This blog post is pulling multiple roles. First, an AMA on Reddit r/ProgressionFantasy is due to launch at 9 PM EST on Tuesday, the 17th, 2024. In short, it’s going up in one hour, and I will be there.
Here is your link.
I agreed to do the AMA both for the purposes of marketing Book 13, but also to announce something huge, which I’ll drop on the AMA as well as tell people perspicacious enough to read this blog in advance: we now have a fashion line of merch! We even had a photoshoot done, and you can check out these high-quality pieces of clothing designed by an actual [Fashion Designer], Aleks, here!
https://wanderinginn.com/fashion-project/
This is no joke. Remember when I said it might be an interesting month? This is one of the big events I have been watching behind the scenes for a long while now. We’re not talking basic merchandise, but stuff that you can walk around and win fashion points for.
I won’t be too long because the page does speak for itself and I want to keep this post short in preparation for the AMA, but working with experts who know what they’re doing is one of the things I always want to do if I have the chance.
Aleks is one of the experts I’ve met, and both the shoot of inn-themed characters and the clothing is awesome. I can’t wait to order a bunch for myself and family to wear it and see if people give them approving comments without even knowing about The Wandering Inn!
It’s high quality, and also not overpriced, and I thank Aleks for all their hard work and hope you find something there that you really would love to try out. More details will appear on social medias, and I will of course shout it out, so keep your eyes peeled. But third–
We have a map.
https://store.wanderinginn.com/collections/maps
…Of Liscor! (Ducks in case anyone threw a rock). It’s a start! And I do have a map of Izril, with all lore-accurate details, I hope to have someone produce in the future. But we began with the most iconic city by Enuryn the [Naturalist], who is the logical choice for amazing city design. Now you can trace the meandering route Erin took through the city! Marvel at the disparity of incomes between Drake citizens and the rest of the populace! Trace your own invasion of Liscor with Skinner’s forces!
I dunno about some of those, but you do you. This map IS purchasable now, and I both invite you to check it out, but also to think of it as a sign.
A sign I have worked with people who understand geography and maps and am willing to do the inconceivable: nail down locations to ink and paper. There shall be more maps coming.
They are hard. They fight their way out of the tangle of obscurity and confusion. But one day, there shall be maps.
How many people got excited for that? Actually, how many inn-readers are map fans? The world may never know. Well, I assume sales of maps will tell me.
Back to the AMA. Which is still the main focus of this blog post. You may regard the above as a type of marketing, though I am genuinely thrilled to be telling people about the fashion and the maps.
The AMA…less so. It will be the second AMA I have ever done, and I believe on the same subreddit, but allow me to explain my discontent.
AMAs are as hard as you want them to be. I have resisted calls for me to do more Reddit Ask-Me-Anythings (sorry, that’s what AMA means), and people I talk to who want me to promote this or that often seem to think it’s not that bad.
‘How hard could it be?’ is the refrain I imagine a bunch of celebrities or people who’ve never done one ask. And to that I reply–it’s as hard as you make it. But if you don’t put energy into an AMA, it won’t be a big hit.
True, your existing audience base matters and maybe answering twenty questions from a notorious figure is delightful, but there are AMAs that don’t have much substance to them. Ones that fizzle out because not many people are interested, because the subject matter isn’t great, or because the person involved doesn’t do much work.
When I think of this AMA, or any event I’m part of, my view is that it will matter as much as I try, if that makes sense. So the last AMA, I sat down and wrote over 10,000 words in what I think was at least 6 hours of straight writing. I answered every question.
This time–there are already 70+ questions as of this morning. The audience has grown. But I will sit down and try to answer them all. I will work as if this is a writing day and try to weather however many hundreds of questions that come at me like falling arrows and send each and every one back to the sender.
I will win this AMA or die trying. And I will answer questions honestly, genuinely, and as quickly as I can because I think it should matter. If not, what was the point of doing it?
You have an hour to attend, or if you see this, I may still be working. I invite you to show up. I will probably answer your question if I can.
I will destroy your questions and send you howling back to whatever place you came from. Come.
The AMA awaits.
PS. (And this is why I don’t do them. It’s going to be taxing, and I’m flying out to a wedding after this. On my break! Honestly, I’d rather do an AMA for 12 hours straight than fly. Let alone to Canada. Let’s see if I can break that curse. Wish me luck!)
