Reconstruction Con (North American Science Fiction Convention)

Sunday, Day 4

Yesterday was the last day for Reconstruction Con. I went to the Kaffe Klach's of Eric Flint and Toni Weisskopf. For any who do not know a Kaffe Klach is a small gathering where fans can ask questions and visit with the author and in this case with an editor. I always learn new things about the author. One thing I did not know came out when I asked Eric Flint what he had seen as the the biggest change in publishing since he became a full time writer. His answer was a big surprise to me. He detailed the collapse of the paperback market. I did not know that hardcovers now out sold paperbacks. He blamed the consolidation in the distribution chain. Where stores used to get individualized orders targeted to their customers now everyone gets the same thing. This has lead to the decrease in paperback sales.

Toni Weisskopf's Kaffe Klach was interesting but I think I was the only one there who did not either have a manuscript I was trying to sell or who did free lance work for Baen. As a reader I still found it interesting.