young man—who I know was only a teenager—clutching a ragged copy of the Science Fiction Book Club Double Exposure (the 3-in-1 book of Split Infinity, Blue Adept, and Juxtaposition.) The look on his face as we got nearer to Piers was of pure delight. He must have managed to talk his mom, who was with him, into buying a hardcover of Swell Foop too. He was fairly bouncing up and down while Piers was talking to him.

Back when we picked up Piers to bring him down to the conference, he stated offhandedly that he, "Doesn't think of himself as a celebrity." OK. But really when you think about it, only several million of his fans disagree as evidenced by that young man and the other people there. Am I digressing again?

Friday morning the conference started officially and there were many sessions about authoring and publishing. Piers gave his Keynote Speech after lunch Perspectives on Getting Published—A Dash of Cold Water. It went great and everyone loved his speech. Quite entertaining—Piers has a wonderful sense of humor, and is quite insightful. Also he is an excellent public speaker.

	The audience packed in to hear Piers' Keynote Speech.
Piers delivered some wonderfully funny words to entertain and enlighten the crowd.
	Piers was quite passionate that every writer should have the chance to get their work published, whether they are lucky enough—and yes, he said a LOT of luck was involved (the right place, right time thing)—or if they chose one of the newer avenues through subsidy publishing. Piers himself has placed 19 of his books with Xlibris, a subsidy publisher. Even though Piers owns part of Xlibris and is on the Board of Directors, he still insists on paying to place his books with them.

Everyone was delighted with Piers speech. I, on the other hand was kicking myself for not bringing my video camera. Sigh.

Friday night, everyone loaded on busses again for a trip over to Clearwater, FL and a Dinner Cruise on the Starlight Majestic (looked like a small ocean liner). When we boarded, we had pictures taken in groups. Bob and I got our picture together. Bob wore a Hawaiian shirt and jeans. Let's just say we looked like the Skipper and Gilligan in front of the Minnow waiting to shove off. See, Bob, I told you I would not post that picture. (Hey everyone, stop back later after Bob has read this and I'll stick it up. Hilarious!)

Great food, live band (two musicians) and lots of fun. Piers sat at a table surrounded by beautiful women. He was in his glory! Bob and I also sat at a table full of women. At this point, I have to say that wasn't hard. There were about 100+ women and a paltry handful of men at the conference. Not bad odds! :-)

I had the most tender Filet Mignon I had ever eaten. The memory of that great steak was only tarnished later by my wife's reminder that it was Friday, and it was Lent. Oops. A lightning storm did brew up so I stayed below decks for a while.

Saturday was more conventioning. We had lunch with Piers. Well I did, Bob was napping, and then more conventioning.

Piers sat in on a panel discussion with one of the editors from Writer's Digest (from right here in Cincinnati!) His point of view was that it was OK to get your book published through a subsidy publisher. These avenues were not available only a few years ago, and now everyone had the chance to be published.

Her view was that, and I quote, "There are agents right now looking for new authors. If you try hard enough, and are good enough, the (big traditional) publishing houses will buy your book." Yea right, I think I saw that on a Twilight ZoneTM episode once. Piers did remind her that he, a 21-times bestselling author, had trouble getting his non-Xanth books published. If it isn't Xanth, they don't want it! (Which leaves more books for Mundania Press :-)

Piers and I sat in on one session that was given by Ellora's Cave, an erotica book publisher, who is very successful. They handed out an instruction sheet about what is acceptable in erotica today ... whoa! I turned to Piers and said that Pornucopia was 'PG' compared to some of the stuff they were putting out. He just smiled and said he needed to read some of their books to decide for himself.

There were about eight women and a man moderator on the panel. Of course the guy writes erotica under a female pseudonym, so that doesn't count. :-) I won't reveal his real name here. One question that was presented was rather interesting. "Does your family, mother/father/etc., know you write erotica." One lady author said yes, turning a bright shade of red. She proceeded to say how her mom reads her new book as soon as it comes out, 'jumps' her father, then calls her up to tell her all the details. Yikes and eeeeww! Parents don't do those things! But I digress ...

Saturday night was the EPIC banquet and awarding of the EPPIES for best books in different categories.

	Piers and me at the reception before the banquet. I'm a lot taller when I sit down. I think Bob was still taking a nap.
Piers Wins An Award! Piers Anthony, not a member of EPIC, is awarded the "Friend of E-Publishing Award" for his tremendous efforts of cataloging and researching all the small press publishers and subsidy publishers that are available for authors. Piers makes this list available on his Hi Piers website and constantly updates it. Author Ginny McBlain presented the award to Piers, but first she gave a heart-warming talk about Piers' book Letters to Jenny, and how it really moved her.
	Piers gave his acceptance speech and was really startled to receive the award. He said the work he has done on his website publishing page has been a lot of work, but a work of love as he believes so strongly in everyone having the chance to be published.
Piers poses with his award after the banquet.

Sunday morning was conference wrap-up with a 2-hour session with publishers about "what they are looking for" and other information to authors. Bob and I participated in several of the sessions, giving publisher perspectives.

At noon, we drove Piers back home (yes, of course I made Bob drive again [hey I'm not stupid]) and Piers and I talked about what we are going to publish the rest of this year (5 books now), and how we wanted to promote Key to Havoc.

At Piers' house, Cam fixed a wonderful veggie lunch and we chatted some more about the conference and how nicely run it was. Piers hates to travel and does not like many conventions because they are so poorly run. He was very impressed with EPIC.

I talked with him a week later and he mentioned that he was writing up his convention report so you'll all probably see that in his next newsletter. I guess we'll see if my memory is as good as it used to be, uh, um, sometime ago I think it was good. :-)

Reluctantly we left Xanth and headed back to Tampa to catch our plane. I think I was still a target for eating meat on Friday because a twister touched down across the expressway only a couple of miles behind us. Jeez, if Bob was driving any slower ... of course, I was always a slippery little sucker.

/#\#/#\ZZAAPP/#\#/#\ OK, I get the message, sorry!

Back on the bumpy plane and back to Mundania (Press) and 30 degrees again. Sigh! We had a great time though.