(no subject)

[mistymassey]

Okay, so there's a big fuss going on in the romance community. Apparently two YA romance authors dressed like their characters in order to promote their books during the recent Romance Writers of America convention. Certain influential members of the RWA are highly affronted by the cosplay. Personally I don't see anything particularly objectionable with what they're wearing. (My mother would probably say they are too old to wear such stockings, but that's less of a decency issue than it is a generational thing.) But enough people have climbed on the "no costumes" bandwagon that I'm a little nervous.

You see, I had planned to wear my beautiful leather hat (see the icon?) to signings. As the hubby points out, my book is a fantasy, not a romance, so I'm not facing the same people necessarily. And it is a book about pirates, after all, and I love my hat. But am I courting doom by being playful? Would you rather see an author in ordinary clothes? Will I chase away buyers with my Terrible Hat O' Buccaneering Evil?

Comments

[mindyklasky.livejournal.com]

There's a much stronger tradition of cosplay in fantasy than in romance. The pros who go in for it do exactly the sort of thing that you propose - wearing a hat or a relatively limited "costume" - um, sort of like the girls at RWA. (I saw them there, btw, and I noted that they were oddly dressed, but I didn't realize it was a book promotion.) I think that the whole romance writer uprising is a bit silly - I think that the costumes were fun and creative marketing, not a descent into madness for the genre.

My two cents...

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

I think that the costumes were fun and creative marketing, not a descent into madness for the genre.

Thanks! As a new author, I find myself being nervous about what other writers might think of the things I do or say. Which is not my way at all! So it's reassuring to hear from another professional that maybe I'm not going to kill my career with my Hat O' Doom.

I wondered if the folks who were upset were the same kind who'd come to a costume party wearing ordinary clothes and a bright red hair bow, and claim they were dressed as Minnie Mouse.... *grin*

cosplay & stuffiness

[melanie-griffin.livejournal.com]

Aar! Oops! I mean...your book's about pirates! Pirates wear such things. Authors should wear such things - if they want. Seems that to a signing is the right time, not all the time of the conference. (Doubt someone'd do *that*.)

Maybe more to the point is that I, for one, would think your wearing a leather THOBE at a signing is FUN! The fantasy genre is about *being different* and *thinking differently*. It's that one-step-removed-from-RL thing. Isn't it? Sheesh! If it isn't, we're all screwed! No elves, no witches, no vamps, no weres, no pirates?!! C'mon!

Okay, so that's a rant. Wear your hat. Poke the stuffy ones in the, well, you know, if they can't see past their uplifted noses. Your DH is right: it isn't Romance. Why be boring?

~ Melanie
(who climbs down off of soapbox, flips it over, adds wheels, brakes and steering, and zooms off into the night!)

Re: cosplay & stuffiness

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

See, the hat has a personality of its own... (http://empty-tricorn.livejournal.com/) so I kinda HAVE to take it out on promotions with me. Although it hasn't had much to complain about in a while. *grin*

[dch4.livejournal.com]

Screw any of the old biddies. Wear your hat.

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

I love you!

[inannamoon.livejournal.com]

I would be sorely disappointed in you if you didn't wear the hat. What's wrong with the hat? Anyone who gets to know you as an author will figure out that you haven't just been writing about pirates.

Boring mundanes and mousy authors don't do anything for me. Be yourself. Frankly, the romance authors are probably just jealous they didn't think of it first.

Writers are CREATIVE BEINGS and you shouldn't be locked into expressing your creativity by using only words... they'll figure out you dance too, and if they poo poo that, they aren't worth diddly squat. Same for that- people who poo-poo it aren't worth diddly squat.

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness...such language from such a sweet young lady! *grins, ducks and runs* Thank you, darling. Your support, from the very beginning, has always meant the world to me.

Hey, did you change your mind about the question you wanted to ask me? Or have you just been busy?