Bronycon Bookstore: What Should I Print, Y'all? · 5:29pm Jan 8th, 2019
As some of you may have heard, Aquaman is trying to make the last BronyCon especially special by organizing a bookstore of community fan-fiction in the vendor hall. I can't imagine how much effort it's going to take to organize it, so I applaud him for being willing to undertake such a massive effort.
If you want to read more about the project, here are a couple of his blogs on the subject.
The BronyCon Bookstore: Let's Do Something Crazy, Y'all
The BronyCon Bookstore: Let's Get a Headcount, Y'all
Still, the reason I'm bringing up the subject is I want to try to contribute to the bookstore as well! I, however, can't just do all the things. Aquaman is setting a three book limit for each author that wants to contribute. A totally reasonable limit, but it also means I have to prioritize what I might try to offer at the bookstore.
Thus we get to the meat of this blog post. I'd like to run a quick poll to see which of my stories everyone would like to possibly see included if Aquaman is able to get approval for his bookstore. (He's still in the submission process with Bronycon, so nothing is guaranteed yet.)
Here are the options I'm considering as well as a link to a straw poll so you can vote!
Past Sins
~200k words
I know this is the one everyone is expecting, but at the same time, the Ministry of Image is still selling the hardcover version on their site. So I was honestly considering not having Past Sins take up one of my three slots. At the same time, I know that might disappoint folks. So Past Sins gets a spot on the poll, and we'll see what the voting says.
After Past Sins Anthology
~260k words
Hard to believe all the sequels I've written to Past Sins, when added together, are longer than the original story. Still, this would be all of them in one book! Trinkets, Nightmare or Nyx, Winter Bells, The Road Home, Glimpses, and maybe First Hours (need to talk to the old Equestria Publications crew about that one.)
Zecora Anthology
~ 111k words
As readers may have realized, I like writing Zecora. This anthology would be all the stories I have that heavily featured the famed herbalist of the Everfree Forest. That means you get Wise Beyond Her Years, Elixir Master, and A Zebra in the Bed.
Dark Anthology
~ 191k words or more
Not for the faint of heart, this anthology would contain some of the more popular, darker stories I've written. Prime candidates for this would be Into The Depths, From The Depths, and Sunset Slayer. This anthology might even get bigger. I've, for a long time, wanted to make the Depths series into a trilogy and I have a thought for the final story. But it would take a very dedicated effort, on top of preparing my books for Bronycon, to write that final story in time for the printing.
One-Shot Anthology
- 97k words
About half of the stories I've written are delightful little one-shots, and even added all together, they don't equal very many words. So this anthology seems perfect for them! In this you'd get Drop of Moonshine, A Mug of Hard Cider, Fluttershy Wishes, Drift, Experiments in Alicorn Growth, Last Evening Together, Silencing Song, The Enemy of My Enemy, Morsel of Truth, Bureaucracy is Magic, and Winter Wind Waltz
Crossover Anthology
- 133k words
Finally, a style of story I haven't done in a while. This would be an anthology of my crossover stories, the ones that are very obviously mixing foreign elements into the world of MLP:FiM. This would include some of my earliest works in the fandom: Better Living Through Science and Ponies, Creeping Darkness, and a personal favorite of mine, Little Sugar Shop of Horrors.
Those are the choices. In total, they represent just about everything I've written about MLP:FiM over the past decade. That's approximately 900,000 words in all! Kind of scary, kind of cool, and kind of nostalgic. Honestly, if I had all the time and no limits, I'd perhaps go crazy and try to ensure all these were available for Bronycon... but one must be realistic, especially since I'm already reaching out to folks for help even bring a couple of these choices to fruition.
So please cast your vote using the straw poll link below. Feel free to comment, of course, especially if you think I should combine the stories into books in different ways, or if you feel some stories are unique enough they should be allowed to have a book of their own instead of being in an anthology. This is going to be one heck of a project to get done before Bronycon, but I'll give it my best effort!
Thanks again, and have a great day!
BRONYCON 2019 BOOK STORE OFFERINGS POLE
P.S. I hope Aquaman forgives me for mimicing his blog post titles.
I already have a copy of past sins. My wallet is ready for most of the other options.
Thanks for doing t his.
4993397 Ditto here. Past Sins is what really got me into writing. I also am trying to figure out what I want to get printed, and the far more difficult task, actually *doing* it. (I'm a professional procrastinator)
Past Sins was my introduction to the fandom. Without it I wouldnt be part of this amazing community so that has my vote, along with the After anthology.
Would love to have Past Sins.
Oh man, to get the Past Sins sequels would be perfect to go with my other copies of the original story.
Honestly I think your Zecora works are your best works along with Past Sins. Your sequels to Past Sins however.... well I tend to prefer another author's interpretations.
Portal! Portal! Portal!
I can't get to Bronycon ,but I 'd vote for Past Sins sequels ... I ve been waiting for someone to make a physical copy of Winter bells I could read on Christmas x). If I could pick 3 I d go for Past sins (that's like your signature book : D ), Sequels and One shots ( if you could make the depth series complete that would be awesome but .. I kinda think that would be asking a bit too much :) )
PS: In any case .. if there happen to be ANY books available for online purchase count me in : )
Stories of yours that I have on my favourites shelf (aside from Past Sins) are the Past Sins adjacent stories, Drop of Moonshine, A Mug of Hard Cider, and Better Living Through Science and Ponies.
I'd like to see a compilation of your other Past Sins stories. I still have my first edition copy of Past Sins, so it would be really nice to get a physical copy of the other stories.
Would there be any (hypothetical) chance of an additional run after Bronycon for any option you decide on?
4993418
RHJunior?
5024312
Yes