Rebel Yell - Local Authors Unite at Salt Lake Comic Con

Being an Author is Hard

Local author Johnny Worthen and me

Am I saying that it's not sunshine and kittens after you get published? That's right - well, there is still some sunshine and some cuddly kittens, but most of the time it's really hard work, especially in such a talented community we find in Utah.

It doesn't matter what type of author you are: Indie, Small Press, Large Press, whatever means you choose - the life of an author is tough stuff.

In Utah, there is a melding pot of authors - resembling something like a Petri dish as we're surrounded by mountains, isolated from the breathing world, suffocating under the inversion. It's a wonderful world to be a part of, as we feed each other ideas, care about our struggles, cheering successes.

It can also be a very difficult place to be. As much as we need each other, we are each others' competition, selling to the same small population. There can be jealousy at times, cheering for others, while your own rejection letter still sits in you Inbox.

But there is still understanding

As our community of authors grows, so has our support system. If I've learned anything over the past few years after being published it's how much I NEED other authors, those who understand how difficult it is to write out your soul, have it ripped apart, stitched back together into something pretty, then bound into paper just for you.

Photobombing Local Author Adrienne Monson

TRUTH IS - it is a difficult world regardless of how you've been published. Getting your name out and getting your book into readers hands can be agonizing, humbling work that stripes you down to your core. It's extremely hard for us authors to talk about our own books and why you would love it. We are basically taking our newborn baby, the wonderful thing we've created and asking YOU to take care of it, help it grow, show your friends, trusting YOU with its livelihood.

You READERS hold our fate in YOUR hands

What YOU think MATTERS

Meeting Jess Harnell at FanX 2015

Over the last few years Salt Lake Comic Con has become very important to us. It's become a place where we can find readers - OUR readers. You can find several LOCAL authors, some absolutely terrific people with tremendous talent. As a strong community of authors, we are banding together and uniting ourselves as REBELS, and we are looking for readers to join the alliance.

There are several things you can be a part of at this year's SLCC:

• Find the REBEL BASE #3441 - Enter to win a Chris Evans Photo OP bit.ly/chrisevans_slcc
• Find several local authors on PANELS - SLCC Schedule
• We've created a catalog with several titles in it, full of QR codes for easy look-up
• Hashtag fun with #slcc15writers
• A Treasure Hunt - search for the REBEL INSIGNIA among local authors to be entered for prizes
• Find several of the Rebel Alliance in AUTHOR AVENUE and SHADOW MOUNTAIN
  

Writing is not about us, it's always been about YOU - the reader. You are who matters most to us. It's you we are looking to inspire, you who we make worlds for.

Local authors SLCC 2014 Photo courtesy of Jessie's Photography

Come FIND us.
     Come JOIN us!